Larry Stanley: Owner/ Photographer Montana Wedding Photographer
http://www.montana-wedding-photographer.com
Three years ago I met an amazing photographer, Joe Buissink, who inspired me with his story of participating in a gift wedding for the Make a Wish Foundation. He told me the story of this young girl who was dying from cancer. Her wish was to be married before she passed on. She chose to marry her father, the one man whose love was the shining light of her short life's experience. I wept as I heard the story of the wedding that he photographed, and Joe told me how it changed his life. It moved me to my core.

On that day, I set my motivation to put together a gift for someone very deserving. Fortunately, I found these two wonderful women, Megan and Jena that were willing to help make this a reality. Now we have found many fine folks that share our desire to give. This truly is The Gift Worth Giving.

 

Jena Silverness: Owner/ Designer/ Coordinator of Silver Lined Weddings
http://www.silverlinedweddings.com
In July 2010, I woke up in the middle of the night feeling extremely blessed to have a successful business that allows me to do what I love, and in turn I felt it was my responsibility to bless others!

My idea was to donate an entire wedding to a deserving bride and groom, along with other vendors. When I brought it up with wedding photographer Larry Stanley, in September 2010, I learned that he had been thinking about a similar project. In less than a week, Larry and I sat down and began to put wheels on the idea. We both agreed we wanted a third person at the table, and easily decided on Megan Jacks with After 5 and Weddings. Megan accepted without hesitation, and we have made a fantastic team. Since the beginning it seems everything has fallen into place. We have also teamed up with over thirty amazing vendors with a passion to give. This dream became a reality to many vendors, one deserving couple and myself in July 2011. I am equally thrilled this opportunity will become a reality for many deserving couples to come, as The Gift Worth Giving will be an annual event.

 

Megan Jacks : Owner After 5 & Weddings
http://www.after5andweddings.com
When Larry Stanley and Jena Silverness told me about their idea of a gift wedding, it was as if a piece of a puzzle fell into place. As the owner of After 5 and Weddings, I have met couples in the past that truly need help and deserve the wedding of their dreams. Now, we have created this amazing program to help in a big way. We made this dream come true for our first couple in July 2011 and I can't wait to meet our couple this year!