Pbw2014

Who's Getting Hitched?

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aying “I do” is a priceless moment. It’s also a pricey moment.

Most couples don’t have a bottomless budget like Kim and Kanye, so they don’t always get what they want when it comes to wedding planning.

That’s exactly why some of the area’s top wedding vendors have teamed up again for the fourth annual Pensacola Block Party Wedding—which is a contest where couples compete to win a street party wedding, complete with free services from the participating vendors.

This year’s couples are competing for a wedding valued at $50,000. Yes, $50,000. And before you go thinking that’s a crazy number, just ask anyone you know who recently planned a wedding. They’ll likely tell you it’s a pretty accurate ballpark figure for a good wedding. Flowers, photographers, videographers, tux rentals, DJ’s… It all adds up—fast. Weddings are big business, so winning this one is a big deal.

This year’s vendors have gone through all of the submissions and narrowed it down to ten. But the winning couple still needs to be decided and that’s where you come in. Your votes will decide the lucky couple, so read up, pick your favorite duo and go vote.

Also, go ahead and mark your calendars for Friday, Sept. 19—because that’s when the Block Party Wedding will happen and you’re invited. The more the merrier—that’s the point of a block party wedding, after all.

Just a friendly reminder: the voting window isn’t very big, so you better not put it off for too long. Visit pensacolabw.com to read more on each couple and vote. Voting closes Monday, July 28.

photos by Jessi Field and Melissa Wilson July 17, 2014

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Pensacola Block Party Wedding 2014 Sean Brown & Amy Bowers

Age: His: 43 / Hers: 40 Occupation: His: Risk Manager, Total Employee Leasing / Hers: Teacher, Exceptional Student Education, 3rd-5th grades, Beulah Elementary School Together since: 2008 Who proposed?

SEAN: I proposed to her. We met during the Mardi Gras parades, so I thought it would be good to propose this past Fiesta Parade, downtown on Palafox Street.

AMY: We’re both in Mystic Mafia.

SEAN: They normally get off the float and do a dance, but this year they were not going to be allowed to do it. We had to beg Fiesta to let them do a 30 second skit near Jeweler’s

David Brown & MacKenzie McGrath

Age: His: 27 / Hers: 22 Occupation: His: Flight Student with the U.S. Navy / Hers: Currently job-hunting Together since: 2012 Who proposed?

MACKENZIE: He proposed to me.

DAVID: I spent time looking for a ring and finally found one at Jeweler’s Trade Shop. She’d been hinting at what she wanted for a little while, so I wasn’t completely in the dark, which was nice. I got the ring and I was planning on waiting until I went home for Christmas to ask her, but she was coming to visit me from Colorado before Christmas break and that thing was burning a hole in my pocket. I wanted to surprise her, and she has a knack for figuring

Sheldon Powell & Lauren Clement

Age: His: 33 / Hers: 29 Occupation: His: Courier and Facilities Assistant, Pen Air Federal Credit Union / Hers: Assistant Supervisor of Woodland Heights Resource Center, City of Pensacola Neighborhood Services Together since: 2012

Trade and Hopjack’s, so right when they got done with the skit, that’s when I went up to her and proposed.

AMY: It was amazing. He stopped the whole parade. I was not expecting at all—I cried.

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

SEAN: I love her. I don’t know, I’m not a mushy person—it was just time. I wanted to ask a long time ago, but we had to wait on other things.

Why’d you say yes?

AMY: He is my everything. He’s there for me all the time—for my daughter and me both.

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

AMY: Next year sometime. We’ve been engaged for a month, so we haven’t had much time to think about it! We talked about next year, maybe at his family’s place.

out surprises…I knew the only way I could surprise her was if it was on my turf, on my terms, so I showed up at the airport dressed up and shocked her as she was walking off the plane.

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

DAVID: It was the time before when she left.

When I dropped her off at the airport, I had this sinking feeling. I realized I don’t want to say goodbye to her, ever. So that’s what did it for me—that’s how I knew. The next day I went down to the jewelry shops and started looking.

Why’d you say yes?

MACKENZIE: I couldn’t leave again. Leaving is so hard. Being long distance and going through everything you go through in a normal relationship, but separated, is so hard. I knew that since we made it through everything, being away for so long, that we would be perfect together. I just couldn’t be away anymore.

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

SHELDON: I knew midway through as she was gone that I was going to propose.

LAUREN: I traveled for a year before our engagement doing volunteer work. Three months after we met, I left for a year. He waited for me, so I figured I better keep him.

