Just Vows - Love is Love Wedding Guide for Greater Fort Lauderdale

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MARRIAGE ISN’T DETERMINED BY WHOM

YOU LOVE BUT HOW YOU LOVE!

Introducing the premier issue of Just Vows-Love is Love Celebrating Your Wedding & Style Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Wedding Magazine.

MAGICAL MOMENTS The way our “marriage” with the GFLGLCC-Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce happened is magical like you getting married to your partner.

Same-Sex Marriage – the law of the land For over 25 years, Black-Tie Publishing, our company, has been publishing wedding magazines.

We decided to talk to the largest and most influential LGBT Chamber in the country. We were looking to partner with an association that was highly connected and respected by the community to help distribute this magazine. The GFLGLCC, with the support of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB), were the perfect team to help us.

JUST VOWS GOAL Every participant in this magazine is a member of the GFLGLCC assuring that these professionals will help you plan your special day and lives together. All advertisers are gay and lesbian friendly and are pleased to make your wedding process easy and comfortable.

REAL WEDDING COUPLES’ STORIES We hope that you will pick up some tips and ideas from these stories. If you would like your “wedding story” to be in a future publication or you have suggestions for something you would like us to cover in next year’s guide, please email us.

VISIT WWW.JUSTVOWS.COM Our website will continue to grow throughout the year.

Visit it for more event professionals to contact and to view updated information.

OUR TIP It took a long time for you to find the right person to spend your life with. The process of moving forward as Mr. and Mr. or Mrs. and Mrs. is ahead – so enjoy every minute together.

RELAX AND CONGRATULATIONS. LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!

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Nancy & Ron Feller Publishers info@blacktiepublishing.com 954.472.6003 www.blacktiepublishing.com For future advertising opportunities contact Black-Tie Publishing.

STAFF

JUST VOWS CELEBRATING YOUR WEDDING & STYLE GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE GAY & LESBIAN RESOURCE MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS Nancy Feller Ron Feller GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Susana Whitlock Timothy Whitlock SALES Deborah Lauer John Underhill Laura Schepps ONLINE DIRECTOR Stephanie Bosco-Luca ACCOUNTING SERVICES Steven Kahane Cover courtesy of Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau / Doug Castanedo Just Vows is an annual publication, distributed by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce with support from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB). The opinions, stories, and articles that are included in Just Vows are those of the writers, and may not represent the opinions of the publisher Black-Tie Publishing, who hold the copyright, or the GFLGLCC or their supporters. In all cases, Just Vows is addressing the entire LGBT community. All materials in Just Vows and in www.JustVows.com may not be reproduced without express written consent from Black-Tie Publishing, Inc. Although the information in Just Vows and www.JustVows.com is believed to be accurate at the time of printing, neither the GFLGLCC nor the publisher guarantee its accuracy and reserve the right to make changes without notice. All advertisers in Just Vows are members of the GFLGLCC and are completely independent and autonomous and in no way employed by or are contractors of the GFLGLCC or the publisher, with respect to performance or quality of goods and services. Neither the GFLGLCC nor the publisher will be held liable for the torts, intentional or unintentional or for the quality of performance of goods and services provided by the advertisers who appear in this publication.

Copyright 2016 Volume 1

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It’s no secret that destination weddings offer you a way to combine your love for one another with your love of travel.

Destination Weddings allow you to have a family and friend reunion as well as a more affordable grand event* (compared to the average hometown wedding).

If you are interested in a cruise or resort-style wedding, you’ll want to ensure all your needs, traditions, and wishes are honored. You want to make sure that your special day is handled by people who are knowledgeable in the LGBT industry as well as knowledgeable in emerging wedding trends. It’s your special day, and planning it should be a breeze for you.

As you push full steam ahead on your wedding plans, make sure the specifics are being handled such as legal marriage license details, venue location, wedding meals, design, photography, favors and more. Plus you’ll need an experienced travel advisor to help you find the perfect venue and location as well as your transportation and accommodations – you can fly or sail.

FINALLY, THE BIG DAY! MAKE SURE ALL PRE-EVENT PLANNING AND DAY-OF-EVENT-COORDINATION IS HANDLED BY A PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED AND CERTIFIED WEDDING EXPERTS.

• You want your special day to be stress-free.

• If family and friends have to travel, why not travel to a beautiful destination? Work with your travel advisor to find the perfect location for your special event.

• Combining a wedding and a honeymoon is cost-effective. On average, a destination wedding currently costs $20,890 vs. over $30,000 for a traditional wedding.

Whether it’s an intimate celebration for just two or a grand ceremony and reception for 150 guests, together there is a perfect destination for your event. Whether you desire a sandy beach in the Caribbean, a glacier in Alaska, or a castle in Ireland, a destination wedding offers you the opportunity to do something extraordinary while saving money, escaping stress, and enjoying a vacation with family and friends. Don’t forget about vow renewals, birthdays, anniversaries, and more for destination events!

Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, partners with Imagine Weddings and Events to provide the “Sea of Love” destination weddings program, a full service program designed to be a one stop shop for you with featured exotic and picturesque venues worldwide - all

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in either legal or LGBT friendly symbolic locations.

Contact your Cruise Planners Travel Professional today to get started. We look forward to serving all of your destination wedding needs.

