During spring, summer and fall, Whidbey Island is a popular choice for weddings.
Sherrye Wyatt, with Whidbey and Camano Islands Tourism, says the island is known as a wedding destination.
Now, she and other participants in the annual Weddings on Whidbey and Events Tour want to show prospective brides and grooms just how magical a winter wedding on the island can be.
The Wedding Tour, set for Nov. 8, is a showcase for all that Whidbey Island has to offer — from caterers to photographers, deejays to florists.
Many vendors who participate in the Wedding Tour are coming together to throw a dream winter wedding on Whidbey for one lucky couple.
All for free.
“It’s a new way to showcase the region,” Wyatt said.
Kim Winjum, associate publisher of Whidbey News Group and a member of the Freeland Chamber of Commerce board of directors, came up with the idea of holding a contest to help promote the island as a wedding and event destination.
“I thought this was a win-win, so I went to them and I pitched the idea of having this contest,” Winjum said. “They loved it.”
“One of the benefits of promoting weddings and having weddings come to our island is they do stay longer and spend more than many other tourists, and come back again and again,” Wyatt said.
Whidbey News Group is a co-sponsor of the contest, involved in advertising and promotion.
Winner of the contest will receive a wedding to be held Jan. 17, 2015. The prize includes a venue, photographer, music, make-up, wedding planner, invitations and more.
Anyone over the age of 18 who is eligible to marry in the state of Washington is allowed to enter.
Entrants must tell their story in 250 words or fewer. Deadline for entries is Oct. 31.
All of the entries will then be subject to online voting by the public. The voters will decide the top 10 couples.
From the top 10, the winning couple will be picked randomly during the Weddings on Whidbey and Events Tour.
The first 100 couples to enter the contest will receive a free general admission ticket for November’s Wedding Tour.
Everyone who votes will be entered for a chance to win a weekend trip to Whidbey Island, the winner of which will also be randomly chosen during the tour.
Gloria Mickunas, a wedding planner who is offering her services to the winning couple, was involved in the creation of the contest.
Mickunas said she is most looking forward to reading the stories submitted.
“You have to encapsulate why people should care and vote for you to win your winter wedding on Whidbey,” she said.
Wyatt agrees.
“It will be interesting to see what kinds of people enter, where they live and what connection they already have to the island, or if they are interested because they want the wedding,” she said.
Vendors involved in the tour were approached and asked if they wanted to participate in the contest.
Many said “yes.”
One of the main reasons given by those who declined was because they were already booked for weddings in January.
“It’s a wonderful idea, and it shows the generosity people on the island have to offer,” Wyatt said.
“That’s what’s so great about Whidbey Island,” Mickunas said.
“We have this sense of community and belonging and we want to support one another, and that’s what the tour’s all about … and promoting Whidbey Island for year-round weddings and events.”
For information about the tour, go to weddingsonwhidbey.net or for contest information, go to winawhidbeywedding.com