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

DAVID: We’ve settled on getting married in Pensacola, probably next spring. With flight school being so uncertain, there’s a good

chance that if we planned a big, elaborate wedding at home with all of our family, I might not be able to get leave or get home, so we’d really like to do it down here where we can plan it, be here, and I can definitely show up.

SHELDON: It was after a small conversation we had while she was away. After that conversation, everything changed. I fell deeply in love with her after that. I asked her mom and each one of her sisters individually.

always say that: he wasn’t just the answer to my dreams, because you dream of a lot of different things as a girl, you know—Prince Charming.

He answered all of the prayers that I had prayed growing up. Everything that I feel like that I am weak in, he is strong in. He loves God and loves people passionately and gives of himself more than anything. I said yes, because how could I say no? He’s the best person that I’ve ever met, and I want to spend my life with him. And he’s funny. He makes me laugh.

Why’d you say yes?

LAUREN: He was the man of my prayers. I

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

LAUREN: Our wedding is planned already.

Before we applied, it was already set for the next day, actually, September 20. Our families are already planning to be in, it’s pretty much perfect. Our ceremony site is Plaza de Luna, and our reception is at Palafox House. All of our plans center on downtown Pensacola because we feel very passionate about the future of downtown, being the next generation and having both grown up here. It’s pretty much this wedding, but the next day.

Who proposed?

SHELDON: I proposed to her. It was at the Belmont Cultural Center.

LAUREN: That’s his family’s building, so that was very special to him.

SHELDON: I lined up each of her four sisters from youngest to oldest. Each of them had a picture of [Lauren] and them. After that, the door opened and my family was on one side of the room and her mom, and her aunt, and her grandmother was on the other side, and I was standing in the middle. We danced a little before I proposed.

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Pensacola Block Party Wedding 2014 Sean Miller & Olivia Bell

Age: His: 24 / Hers: 23 Occupation: His: Electrical Engineer, Gulf Power / Hers: Member Service Representative, Navy Federal Credit Union Together since: 2009 Who proposed?

SEAN: I proposed to her. We went on a cruise and I had it planned at dinner. I set it up with the maître d’ to where when he brought out desserts that night, the ring would be on her dessert somehow. He brought them over then tapped a glass—“ding, ding, ding”—and gets everyone looking that way; in the meantime, I look down and couldn’t find the ring. I thought he hid it in her dessert and not in the little cup off to the side. I was already nervous and

Age: His: 22 / Hers: 21 Occupation: His: Photographer, Lifetouch / Hers: Nanny; Administrative Assistant, Brooks Orthodontics Together since: 2010

Eric Davis & Sebastiane House

Age: His: 24 / Hers: 22 Occupation: His: Associate, Boar’s Head / Hers: Manager, Davis House Photography Together since: 2011 Who proposed?

SEBASTIANE: He proposed to me.

ERIC: We went on vacation to California. We went to Yosemite National Park and hiked the Panorama Trail. We got to Nevada Falls, about six miles into the hike. We brought clothes with us because we were going to do a couples shoot up there since one of our photographer friends went with us. We changed, got ready, took photos for a little while, ate lunch, rested—all that good stuff. Right at the end of it I wanted to do a group shot with all three of us, so I set my camera up on the tripod and

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

SEAN: I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I felt like she was the right person.

Why’d you say yes?

OLIVIA: I had known him forever. We are super-compatible; we’re best friends. I literally could not picture myself being with someone else—we’re stuck now.

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

OLIVIA: We’re going to go to the courthouse. All we need is each other. We’ve talked about maybe doing a big reception, too.

RACHEL: We knew. I could picture my whole life with him and I’d never felt comfortable with anyone else. Our families love each other.

We just mesh, our entire lives mesh. He’s really outgoing and positive; I’m more of a realist. I keep him grounded and he keeps me positive. We balance each other out.

Nick Trail & Rachel Rodriguez

Who proposed?

NICK: I proposed. We went out to the beach.

I found a really tall dune and had tiki lights set up along a walkway from the back to the front.

We got up to the top of it. In the ground below the dune, I’d dug out a huge sign that said, “Will you marry me?” I filled it with sticks and pine straw and poured some gas on it. I had a buddy down there and when we got to the top he lit it, so the whole sign caught on fire.

RACHEL: I’m watching it, and turn around and he’s on one knee. I was jumping up and down...I had no idea. He was working in North Dakota at that time and came home for two

thought I was supposed to dig through the dessert. Everybody was pointing to it, and I was shaking and nervous, but ended up getting the ring and asking her right there.

weeks. He told me he was helping his dad with the boat.