Cruise Planners 888-535-4074 www.MyCPVacations.com

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CRASHING INTO LOVE

It was September 22, 2004. Jason had recently moved down to South Florida, and was meeting up with some new friends at Florida Atlantic University for a club he had just joined. After a significant amount of time had passed for Tommy and a few other members to arrive, one of the members waiting at FAU called Tommy to see where he was. Tommy told him that he had just gotten into a car accident right outside of campus. As soon as Tommy told them that he was in an accident, most of the group waiting at FAU, including Jason piled into a car and drove over to the scene. That was when Jason first laid eyes on Tommy, and was instantly struck by Cupid’s arrow. While his seven-month-old car was totaled, Tommy was fine, but a little too preoccupied to notice Cupid.

THE FIRST DATE

Finally, after months of waiting, Jason finally found the confidence, sort of, to approach Tommy about going out. Through an email, Jason asked Tommy out on a coffee date, though neither of them drink coffee. The following week, Tommy strongly hinted that he was hungry and wanted to get something to eat, hoping Jason would officially ask him out. Jason eventually got the hint, and the two went to Denny’s for their first date as a couple. This would become their anniversary, December 2, 2004.

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER...

As time moved on, the two got closer and closer. Over the years, they went to concerts, plays and baseball games together. They bought a house together in 2010 and have two dogs, Niko and Ryder. After many years, they decided if the laws changed they would get married. Once they did, Jason and Tommy decided that they wanted to keep December 2nd their special day, and legally tied the knot on December 2, 2015 – their 11-year anniversary, but wanted to throw a big wedding with as many friends and family as possible after the holidays on January 23, 2016.

THE WEDDING

The wedding took place at the Royal Fiesta Event Center in Deerfield Beach. There, Tammy and Robert, the owners, paid extra attention to Tommy and Jason’s needs and wants. Tommy was very decisive and knew exactly what he wanted to make their day perfect. Throughout the whole process, many people told Tommy he should give up his career in Marketing/Advertising to become a Wedding Planner.

The happy couple wanted to have a ceremony with two aisles that each could walk down, converging in front of the chuppah. The wedding colors were blue and orange for Jason’s love of the Mets, which worked well for Tommy because his favorite flowers are orange gerbera daisies. They didn’t want a traditional wedding cake, and Tommy despised the idea of the people cake toppers, so Tommy took to Pinterest to find answers. The answers were clear as soon as he saw them, a floating tiered cheesecake and Mr & Mr cake topper. And the “Mr & Mr” symbol became common theme within the wedding.

They had bits and pieces of Jason’s love of baseball incorporated in the wedding. Jason’s ring has baseball stitching, and “to keep with the baseball theme,” Tommy’s ring had to have diamonds. The ring bearers had baseball gloves instead of pillows, and obviously, the favors had to be personalized baseballs. But Tommy drew the line at wearing baseball uniforms and having an AstroTurf dance floor.

While they were apprehensive at first, they were pleasantly surprised that none of the vendors they spoke to or used had any issue with a same-sex wedding. One of the highlights of the wedding was actually when their photographer, Olga, took them to the dock at the restaurant next to Royal Fiesta for a few sunset pictures. One of the patrons asked, “are you getting married,” and when Jason and Tommy said yes, they received cheers, applause and congratulations. The day was perfect: eating, drinking, dancing, photos… everyone had a great time, and there wasn’t a single thing the happy couple would have changed.

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The GFLGLCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce invites you to choose Sunny Fort Lauderdale for your wedding and honeymoon.

Welcome to Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and family capital. We pride ourselves on being a diverse, inclusive and safe destination to spend your vacation and/or business trip as well as being a welcoming place to live, work and play. And now we welcome you to choose Greater Fort Lauderdale for your wedding and honeymoon destination.

Whether you’re a South Florida resident or not, we offer the widest range of gay and gay friendly hotels, guesthouses, inns and resorts that meets the needs of LGBTQ travelers from around the world. No one else can offer more gay businesses – many catering to your wedding, than Greater Fort Lauderdale!

For residents and visitors, we offer 23 miles of tropical blue-wave beaches and thousands of great options for your wedding, reception and honeymoon. You’ll also find miles of navigable inland waterways, the Everglades, gaming, designer and outlet shopping, world class cuisine, exclusive shops, vibrant nightlife, spectacular culture and much more!

For 2016, we’ve partnered with chamber member Black-Tie Publishing to bring you the ultimate wedding resource magazine. Designed to assist in the daunting task of wedding planning, we focused on Greater Fort Lauderdale. While some of our member advertisers are located outside of Broward County, they are all able to assist with weddings in our County.

We would like to give a special thanks to all of our advertisers for their support in publishing this magazine. They are all chamber members and fully support your love and commitment to your current fiancée and future marriage. Please let them know you found them here.

Thanks to residents and visitors like you, Greater Fort Lauderdale is a leading wedding destination for all – gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. So, sit back, relax and enjoy your wedding!

Keith Blackburn President / CEO GFLGLCC GoGayFortLauderdale.com

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APRIL: We met at a networking luncheon.

You know, everyone goes around and does a 30 second spiel. We weren’t at the same table but after Lea spoke I was blown away and thought to myself “what a dynamite woman.” I went up to talk to her and we became friends.

LEA: We were friends for about 4 years before we started dating. I had just gotten out of a long-term relationship and needed some cheering up, so I called April because she always made me laugh.

APRIL: Then we went to lunch, like we had many times before, but this was different. As Lea was telling me a story, I unexpectedly found myself telling her “you make me nervous”, because I realized that I was interested in her. And with those 4 words our relationship forever changed!

LEA: My jaw dropped because I really didn’t expect it. During the months that followed April courted me, yes “courted” me. She would wine me and dine me and met my parents. Our friendship turned into love and the months turned into years.

