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Love don't cost a thing... but weddings do.

Anyone who's ever tried to plan (and more importantly pay for) a wedding will quickly tell you it's not something easily done on a tight budget. Food, booze, venue fees and all the fun trimmings add up—fast. Sadly most couples end up sacrificing some of their wedding wishes in the name of saving money along the way.

That's exactly why some of the area’s top wedding vendors have teamed up to offer Pensacola’s third annual Block Party Wedding, which will be held during the Friday, Sept. 20 Gallery Night.

One lucky couple will receive the grand prize of a free wedding—including just about everything from photography to flowers to a private reception with a banging DJ. That's almost a big enough prize to make even the most severe case of cold feet warm up and get engaged, isn't it?

This year’s wedding giveaway registration is already closed and we’ve narrowed the field down to the top 10. 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 pair and go to pensacolablockpartywedding.com to vote. Voting closes July 29 at midnight.

July 18, 2013

15

on tying the knot?

What was most memorable about your proposal?

TARRON: Our original wedding date was set for April of next year.

We were going to rent a house for the reception but have the actual wedding ceremony on the beach.

JUSTIN: It was in Thailand on a dinner cruise. I requested a song and fifteen or twenty minutes later the lady called my name. After the song they pulled out a chair and had Tarron sit down and What does a typiI proposed to her. cal "date night" TARRON: After look like for you? studying abroad in JUSTIN: Dinner China, Justin and and a movie., then my family met me in maybe out to HopAge: His: 25/ Hers: 28 Korea and we went jacks for a couple Occupation: His: R.N. at Sacred Heart from there to Thai“brewskies.”

Hospital/ Hers: Recent UWF Global land. I didn’t know TARRON: If we Marketing graduate, currently seeking what was going on. don’t go out for a employment The most memodrink, we usually go Together Since: 2010 rable part was just home for a glass of being on the river in wine and just hang Bangkok, and having out. unique and different. We are my family there. JUSTIN: fortunate to participate in I had to hide the ring in my Important reception the experience. TARRON: pocket while I was over question—Wobble, We think it would be amazing there for five days without Cupid Shuffle, Electric to have something like that. her finding out and being Slide, Harlem Shake (or We couldn’t have thought up paranoid about it. all of the above)? something so elaborate.

JUSTIN: Harlem Shake is the most fun for everyWhy do you want to have If you don't win, where body. But probably all of a Block Party Wedding? and when do you plan them in reality, you know?

JUSTIN: It sounded very

Justin Smith & Tarron Hunsucker

where I'm from.

LIBBY: It's sort of a destination wedding that's still doable.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

LIBBY: It was all memorable. It was a surprise. It was unexpected and at a place that meant a lot to our relationship. It was a re-creation of one of our first dates. We've known we were going to get married for a while, but the proposal was officially this weekend. SHANE: She was speechless, which doesn't happen that often.

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

What does a typical "date night" look like for you?

Age: His: 27/ Hers: 24 Occupation: His: Government contractor / Hers: Writing Specialist at an online college Together Since: 2011

LIBBY: We are both not from Pensacola, but I definitely think that we have grown to call this home.

We love it here. We think it would be the most awesome way to get our friends and family together. It would be a memorable experience, a cool story to tell. To get to use the top vendors in 616 1

Shane Reilly & Libby Morris

the area would be a huge blessing.

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

SHANE: We would like to be married by next spring some time, and maybe looking at the New England area. That's

LIBBY: We're pretty easy going. We like to order pizza, crack open a bottle of wine, and watch a movie at home. We like to try new restaurants, anything we can do together. We go kayaking, we like to ride our bikes, spend time with our dogs.

We're pretty easy breezy. We just enjoy each others company all of the time.

Important reception question-Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Harlem Shake (or all of the above)?

LIBBY: [Laughs] Well, I'm more of a dancer than Shane, but he'll get out and shake his booty with me. So he says all of them.

would be able to share the experience with friends and family who wouldn’t be able to be there otherwise.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

CHRISTINE: That it was unexpected.

We had built our relationship on If you don't win, a long distance where and when foundation. When do you plan on I came to visit him tying the knot? in Florida, we had CHRISTINE: We are been together five planning to have our months and he wedding privately got down on one the first weekend in knee at the beach September in Louunexpectedly and isville at his parents’ proposed. JESSE: house if this doesn’t I had pretty much work out. given up on love.

Age: His: 35 / Hers: 31 Then an angel came Occupation: Co-owners/photographers What does a typiinto my life and at Hamm Photography cal “date night” gave me hope. Our Together Since: 2012 look like for you? love is the kind that CHRISTINE: Going makes most people how expensive weddings out to a restaurant. Then gag. It was in Destin, at a can be. I think it would be coming home and taking a hotel that overlooked the great to save that money walk and being by ourbeach. After I proposed and be able to share the selves. she was so happy that we experience with our friends literally cried and hugged and family. Plus, we are Important reception for 30 minutes straight. newer to the area so it question—Wobble, would also be a great way Cupid Shuffle, Electric Why do you want to to meet a lot a people and Slide, Harlem Shake (or have a Block Party integrate ourselves into all of the above)?

