Pro-Bono Wedding: Lauren + Marty | Asheville, North Carolina
Everyone’s hearts grew a few sizes larger on Saturday, August 11 as Lauren Saia and Marty Bruckner said ‘I Do’ in Asheville, North Carolina.
Lauren and Marty met almost seven years ago while living in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, and were engaged shortly before Hurricane Irma in 2018. The devastation from this storm took so much away from them, forcing them to put their wedding plans on hold. Their focus turned on rebuilding their home and community and helping others affected by the storm as well.
Luckily, Anne Bequette, a wedding photographer and close friend of the couple who experienced the devastation of Hurricane Irma with them, got in contact with LLG Events to help plan the wedding of their dreams. Learning their story, tears came to our eyes and LLG realized how much of a deserving couple they were. This is why Lauren and Marty were chosen as the recipients of our first Pro-Bono Wedding. The wedding became about bringing people together from all walks of life and incorporating every vendor who wanted to help. Thanks to the kindest of the strangers who were enlightened by the couple’s stories, we planned a beautiful wedding in Lauren’s family’s home of Asheville, North Carolina, estimated at over $135,000.
Martina Liana Bridal was eager to get involved as they dug through their warehouse to find the perfect dress for Lauren. They only had one gown left of Lauren’s dream dress, and it was in her size, proving it was meant to be.
Bequette, who also contributed her photography services to the couple on their wedding day, explained “a tragic event doesn’t have to be so tragic, you can learn to hold on to each other, lift each other up, and carry each other through the hard times to the good. This is one of those good times that we’ve carried each other through, and I love how the community of Asheville has also been a parallel to that.”
LLG Events is honored to have helped give Lauren and Marty their happily-ever-after and helped plan their dream wedding!
WE COULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED THIS EVENT WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR AMAZING VENDORS:
Event Planning, Coordination + Design: LLG Events
Photography: Anne Bequette, STJ Creative Photography
Floral Design: David Kimmel Design
Ceremony Venue: The Ridge Asheville
Reception Venue: The Venue Asheville
Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Engaged Asheville
Catering: The Venue Asheville
Wedding Dress: Martina Liana Bridal
Wedding Day Videographer: Cassandra Isbell
Wedding Day Second Shooter Photography: Shadow and Light
Rehearsal Dinner DJ: Phantom Pantone
Rehearsal Dinner Equipment: Guitar Center Asheville
Ceremony Guitarist: Collective Music Solutions
Reception DJ: Erica Berg, Collective Music Solutions
Hair: Sugar + Spice Salon
Makeup: La Belle Visage
Cake: Dogwood Baker
Favors: Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn
Floral Warehouse: Blossoms at Biltmore Park
Calligraphy: Joy Unscripted
Rehearsal Dinner Drinks: Wicked Weed Brewing
Farewell Brunch Venue: Highland Brewing
Transportation: Young Transportation + Tours
Wedding Officiant: Mike Deserio