APRIL: It was 3 years after our first date later that we got engaged. The local LGBT vendors and allies put together an auction item for a wedding package for the Gay and Lesbian Lawyer’s Network Gala in April 2015. As the bidding started, I became overwhelmed by my love for Lea (she was hosting the event as the GLLN President and had given a speech about transgender youths who were there with their parents supporting them). I threw up my hand and yelled out a bid and won. I walked up to Lea and got down on one knee and proposed to her in front of the 200 guests, including her parents, after asking her father for her hand in marriage.

LEA: The “Big Day” went by so quickly. I enjoyed all of it – from getting ready; signing the Ketubah; the ceremony under the Chuppa; our first dance to “She Keeps Me Warm”; dancing with my father; watching April dance with her father; our siblings blessing the challah; cutting the cake; being surrounded by close friends and family. The day was magical.

BOTH: We both married our best friend!

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THROUGH THICK AND THIN You don’t know what the markets are going to do tomorrow, next year, or ten years from now. So your investment strategy should be one you can live with through market ups and downs. Changing your strategy in response to market movements is like having no strategy at all. Instead of chasing performance, determine how much risk you can handle and choose a mix of investments that reflects your risk tolerance. Making sure your portfolio is well diversified¹ can help keep you on track when the markets are volatile.

HANGING OUT Friendships don’t thrive if they’re neglected and neither do investments. At least once a year, check your investments’ performance. If your portfolio’s asset allocation has shifted from the targets you set when you created your strategy, you’ll want to rebalance² your portfolio to return your investment mix to its original percentages.

FRIENDS FOREVER? Over time, you may reach some goals or develop new ones. Your investing time horizon and your risk tolerance may change as well. Revisiting your strategy and adjusting it to match your current circumstances can keep you from making impulsive changes to your portfolio that might throw you off course. Please consider meeting with your financial advisor at least once a year or feel free to give us a call at 954-809-3553.

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Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.

Rebalancing a portfolio may create a taxable event if done outside a retirement account.

* Loose Change Newsletter, Vol. 22, No. 6, November/December 2015. Published with permission granted from DST Systems.

Susan M. Hurschman is a Registered Representative of and securities offered through OneAmerica Securities, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. 7480 SW 40th St, Suite 740, Miami, FL 33155, 786-773-5460. Insurance Representative of American United Life Insurance Company® (AUL) and other insurance companies. OneCambridge, LLC is not an affiliate of OneAmerica Securities or AUL and is not a broker dealer or Registered Investment Advisor.

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Our journey together began on January 24th, 1992. Our paths crossed one winter night in Montreal, and from that night on, we never looked back...

In 1993, Sean and I packed up our cars and moved to the USA to start our new life together. We had no clue what we were going to do. The only thing we knew was that our destination was hot and sunny Key Largo, Florida.

We had a very big obstacle ahead of us- we needed to become US citizens and get jobs! There were many ups and downs along the way, but having each other’s support was essential. Living in a tropical paradise didn’t hurt either!

In 1999, Sean and I packed our bags, once again to make another move. This time to Ft. Lauderdale. It was the next big step in our life. We had a house finally! We had our first puppy-Sydney! And soon after, our next dog Sebastian & three cats: Oliver, Eddie & Rocco, Lola & Rico-lovebirds, 4 fish tanks, snakes, frogs & lizards!

Our family was growing! Since then we’ve added Pebbles, Hana and Kobe. Three amazing dogs.

Life is great and continues to get better. In 2014 we decided to become dual citizens and become American citizens. We can now vote!

July 19th, 2014, after being together 21 years, Sean and I finally got married in front of our family and friends at the Chateau Vaudreuil in Montreal, Canada as gay marriage was not yet recognized in Florida. Our intense love of travel lead us to create the theme for our wedding: ‘Travel’- The perfect fit for us. It was an intimate setting, and we made this a 4 day celebration for family and friends who came in from Cape Town, St. Kitts and USA. We wanted everyone to enjoy Montreal and to see where we had both grown up.

We were married on the grounds of the Chateau Vaudreuil, where all of our family and friends stayed with us. The ceremony started off with a steel band playing the instrumental version of, “Take Care,” by Rihanna, as we walked down the aisle with my parents at my side right up to the pagoda. Sean walked down with his mother and 95 year old grandmother! The officient, my sister-in-law was amazing and captured the essence of our past which led us to this moment, there were many tears of joy!

Our ceremony was followed by an amazing group picture taken by our photographer, Victoria De Martigny of Creative Perspectives.

This lead in to a cocktail reception for our guests with more pictures and music played by the steel band as the sun began to set. At sunset everyone was lead into the dining room where our DJ, Andre Dery of Diamond Entertainment had started to set the mood for our entrance as husband and husband. It was amazing to enter the room and be cheered on by family and friends who have shared in our love all through the years.

Speeches were made, and yes there were more tears and lots of laughter to balance. This led to our first dance as husband and husband to Tina Turner’s Let’s Stay Together. Beyond amazing is how I would describe it. Next was the cutting of the wedding cake and feeding each other that first piece.

The DJ, opened up the dance floor and played all kinds of music from calypso, reggae, R & B, to some classic rock. Everybody celebrated on the dance floor and it was really great to see everyone just enjoying the moment and sharing our love.

What was next? For everyone that knows us there is always something coming down the pipeline!

We were approached to do the Love is Love Project for Ft Lauderdale CVB based on our wedding pics that had been all over Facebook. Sean and I along with two other couples began filming the ad for the Gay Marriage Campaign ‘Love is Love’ in anticipation of gay marriage being legalized in the US. Six months later, February 5th, 2015 as Gay Marriage became legal in Florida we renewed our vows with 100 other couples at the W Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach. This our other dream come true to be able to married in the state and country where we living.