Wedding?

Pensacola society.

JESSE: Wobble for sure.

JESSE: We know firsthand CHRISTINE: This way we CHRISTINE: I agree. as wedding photographers

Jesse Hamm & Christine Cherry

Wedding. If we do not win, we will most likely do everything ourselves and search for an empty field somewhere to set up the image we have in our heads.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

DREW: I got to surprise Kayt by proposing during the sunset, in Cinderella's Castle at Disney World. The look of surprise and happiness on her face was priceless and the memory of it still makes me smile. She hates the pictures because she was not prepared, but she loves the memory just as much as me.

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

DREW: Our first date was at a bar on Palafox as a matter of fact. The Block Party Wedding was such a treasure for us to find because it represents our personalities and lifestyle in a way no other wedding could, which is exactly what we have been dreaming of but never thought we would find.

What does a typical "date night" look like for you?

BOTH: We both have too many hobbies to list, so we love doing just about anything.

However, a typical night for us goes like this: "Drew, what do you want to eat?" "I don't know.

Age: His: 29/ Hers: 24 What are we doing toOccupation: His: Business night?" "I don't know. owner/Hers: Hotel front desk at What do you want to Margaritaville, UWF student do?" "I don't know. What Together Since: 2010 do you want?" After about an hour of this, If you don't win, where pizza has been ordered and when do you plan on and a movie has been rented. tying the knot?

BOTH: We keep searching for Important reception something that is a projection question-Wobble, Cupid of our untypical tastes and Shuffle, Electric Slide, personalities, but we nearly Harlem Shake (or all of gave up on the idea that the above)? something like that exists unBOTH: The Wobble. til we found the Block Party

Drew Dittmar & Kayt Ward

inweekly.net

hitched in Patrick's parents’ backyard on November 2nd.

Patrick is the baby of seven kids, so having a place we can afford to host all of the family is at the top of the list. But, if we could just line 'em all down Palafox that would be sweet.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

LINDSAY: Patrick texted me a picture of the ring sitting on the kitchen counter. I called him and laughed, "Is that what I think it is? Did you really just send that in a text message?"

He responded with, "So if you're not busy this November..." I cried with delight and disbelief. I poked fun at him for the lack of romance and dramatic effect, but he makes up for it by being a great catch.

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

What does a typical “date night” look like for you?

Patrick Weeks & Lindsay Larson

Age: His: 30 / Hers: 31 Occupation: His: Drafter at VT Group / Hers: Flight Coordinator, Lifeguard Air Ambulance Together Since: 2008

LINDSAY: Because it will be free, fun and fancy! We recognize that this is an extraordinary opportunity graciously gifted by Pensacola's generous wedding vendors and we are so honored just at the chance to showcase their talent.

We can't think of anything that sounds more like a blast

than a block party wedding and the fancy party we could never afford on our own. But on a personal note, we met in downtown Pensacola so to bring our story full circle would be a dream come true.

If you don’t win, where

and when do you plan on tying the knot?

LINDSAY: The plan is to get

Important reception question—Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Harlem Shake (or all of the above)?

LINDSAY: Patrick's guilty pleasure is funny YouTube videos, so I'm sure he will be an expert at all of these. But, I was thinking Flash Mob? Who is in? in Milton. Just a little outdoor, rustic, country wedding with a bonfire and close family and friends.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

BRIANA: It was St. Patrick’s day of last year and we were just tanning, laying on a secluded part of the beach. I had unhooked my top because we were tanning, and I don’t think he noticed because he was so nervous.

But I jumped up like an idiot. I teased him that I was going to tell my dad that he proposed to me while I was topless.

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

What does a typical "date night" look like for you?

Trent Snellgrove & Briana Taylor Age: His: 28/Hers: 26 Occupation: His: Sr. Deputy at Santa Rosa County Jail/ Hers: Ad sales exec at Gulf Breeze News Together Since: 2012

BRIANA: We’re from the area, both born and raised in Santa Rosa county.

We’re also huge supporters of local business. It would be awesome to have as many people as possible come. It would be neat to share that with everyone. I actually have a dream to throw my July 18, 2013

BOTH: Gallery Night!

We enjoy the food, the music, the art, the wine, the people, the public, the places. It isn't just our date night, it's Pensacola’s date night and she is a beauty.

bouquet onto Palafox from a balcony, like it was Mardi Gras.

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

BRIANA: Our original wedding is scheduled to happen October 12 at our house

BRIANA: I don’t know if there is a typical date night for us. We try to make it a big outing. We drive to Biloxi or go on a tour of the lighthouse, something that’s not just having dinner. We try to do something different or learn something new.

Important reception question—Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Harlem Shake (or all of the above)?

BRIANA: That’s a hard one. We’d have to start old school and go with Electric Slide, then Cupid Shuffle and finish with Wobble.

KAYLYNN: It wouldn’t be until May [2014], here in Pensacola. MATT: At Old Christ Church.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

KAYLYNN: It was our two year anniversary.

He had my sister and my friends come and meet me out at the beach, and it was a surprise, they were hiding. After he proposed, they all flooded out and ran towards me. Having them there afterwards, I think that was the best part, being able to celebrate with all of our friends and family there. MATT: The most memorable part for me was when I asked, she collapsed.