NICK: That was the hardest part because I had to be at the beach all day trying to dig this out.

RACHEL: He asked the fire marshal if he could light a fire out there.

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

NICK: When you know, you know. We had talked about it, knowing that we wanted to get married. I could picture her in my future and [us having] kids…I could see the future already, and knew she’s who I wanted to marry.

Why’d you say yes?

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

RACHEL: We know we want it to be in Pensacola NICK: A lot of it’s in the air timing wise. If we’re going to do it all on our own, the situation is going to be a little different. She’ll be living in Panama City and I’m going to be living in Fort Walton for the next two years if we weren’t to get married. Her [dental hygiene] program is two years, so we might just wait until after.

There’s no rush—that’s the best thing about it, when you know, you know.

RACHEL: We really believe that everything happens for a reason, so if it’s not now then we know it’s going to be sometime in the future.

said, “On the count of three we’re all going to jump.” On the count of three, she jumped; I jumped on one knee, and then I just asked her to marry me.

I have to plan around my brother’s schedule, because he’s in the Navy. We haven’t picked

a location yet. No date or location, but just ideas…probably somewhere local.

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

ERIC: That’s a tough one—not really. It’s fairly simple: I knew she was the one.

Why’d you say yes?

SEBASTIANE: In that moment we were in a very beautiful location, I had a handsome guy with me and, like he said, I knew he was the one. We met in college; he asked me to do a photo shoot. From that photo shoot, I knew I could see myself with this guy for the rest of my life. So from day one I knew he was the one.

ERIC: Was? SEBASTAINE: He is the one.

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

SEBASTIANE: Probably January of next year.

Vote for your favorite couple at pensacolabw.com July 17, 2014

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Pensacola Block Party Wedding 2014 it from the other direction.” She said, “But I’m going to be in the picture!” We walked halfway out, and I said “Is this your favorite place?” She turned around, and I was there.

I had a remote in my hand and took the photo [as I proposed].

GAIL: Who proposes on a Tuesday morning?

He caught me totally off guard.

Casey Dull & Gail Williams

Age: His: 37 / Hers: 40 Occupation: His: Director of Rehabilitation, Medical Center Clinic and Owner, Casey Dull Photography / Hers: Practice Manager, West Florida Medical Group Together since: 2011 Who proposed?

CASEY: I proposed to her. She fell for it. Her favorite place in the world is just out from the cross. She’ll go relax, read a book, watch the waves, take all the scenery in and she’s been saying for years that she wants of photo of that framed in her house.

GAIL: It’s the classic story: you date a photographer and never get the pictures that you want.

Ben Weeks & Sarah Blake

Age: His: 29 / Hers: 27 Occupation: His: Senior Team Leader, Target / Hers: Teacher, Malena’s Mini School Together since: 2012 Who proposed?

BEN: I proposed to her. It was on Christmas Eve. We’d just got done spending time with my family. I was a little nervous. At first, she opened box with a shirt that said “Future Mrs. Weeks” with a question mark. She looked at that and said, “Are you kidding?” I said, “No, I’m not kidding. I’m serious.” Finally after the shock that set in, she said yes. I had the ring box stuffed in my sock. I had on my Santa pants; that’s why she didn’t see the ring box. We were with our two little dogs, so it was perfect.

SARAH: It was totally us.

BEN: I had different ideas in my head, but I

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

CASEY: I couldn’t see myself without her.

Why’d you say yes?

GAIL: The same thing. He’s my best friend, and life would be boring without him.

CASEY: I said, “Tomorrow morning, if you help me carry the equipment, I’ll get that picture for you.” We took it all out and I said,

“Hey, I need to check something out there and make sure it’s framed right. The tripod looks like it’s leaning, so we need to look at

thought this was us.

SARAH: It was cute. I loved it.

SARAH: There’s so much more. I could go on and on, but I don’t want the tears to start coming out

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

BEN: We had been together for four years. It just felt right. I knew from the moment that we started dating that she was the one. It took four years, but it definitely felt right in that moment.

SARAH: And my family kind of gave it to him. I have a huge family.

BEN: There were many people asking when we were going to get married—my family, too, of course.

If you don’t win, where and when do you

plan on tying the knot?

SARAH: At Sacred Heart Cathedral, November 8. We’re going to have the reception there as well. It’s going to be a huge family celebration.

Why’d you say yes?

SARAH: There are so many reasons. He is my best friend. He accepts me for who I am. I am so comfortable with him, I tell him anything and everything and I’ve never been that way with any guy before.