While renewing our vows, we were in the process of realizing a 20+ year dream of having children. Our journey through surrogacy was a roller coaster ride to say the least! Luckily we had the guidance of a very amazing lady, Eloise Drane owner of Family Inceptions International, based in Atlanta.

After over two years of research and planning, in April 2015 we found out we were pregnant.

Excitement does not begin to describe how we felt.

The next news we got was incredible-we were having triplets!!! This was a true blessing for we always hoped to have two children, but three?!! Beyond amazing.

Getting through each trimester was rough just knowing the risks of having triplets. But this was meant to be!

Fast forward to November 21st, 2015 we are now fathers to three very healthy baby boys: Aiden, Kai, and Levi.

There are no words that can describe how we felt as we watched our boys come into this world one after the other. It was a wonderful and beautiful experience that showed us a whole different level of love.

Our lives have changed forever in the most special of ways! We now have the family we have always hoped for and dreamed of, and we are able to live our lives in a State and Country where we are finally officially recognized as equal!

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1. OH, BY THE WAY…MOM’S STAYING FOR A FEW MONTHS. Life Priority Issues Are you willing to fully welcome your partner into your life and make them a priority? What are your current life priorities in addition to your relationship? We all juggle many different priorities including work, family, friends and social life, volunteering, etc. How does committing to and nurturing your relationship with your partner rank in your priorities? This is a critical consideration, especially for couples who may have existing children and/or other family responsibilities. Write down your top 5 priorities in your life and make time to have a serious discussion to explore and examine how the dynamics of your priorities will impact your decision making as a couple.

will you keep your passion alive on a daily basis including date nights, sexual roles and preferences and when it’s ok to say not tonight.

4. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T WATCH ‘SCANDAL’???

Living and Lifestyle Issues How will you define your current living situations? Will you keep separate residences or combine? Can both of your style preferences be honored in the combined space? Does someone snore? There could be life changes down the road that you should both be aware of (having a child or a surviving parent move in). Keep track of areas of concern from who really puts the control in the remote to who hogs the blanket.

2. AN APPLE A DAY WON’T REPLACE MY VIAGRA.

5. MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING

Health and Wellness Issues What are you and your partner’s current health concerns – physical, psychological and emotional? Full disclosure of what is going on for you and your partner is an essential step in starting off on a successful relationship. How might health and wellness concerns impact your relationship in terms of work, family, friends, social interaction and intimacy? Have a full, open discussion so there are no surprises.

Financial and Economic Issues Money may not be able to buy happiness but it can destroy it in a heartbeat. How will you define your economic and financial well-being as a couple? What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is yours? Split everything 50/50? This doesn’t have to be a “one size fits all” policy. In fact, it’s healthy to decide how you will balance, barter, and bargain your way to a better budget!

3. WE’RE GOING ON SIX MONTHS WITH THAT “HEADACHE”!

While there are many other considerations that need to be explored and examined, these five areas are a good starting point to establish a solid foundation of understanding and mutual respect in core relationship areas. So grab your pad and pencil and start engaging before the engagement!

Intimacy and Sex Issues While you think you might already have this covered, we’ve all known couples who say “the magic is gone” far too soon for one or both of the partners. What is the distinction between intimacy and sex for you?

How important is sex and intimacy to both of you? Does one partner have a higher sex drive? Examine and discuss how

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Doug Cureton is the Founder and Lead Consultant for CreativiTEAM, Inc. in Fort

Lauderdale, FL. He designs and presents interactive workshops and seminars in many areas including this new workshop ‘POP IT OR DROP IT?’ Visit his website at www.CreativiTEAM.com.

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HOW WE MET We both worked part-time jobs at Athleta in Atlanta, a women’s athletic apparel store. We shared mutual friends, and initially felt that was a reason we should not date.

However, after several interactions in between our shifts, our undeniable chemistry led us to give love a chance!

Everything fell into place very naturally from there.

THE PROPOSAL Once we realized we both wanted to marry each other, we began window shopping for rings to find out what we each of us liked. The window shopping resulted in actual purchases one day, which started the “who’s going to propose first” clock. We both wanted to propose to each other, because we didn’t think either one of us should miss out on the experience. Months went by where we teased each other about how much longer the other one was going to have to wait. Surprisingly, the proposals ended up taking place in the same week, with similar themes. Tamara beat Katrina to the proposal by 2 days, because Katrina accidentally guessed Tamara’s plans, and Tamara decided to move her date up to recreate the surprise.

One of our favorite pass times was taking evening walks to have dinner or drinks. We lived in a highly walkable neighborhood. On the night Tamara proposed, we were taking a walk, and came to the bridge that had our favorite view of the city. A boom box was on the bridge, ready with our favorite songs. Tamara asked Katrina for a dance, spun her, and then got down on a knee to propose. Katrina said yes.

Because the Athleta was close to our shared home, we would walk each other home from work after either one of us worked a shift. On the night Katrina proposed, she’d decorated the path to their home, the entry way, and the living room with flowers, candles, and balloons that had cards with love notes attached to them. Once Tamara had read all the notes and made it into the main part of their home, Katrina knelt to propose. Tamara said yes!

We knew we wanted to be married on New Year’s Eve, because it’s a time for new beginnings. We also had the idea that we wanted to have a warm wedding, ideally with a boat involved. Our research landed us on Sundream Yachts. The decision to book them as our reception venue is how having a Florida wedding in winter began.

ABOUT US Katrina is a Recruiting Manager for a technology company.

