For the handsome grooms and brides in white gowns, a corps of professional photographers will capture their full day and evening of precious moments with their 284 wedding guests in historic chapels with elegant flowers, harp or Renaissance lute music playing, and a grand reception with individual cakes and dancing.
For the seventh year, this magical day of gifted military weddings brings hundreds of volunteers together in support of the heart-warming Savannah-based initiative to honor military couples.
“It’s an American tradition to give back. Even in modern-day Savannah, we welcome strangers as we would family and close friends, as is the deeply rooted tradition here. Showcasing full southern style hospitality, our all-volunteer Weddings for Warriors initiative works year around to gift one-day military weddings in January each year. We’ve hosted as many as 40 in one day,” adds board member Dave Gibson. “The individual weddings afford a time for personal celebration that too many of our brave and beautiful USA service forces forego repeatedly while meeting their military obligations.”
The 2015 military couples hosted in Savannah will arrive from southeast USA points as far away as the U.S. Army base, Fort Eustis (Newport, VA) to include Shaw Air Force Base (Sumter, SC), U.S. Marine Corps and Air Station (Parris Island and Beaufort, SC), Fort Stewart (Hinesville, GA), Fort Gordon (Augusta, GA).
One week earlier on January 8, 2015, at the plantation of The Mackey House, the Mackey family and Weddings for Warrior Board of Director members hosted the important meet and greet, rehearsal reception for the military couples receiving the gifted weddings from Weddings for Warriors. The Mackey House is a mansion-to-meadows special event and wedding venue located in the countryside eight minutes from downtown Savannah.
WHO:
Hundreds of volunteers, including wedding professionals, former Weddings for Warrior recipients, community volunteers, and generous vendors pool resources and enthusiasm annually to host the gifted military weddings in Savannah, Georgia, each January. It is Savannah-based writer Heather Grant who commented, “As beautiful as they are brave” when seeing two young WWII-era photographs posted on a friend’s Facebook page recently.
WHAT:
For the 7th year, the full day of FREE individual ceremonies — two weddings and 15 vow renewals in January 2015 — for active military men and women take place in the American tradition of gratitude and giving back.
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 ** all day, beginning at 11 a.m.
WHERE:
In Savannah, Georgia – once the military-strategic city founded by the British in 1733 — Georgia founder James Oglethorpe reserved solemn places of worship in the famous city plan. Two weddings and fifteen vow renewals will take place in those historically reserved settings — Mickve Israel Synagogue (Monterey Square), Wesley Monumental Methodist Church (Calhoun Square), First Baptist Church (Chippewa Square), Trinity United Methodist Church (Telfair Square), and First African Baptist Church (Franklin Square).
HOW:
The Savannah-based Weddings for Warriors initiative is laced with the spirit of American gratitude. From bridal gowns, flowers, photography, music, professional makeup and hair styling at the original Mighty Eighth Air Force headquarters (now American Legion Post located near Forsyth Park in downtown Savannah) to the grand reception at Savannah Station, the area’s wedding community and friends roll out the red carpet of appreciation to military couples. Lodging for wedding couples is free, thanks to local hotels.
Originated by Savannah’s wedding professionals, the non-profit Weddings for Warriors initiative is now coordinated by an active board of directors. Wedding planner Becky Byous is lead coordinator for the group’s efforts to produce the military wedding events over seven years.
WHY:
Deployment, resources, and military life had often taken priority for these military couples. Until Wednesday, January 14, 2015 – a day of fairytale weddings, full-wedding vow renewals and a grand reception.
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