BEN: Oh my gosh, she’s about to start crying right now.

SARAH: I can see spending forever with him.

BEN: Wow, you’re going to make me cry. to propose. What made me realize she was the one was that she did these adventurous things.

We’re both art majors. When she decided to help me with Gallery Night and a website to get my artwork out there, I said, “Man, this is it.

This is the one, I love her.”

John Samu & Valerie Pennock

Age: His: 30 / Hers: 34 Occupation: His: Medically Retired Veteran, U.S. Air Force / Hers: Marketing Director, Gulf Breeze Zoo Together since: 2012

Why’d you say yes?

VALERIE: How could I not?

Who proposed?

JOHN: I proposed to her in her grandmother’s basement in Ohio. That was where she had one of her best memories with her family growing up. That, and I didn’t like all the attention, I just wanted a one-on-one.

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

JOHN: We met on Plenty of Fish. The first date we went on, we went to McGuire’s and then she took me on a tour of a cemetery at night.

We haven’t been separated since.

VALERIE: We saw each other every day after that.

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

CASEY: Most likely March and most likely downtown, because Pensacola is our home.

GAIL: Probably at Old Christ Church or the The Lee House, something local.

JOHN: I took a month off to go up north to visit family. You know, absence makes the heart

grow fonder. I got a ring and she came up to visit with her family, and I made the decision

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

JOHN: It will be in October. It will give our family a chance to get situated.

VALERIE: My brother is in Turkey right now, deployed. So we’ll wait for him to get back. It will probably be at the beach.

JOHN: If you’re interested in the colors, we’re thinking about turquoise and white like the beach. The reception will be on her dad’s property. My friend is a retired marine and he’s a notary, and he offered to married us.

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Pensacola Block Party Wedding 2014 she was going to be stressed out, so I wanted to catch her off guard, but at the same time I wanted to do it with her family and my family there. I met up with her parents and her sister and we came up with this plan. I got in touch with my family, who live in Jacksonville, and they drove over that day. I just wanted to do it all as a family.

What made you decide to put a ring on it?

ANDY: I’m completely in love with Marian. I can’t picture any day without her. The more time I spend with her, the more time I want to be with her. I never want to be without her. I love everything about her, her family.

I couldn’t see a reason that it was a bad idea at all. I didn’t want to let her get away.

courtesy photos

Andy Claybaugh & Marian Parker

Age: His: 30 / Hers: 24 Occupation: His: Pharmacist, West Florida Hospital and Publix / Hers: Pharmacy student, Auburn University Together since: 2012

Who proposed?

MARIAN: Andy did. We were at Dharma Blue, which is my favorite restaurant. I walked in and my family and his family were there and they were holding a big sign that said, “Marry Me.” ANDY: She had a big test that day at Auburn, and I knew it was going to be a bad one. I knew

Why’d you say yes?

MARIAN: Probably the same reasons. I knew that I wanted to marry Andy after a few months of us dating. We’re perfect together.

We have fun doing everything together.

If you don’t win, where and when do you plan on tying the knot?

MARIAN: We’re going to get married at the Lee House on May 23, 2015. We reserved it about a month ago; it’s still a plan in the making. It is reserved, so we’ll have to see where that goes.

Pensacola Block Party Wedding ’14 Vendors: Sara Gillianne Weddings and Events Jessi Field Photography Melissa Wilson Photography Supposey Wedding Florals The Wedding Studio AnyDayDJ.Com Kortnee Senn The Palafox House / The Pensacola Fish House Gulf Coast Pedicabs Jillian Jensen Salon Allure Gents Formal Wear Emerald Coast Custom Cakes Hemstitch Vintage Rentals Condor Sailing Adventures Symphony al La Carte R Squared Multimedia, LLC House of Bosley

Vote for your favorite couple at pensacolabw.com

3 RESTAURANTS. 3 MENUS. 3 COURSES. GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS PRESENTS

RESTAURANT WEEK, AUGUST 5–9 Jackson’s Steakhouse, The Fish House, and Atlas Oyster House present a five-day culinary celebration offering chef-selected three-course dinner menus at $33 per person, per restaurant. Tuesday, August 5, through Saturday, August 9, at 5 p.m. View menus at greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

·STEAKHOUSE·

JACKSON’S: SOUTH 400 PALAFOX ST., (850) 469-9898 · FISH HOUSE: 600 S. BARRACKS ST., (850) 470-0003 · ATLAS: 600 S. BARRACKS ST., (850) 470-0003 July 17, 2014

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