Tamara has transitioned from a high school science teacher to an emergency medical technician. They live in San Jose (which Katrina’s job relocated them to). So, the wedding planning was more of a destination than originally planned.

It worked out perfectly, though, with warm weather in winter, a negotiated ceremony venue at the W Fort Lauderdale because of the holiday, and beaches for guests to enjoy in the days surrounding the wedding.

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DO WE NEED AN EVENT PLANNER? What would you like to achieve with your wedding? The answer should be to entertain my guest and ensure they have an awesome experience. Most importantly, a wedding or event planner will allow the couple to enjoy the planning process without the “headaches.”

All events, whether a wedding, birthday, anniversary, corporate function, bar-mitzvah – the goal is to make sure your guest feel taken care of, special and entertained. You can provide your guests with spectacular menu items, while offering them elements of surprise that keep them visually excited. All of these can occur with or without music and entertainment – but music no matter how subtle, makes the difference. An enchanting string quartet can enhance the flavor of the mood and add so much. A mime can place a smile on your guests face. A live band guarantees that your guests have just attended the best event ever.

WE NEED TO SAVE MONEY OUR WEDDING – WHY NOT CUT THE ENTERTAINMENT! Absolutely not. Your wedding won’t be the way you have dreamed it would be. An experienced dj can take care of making sure everyone has a good time. It is essential that there is music. Your guests need to be engaged with you and your wedding. If they were entertained -your event will be talked about for a lifetime. You will have unforgettable pictures, one of a kind memories and ensure smiles that speak for themselves and show everyone’s joy.

Choosing the right entertainment for each event is crucial. Asking the right questions to make sure that a Drag Diva is for you or A Spanish Flamenco dancer will take your dinner guest on an international journey, is where the professional planner’s experience comes into play. Creating the right package and matching it to the right guests sets the tone of your special day.

This is your day and a lot of planning and detail goes into making it flawless. Leave it to the professional to achieve what you have dreamed of.

UME Productions 954-243-3751 www.universalmusicevents.com

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Marriage equality is finally here! My sister just walked down the aisle with her partner of 27 years. Although long overdue, the sense of joy and meaning will be forever cherished by all of us who shared in their very special day. Every couple deserves a very personal and inspired wedding celebration that reflects their love and tells their unique story. The processes, the planning, the research and the expenses can be daunting at first, but if you take a deep breath and break down the process into digestible segments, you will be just fine. Couples have been successfully planning their weddings for hundreds of years, now it’s your turn.

Hiring the right caterer for your special day is one of the most important aspects of your planning process. After all, the venue, food, drink, service staff and table settings will consume the largest portion of your wedding budget. Your first step is to determine what you want out of a catered meal and what you want your guests to experience – level of formality; plated, buffet or stations; type of menu and food; and level of creativity and innovation. Once you have determined what you want out of the catering program, the next step is to determine your budget.

Budgeting can be one of the most challenging aspects of planning a wedding. Decide how much you’re willing to spend upfront and clearly communicate this when vetting potential caterers. It is important to understand that there are many other aspects beyond the food that contribute to a successful catering experience, and it is important to have a handle on what services and items are integral but not necessarily included in a caterer’s price. Don’t waste your time looking at pricey caterers who are clearly outside of your budget range.

Be certain to have a clear understanding of what the quoted price covers to ensure you are comparing apples to apples.

If you have to add the cost of cake-cutting and coffee service or set up and breakdown to the least expensive caterer’s quote, it may end up being comparable in price to the most expensive! This can feel overwhelming. Look for a caterer who will assist you early in the education process. Potential costs should be laid out upfront.

IN ORDER TO AVOID COSTLY SURPRISES, FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS INCLUDED; FOR EXAMPLE, • Tables, chairs, tableware and linens • Service and culinary staff and bartenders • Cutting and serving the cake • Pouring champagne for the toast • Providing coffee service • Set up and breakdown of reception • Transportation, trucking and equipment • Liability insurance Do your research! Look at their menus and their photo galleries. Check out their Facebook page, where professional photographers may have tagged them in photos. Read their reviews – WeddingWire, The Knot and even Yelp are great resources to find out what other couples have shared about their experience with the caterer.

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THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ARE THOSE YOU ASK BEFORE YOU SELECT YOUR CATERER. MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT ONLY GAYFRIENDLY BUT SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY. SOME QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR AND QUESTIONS TO ASK: • Flexibility with menu and presentation requests • Ability to accommodate special diets and needs such as vegetarian, vegan and children’s menu options • Dessert and wedding cake options • How and where the food is prepared – ideally on location so it is fresh and maintains the highest standard of quality • Staff-to-guest ratio • Ability to assist with other aspects of the wedding like providing wedding cakes, floral arrangements and décor or a photographer. Is their wait staff able to help with some of the day-of details like setting out place cards and party favors?

• Good communication, organization and response time • Longevity and reputation Check to see if the caterer offers a tasting experience. A tasting will allow you to fully experience the quality, style and presentation of their food. Caterers usually require a small fee to cover a tasting that occurs in the discovery phase, but they should give you a credit towards the total cost of your event catering should you book their services for your wedding.

Expect a lot from your caterer. Remember, this is your wedding day so do not hesitate to ask lots of questions! A good caterer should understand your overall vision for the day and listen to your ideas. They should be able to use their wealth of experience and talent and build upon your ideas to go above and beyond your expectations for your special day.

So do your research, communicate your budget and your vision and your particular needs, and most importantly, have fun in the process! Happy planning!

Eggwhites Special Event Catering 305-892-2066 www.eggwhitescatering.com

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To say that we have history is an understatement.