KAYLYNN: I was just in shock!

What does a typical "date night" look like for you?

MATT: Just going out to dinner and then going out with friends.

We usually go out downtown to some of the bars down there— maybe one, maybe three, who knows.

[Laughs] We’re pretty Age: His: 28/ Hers: 25 fun people; we like Occupation: His: Account Executive at to play games, so we Ricoh USA/ Hers: Office Manager, UWF usually meet up with Marketing and Creative Services friends. KAYLYNN: Together Since: 2011 Gallery Night, Play or maybe out on the beach to Flounder’s— Pensacola brought us back just dinner and drinks. together and we would love

Matt Hawkins & Kaylynn Fantaski

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

KAYLYNN: We’ve known each other for about eight years. We dated about six years ago for a couple of months. I happened to move to Pensacola randomly, and after college he came back too. We met on a whim again after all those years.

nothing more than to have our wedding with the city that brought us together and celebrate with everyone. MATT: I grew up here. There’s no better way to celebrate than with your hometown.

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

Important reception question—Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Harlem Shake (or all of the above)?

KAYLYNN: Probably all of them but the Electric Slide.

MATT: No, no, no, we’ve got to do that one! KAYLYNN: Ok, all of them.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

JESSICA: The timing and creativity of how he did it.

He did it after I got home from class one night. He'd already asked my dad and had it all planned out. I thought that was a good thing, that he'd asked my dad's permission first. JARRETT: Her reaction; she kind of screamed and said "Yes!"

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

tying the knot?

JESSICA: October 12, 2013 on base [NAS], on the water.

JARRETT: We'd do it at the pavilion there.

What does a typical "date night" look like for you?

Jarrett Swearingen & Jessica Killam

Age: His: 25 / Hers: 26 Occupation: His: Deputy with Escambia County Sherriff's Office / Hers: Therapist/Evaluation Specialist with Lakeview Center Together Since: 2011

JESSICA: I think it's something that we would always remember and it would also be really great for us as far as finances go, to be honest with you. I just graduated from school, so I have loan payments and Jarrett's actually in school now, so it would be really

great to win. All the vendors are vendors I wanted to have; it would be really great to have them for our wedding.

If you don't win, where

and when do you plan on

JARRETT: Normally it's dinner and a movie. Shark Fin and Outback are two restaurants we normally go to. JESSICA: And then after we go to dinner, we ride around without the top on the Jeep and we sing Journey at the top of our lungs.

[Laughs]

Important reception question-Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Harlem Shake (or all of the above)?

JESSICA: All of the above.

And definitely, we'll probably have to throw the Moon Walk in there, too.

17

wait until next May. We really want to be married now.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

ALANNA: It was at Laundry’s, where we had our first date.

He had a music box made that played “Going to the Chapel”, all of my family and friends were there. EVAN: I had the ring in the music box, wrapped up.

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

What does a typical "date night" look like for you?

Evan Milby & Alanna Erickson

EVAN: It depends, we love to go grab dinner and then coffee/dessert. We like taking a couple blankets and my guitar out to the beach and spending some time together by the ocean.

Important recepEVAN: Thinking tion question— back, God’s always Age: His: 23/Hers: 21 Wobble, Cupid opened a lot of Occupation: His: Touring musician/Hers: Shuffle, Electric doors for us. TrustPhotographer Slide, Harlem ing God sets us up to Together Since: 2010 Shake (or all of the be rewarded. This is above)? one of those blessEVAN: I would ings that God could Pensacola and the look of it. go with Electric Slide, give us. It would also be a Plus, we’re not shy at all. only because I’m not the financial blessing. I’m lucky best dancer in the world. to have someone who’s If you don't win, where ALANNA: I would do the loving enough to let me and when do you plan on Harlem Shake because follow my dreams. And how tying the knot? it’s just so stupid. It would cool would it be to have it ALANNA: We don’t know be fun. outside? ALANNA: I love for sure where, we know that the history of Downtown we would probably have to

would be Austin.

What was most memorable about your proposal?

What does a typical "date night" look like for you?

SHIRLEY: When I could see in his eyes that he wanted to marry me. We were outside, having coffee in the morning.

He talked about what he saw in our future.

Why do you want to have a Block Party Wedding?

SHIRLEY: It would add to our romantic wedding. We just bought a house together and I moved from Austin to be with him. We would love to do it in Pensacola.

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

David Everage & Shirley Martinez Age: His: 36/Hers: 28 Occupation: His: Army reservist, student/ Hers: Customer service Together Since: 2012 SHIRLEY: In Austin, next year. Since I was giving up Austin to be with him, if we were to pick the place it

SHIRLEY: We love to go out to eat, somewhere that we can sit outside and take our little dog.

We like watching movies together and cooking together. We enjoy inventing new recipes.

Important reception question— Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Harlem Shake (or all of the above)?

SHIRLEY: Harlem Shake—he [David] already knows which guy he would be. I know he would pick that.

Vote here: pensacolablockpartywedding.com Voting closes July 29 at midnight

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