We have been in each other’s lives since we were nine years old. Although we did not know it we were going to come together again for many years to come. Ninth grade is when we really started dating.

Freshman year of high school had to be the most interesting. We lived, laughed, loved, and lost. It is cliché to say, but we were each other’s first love.

Head over heels in love with each other. I (Kayla) look back and think we loved each other at a wrong time. My dad had a hard time accepting I wanted to be with a girl and Katherine’s mom felt the same way. As hard as we tried, nothing prepared us for our separation. Taken from school, Katherine and I could only meet on the weekends. We dreamed of life after school, planned the names of kids, spoke of days past. And then, we couldn’t do it anymore. Tired of the stress, the excuses, and the difficulties, we went our separate ways. Katherine stayed in school close to home and I enlisted in the military. We kept in touch every now and again and reminisced on days past. Eventually I went back to Miami and when we met, the spark reignited. We picked up right where we left off. The rush couldn’t have been better. But, we were no longer the same. We had matured, learned some hard lessons of life, and knew it wouldn’t be the same. It’s this change that led us to realize we were ready for this love. Katherine proposed to me with a ring pop. Just showed up at the house, went down on one knee, and told me all the reasons we could make this work. I agreed and here we are a year later going strong and we don’t plan on changing that any time soon.

Our ceremony was held in Fort Lauderdale in the Sonesta Hotel. We were located on a beach front and our ceremony was conducted on a large balcony overlooking the beach. Our officiant, Peggy Lewis of Florida Ceremonies, tailored our wedding to our personal story and did a fantastic job capturing the core of who we are. The reception was held in the penthouse where our guests got to view the beaches from up above. The hotel catered the event, however, Munchies on a Stick created our beautiful wedding cake. Everyone loved both the food, cake, and desserts. Since Katherine’s mom owns a landscaping business, Ooh La Lawn, she created our centerpieces with flowers she picked out, our close friend provided music for the reception, and another friend took the pictures.

Although family and friends attending also provided their own personal pictures.

Now we are enjoying life in Olympia, Washington.

I am a veteran currently working as a supervisor in Office Depot and my wife Katherine is currently getting her affairs in order to join the Air Force. We have two very spoiled dogs who take advantage of our bed at every turn, partially our fault, but they’re our babies. We are talking about having kids soon and we are more than excited to see where our life will take us next.

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Jeff or Sarah

450

2

Y

N

Y

N

N

Y

$$$

25

EDEN REGAL BALLROOM & CATERING 1400 N. 46 Ave. Hollywood, FL 33021 954.922.3344 www.cateringeden.com info@cateringeden.com

Ravit Cohen

500

1

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

$$$$

17

Catering 250 Department

2

Y

N

Call for Call for Y Info Info

Y

$$$$$

25

Call for Call for N Info Info

Y

$$$$

27

Y

Y

$$$$

Inside Back Cover

Call for N Info

Y

$$$$

7

Elegant, exquisite decor with the feeling of a grand ballroom.

Raised levels on the main floor allows great visibility for all. State-of-the-art dance floor. Luxurious dressing rooms.

Outstanding customized menus, personalized service for the most discerning tastes.

Elegant, Beautiful, Classy and Modern is how you and your guests will describe your wedding at The Eden Regal Ballroom & Catering. Our stunning renovated Banquet Hall offers an intimate setting with seating from 50 to 500 guests for all occasions. We have a beautiful suite room, and the ballroom holds performing stage, enormous dance floor, and a fully equipped bar. Eden Regal Ballroom has everything you need to experience the wedding of your dreams.

EMBASSY SUITES DEERFIELD BEACH RESORT & SPA 950 S. Ocean Drive Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 954.312.2019 www.deerfieldbeach.embassysuites.com deefl_ds@hilton.com The perfect location for your beachfront wedding celebration with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Your friends and family will enjoy our spacious suites with all the amenities our resort has to offer. Your wedding destination with an ocean of possibilities!

FLAMINGO GARDENS 3750 S Flamingo Rd Davie, FL 33330 954.473.2955 x136 www.flamingogardens.org rentals@flamingogardens.org 60 acres of botanical gardens create the picture perfect setting, abundant with roaming peacocks and native wildlife, to share your special occasion with family and friends.

Michelle

250

1

Y

N

JACARANDA COUNTRY CLUB 9200 West Broward Blvd Plantation, FL 33324 954.474.8998 www.jacarandacc.com mreed907@aol.com Exclusively hosting only one wedding at a time in a private enclave with spacious all-glass hillside ballrooms boasting panoramic golf course, waterfront and garden views from every angle. Experience superb cuisine and attentive personal service!

Mike Reed or Darlene DeLuca

200

1

Y

N

Y

Catering 299 Department

1

Y

Y

N

LAVAN CATERING AND EVENT VENUE 3861 Stirling Road Hollywood, FL 33312 954.983.6937 www.lavancateringandevents.com info@lavancateringandevents.com

Lavan Catering and Events is committed to excellence and ensure that your event is handled with care, right down to the finest details.

We guarantee that every wedding hosted in our venue exceeds your expectations. Our reputation for providing the finest quality food and service sets us apart from the rest. Please contact one of our experienced event managers for more information.

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N

$: Up to $30 $$: $31 - $50 $$$: $51 - $75 $$$$: $76 - $100 $$$$$: $101 - $150 - $$$$$$: $151 +

Ima Com ge/ ments

be Fou nd on Page Ad can

e Fee Water view Rehea rsal Din ner Sp ace Range of Ave rage P rice

Renta l Spac

Cerem ony F ee

Maxim um Capa Room city Maxim Eventsum Numbe ro at On e Tim f e On Site Caterin g Availa ble Outsid e Cate rers A llowed

son Conta ct Per

Ve n u e InformContact ation

BCG BOUER CATERING GROUP 6750 N. University Dr. | 4807 S. Flamingo Parkland, FL | Cooper City, FL 33067 954.689.0110 www.bcgcatering.com info@bouercateringgroup.com

Y

Call for N Info

Y

$$$$

13

Barbara Lane

170

1

Y

N

Y

Call for Y Info

Y

$$$$$$

21

Tami or Robert

300

2

Y

N

Y

Y

$$$

Ad can

Renta l Spac

Ima Com ge/ ments

Y

be Fou nd on Page

Y

Water view Rehea rsal Din ner Sp ace Range of Ave rage P rice

1

e Fee

249

son

Cerem ony F ee

RIVERSIDE HOTEL 620 East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale , FL 33301 954.377.0971 www.riversidehotel.com blane@riversidehotel.com

Maxim um Capa Room city Maxim u m Events Numbe ro at On e Tim f e On Site Caterin g Availa ble Outsid e Cate rers A llowed

Pavilion Grille is a perfect venue for your Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners and Special Celebrations. Spectacular indoor Atrium Venue with Tropical Fountains, Natural Palm Trees and Romantic Canopy-covered 2,000 sq ft Dance Floor. Amazing Food, Dramatic Lighting and free parking.

Elizabeth Stark Perez

Conta ct Per

Ve n u e InformContact ation

PAVILION GRILLE 301 Yamato Road Boca Raton, FL 33341 561.912.0000 www.paviliongrille.com pavilliongrille@gmail.com

The timeless Riverside Hotel is both luxurious and laid-back, mixing tropical style with old Florida charm. On romantic Las Olas Boulevard, the Riverside Hotel is the place to be.

ROYAL FIESTA EVENT CENTER 1680 SE 3rd Court Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 954.570.9422 http://www.royal-fiesta.com info@royal-fiesta.com

N

Y

Inside Front Cover

Full-service event venue with two private rooms, nestled in The Cove, with panoramic views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

THE EVENT CENTER 6101 NW 31 Street Margate, FL 33063 954.977.3552 www.floridaeventcenter.com rabbihenryh@gmail.com Accommodating any kind of event from 50-700 guests.

Rated 4.5 to 5 stars. Seeing is believing. Building and decor in a Greek-Roman style.

THE SANCTUARY CHURCH 1400 North Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 954.564.7600 www.sanctuarychurchftl.org norman@sanctuarychurchftl.org

Michael Firstman

700

5

N

Y

Y

Business Office

250 1,000

1

N

Y

Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin

125

2

N

Y

Y

N

Y

$

35

Y

Call for Y Info

Y

$

9

Y

Call for N Info

Y

$$$$$$

35

The Event Center

The Sanctuary implies immunity, refuge, protection, restoration, & renewal. We are widely diverse, covering a variety of social and economic groups. We include & welcome people of all racial & ethnic backgrounds, orientation, & family arrangements.

SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL 1480 SW 9th Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 954.462.2004 www.SunshineCathedral.org Robert@sunshinecathedral.org We have two areas for receptions. Depending on your wedding need and size will help to determine which location you may wish to you.

$: Up to $30 $$: $31 - $50 $$$: $51 - $75 $$$$: $76 - $100 $$$$$: $101 - $150 - $$$$$$: $151 +

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We met twenty-five years ago in 1990 at an upscale supper club in Florida. Ray is an eye doctor and at the time owned two practices on Cape Cod. Wesley is a concert pianist with a television special airing nationally on PBS stations, but in 1990 it was early in his career, and he made his living playing piano at the supper club.

It was January 2nd when Ray and some friends came into that supper club, and Ray flirted with Wesley shamelessly sending over drinks to the piano. Since Ray was leaving the next morning to fly back to Cape Cod nothing much came of all that flirting!

A week later the friends who had been with Ray came back to the supper club on a mission. They told Wesley that Ray wanted to correspond with him (pre-email days) and asked Wesley for his mailing address which he scribbled on a bar napkin. Ray’s friends then called Ray and told him a completely different story — that Wesley wanted to correspond with him and had given them his mailing address. With the match-making completed, the first letter from Ray arrived in Wesley’s mailbox a few weeks later which he promptly answered, and so began a slow courtship by mail for four months.

During those months with each letter, they learned more about each other — that Ray had been working with a group of doctors to take medical care to third-world countries and that Wesley was struggling to find his footing in the concert world. Letters gave way to phone calls sometimes lasting two or three hours as they grew to know each other better. Eventually, Ray and Wesley began flying between Cape Cod and Florida creating a long distance (and expensive) relationship. Ray decided to relocate to Florida, and soon they were sharing a residence.

In those days, same-sex couples could not be legally married in the U.S. In 2015, Wesley and Ray celebrated twenty-five years together and watched in amazement as gay marriage in Florida became legal! Quickly they headed to the county courthouse to be married — not very romantic, but LEGAL! Ray promised Wesley that YES, they would have the big church wedding later in the year. As plans got underway, the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal across the United States, so in celebration the wedding plans became even bigger!

On October 10th at 10:10 a.m., the iconic mid-century modern Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale rang out with music as guests gathered for the “wedding of the century”— as friends had dubbed it! Upon arrival, guests were greeted by groomsmen in kilts, and two larger-than-life topiary peacocks are standing guard.

A 10 ft. by 10 ft. “floating arch” of orchids and toile framed the entrance to the church nave. The aisle was graced by fourteen 12 ft. high floral tree creations representing Ray and Wesley’s 14 months of courtship. Across the Chancel flew four 21 ft. long banners emblazoned with Ray and Wesley’s family’s crests.

The Allegro Chamber Ensemble played as the guests were seated.

The ceremony began with David Dunlap, the internationally acclaimed organist and PBS star, filling the space with divine sound. Classical Tenor Kurt Hoffman flew in from the Washington DC Opera to perform two stunning selections, and rising Broadway singer, soprano, Marlyn Sanchez, amazed the audience with her gorgeous voice. The ceremony began with a choral work written specifically for the wedding by Wesley, and the processional was led by a large choir under the direction of Mr. Chuck Stanley (NOVA Singers) and robed in the wedding colors.

Following the ceremony a sophisticated champagne and truffle reception was held in the church narthex while the Allegro Chamber Ensemble played. Afterward, close friends and family gathered at the Lauderdale Yacht Club for a private brunch on the water featuring jazz harpist, Stacey Berkley. Following the meal, guests were treated to a one-of-a-kind peacock cake created by Sweeter Days which perfectly complimented the peacock motif.

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CAKES

FLORAL & EVENT DÉCOR

Edda’s Cake Designs 954-885-8770 www.eddascakedesigns.com

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CANDY BUFFET

Water Mill Events 954-772-0200 www.watermillevents.com

Candy Buffet Lady 561-715-7745 www.candybuffetlady.com

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CATERING & EVENT PLANNING

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BCG Bouer Catering Group 954-689-0110 www.bcgcatering.com .

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Eden Catering 954-922-3344 www.cateringbyeden.com

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Eggwhites Special Event Catering 305-892-2066 www.eggwhitescatering.com .

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GFLGLCC - Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce 954-523-3500 . . . www.gogayfortlauderdale.com

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CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

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GOURMET FOOD & WINE BASKETS

Water Mill Flowers & Gourmet Baskets 954-772-0200 www.watermillflowers.com .

Cruise Planners 888-535-4074 www.mycpvacations.com

Dream Vacations 877-632-5301 www.lgbtcruises.net

Go Airport Shuttle 954-561-8888 www.go-airportshuttle.com

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT .

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LUXURY CAR & TRANSPORTATION SERVICE

DJS & ENTERTAINMENT .

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Argenti Designer Jewelers 954-772-6177 www.argentidesignerjewelers.com

Yellow Cab Advantage 954-777-7777 www.yellowcabbroward.com

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Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau 954-767-2486 www.sunny.org/loveislove . . .

Back Cover

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

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FULL PARTY & EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Miami Black Cars 305-849-8426 www.miamiblackcars.com

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

One Cambridge, LLC 954-809-3553 www.susanhurschman.com

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HONEYMOON/TRAVEL

Big Chef 954-965-2480 www.bigchefonline.com

Jamrock DJs 754-213-1364 www.jamrock-djs.com

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Elegant Parties 954-956-8227 www.elegantparties.com

A Joy Wallace Catering & Design 305-252-0020 www.ajoywallace.com .

Culinary Artz Catering 954-803-8818 www.floridacater.com

A Joy Wallace Catering & Design 305-252-0020 www.ajoywallace.com .

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The Motowners 954-529-5962 www.blackswanspecialevents.com UME Productions 954-243-3751 www.universalmusicevents.com

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OFFICIANTS

Florida Ceremonies Non-Denominational 954-842-3191 www.floridaceremonies.com

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South Florida Gay Weddings Non-Denominational/Personalized

954-763-5540 www.southfloridagayweddings.net

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PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO

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Todd Good Photography 561-818-9330 www.toddgood.com .

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The Event Center 954-977-3552 www.floridaeventcenter.com

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The Sanctuary Church 954-564-7600 www.sanctuarychurchftl.org

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Sunshine Cathedral 954-462-2004 www.sunshinecathedral.org

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The Sanctuary Church 954-564-7600 www.sanctuarychurchftl.org

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Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa 954-426-0478 www.deerfieldbeach.embassysuites.com . .

Eden Regal Ballroom & Catering 954-922-3344 www.cateringbyeden.com .

Flamingo Gardens 954-473-2955 www.flamingogardens.org

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Lavan Catering & Event Venue 954-983-6937 www.lavancateringandevents.com

Royal Fiesta Event Center 954-570-9422 www.royal-fiesta.com .

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SHOWERS & REHEARSAL DINNERS

BCG Bouer Catering Group 954-689-0110 www.bcgcatering.com .

Riverside Hotel 954-467-0671 www.riversidehotel.com

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RECEPTION SITES

Pavilion Grille 561-912-0000 www.paviliongrille.com

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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

Darien Digital 561-704-4443 www.dariendigital.com

Jacaranda Country Club 954-474-8998 www.jacarandacc.com

Sunshine Cathedral 954-462-2004 www.sunshinecathedral.org

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CafĂŠ Med Ristorante 954-596-5840 www.cafemeddeerfield.com

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TUXEDO RENTALS & SALES Southern Formals 954-463-1171 www.southernformals.com

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WATER TAXI TOUR

Water Taxi 954-467-6677 www.watertaxi.com

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WEDDING & EVENT PLANNING Elegant Memories 954-752-0004 www.elegantmemories.us

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Heather Corinne Signature Events 954-348-8954 www.hcsignatureevents.com .

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Gay & Lesbian Wedding Resources www.justvows.com . . .

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WEDDING RESOURCES .

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Inside Front Cover

Wedding & Event Referrals www.weddingandeventreferrals.com

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