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BY RHONDA BASSAT RIVERA
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
WEDDING TRENDS
On Saturday, June 26, 2010, bride and cancer patient Tina Tinervia, 33, wed Paul Velez, 34, surrounded by family, friends and kind strangers. All of the professional service providers who are members of the New Jersey branch of the Association of Bridal Consultants ("NJ-ABC") donated their time and/or services to make the newly-minted Velezes' day truly unforgettable.
"I think everything was superb," gushed Jennifer Zeimetz, Tina's sister. "I couldn't have imagined a more beautiful and special event for my sister."
Tina was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2006. Just two years after she beat it, she was rediagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in September 2008. In late January 2010, a PET Scan showed that the cancer in Tina's organs (liver, lungs, chest nodules) had shrunk. Unfortunately, the cancer in her bones has spread.
Less than a handful of the wedding vendors knew that Tina was in the hospital the day before her wedding. Luckily, she was released Friday night, and her wedding day was a dream come true. Smiling after the ceremony was finished, Tina said: "We didn't know if it was going to happen. I am relieved and happy. Everyone was just so generous."
Rich Bascomb of Craig Scott Entertainment summed up the NJ-ABC vendors' feelings well."When I was asked about A Wedding for Tina, all I could say is ‘What do you need?' This was such a truly moving story, I was so honored that we could contribute our talent and be a part of the wedding."
The members of the NJ-ABC who made this wedding "truly spectacular" – a sentiment expressed by many guests on Tina's Facebook page – donated over $30,000 worth of goods and/or services to Tina and Paul. The participating vendors were the following:
- Paper Works & Events of Englewood, paperworksandevents.com – invitations
- Officiant Julie Laudicina of Staten Island, New York, julielaudicina.com (member of the NY branch of the Association of Bridal Consultants ("ABC")) – ceremony.
- Elegant Ensembles of Closter, elegantensembles.com – ceremony and cocktail hour music.
- The Finishing Touch of West Orange, thefinishingtouchevents.com – wedding planning/day of coordination and wedding day stationery.
Magda's Designs, Inc. of Bloomfield, magdadesignsbeauty.net – hair and make-up.- Craig Scott Entertainment of Rochelle Park, craigscott.com – reception music.
Dynamite FX of West Berlin, dynamitefx.com – lighting. - Ocean Tents & Party Rentals of Manahawkin, oceantents.com – chair covers
Confectionary Designs of Bogota, confectionarydesigns.com – groom's cake. - Select Event Rentals of Pennsauken, weparty.com – linens.
- Timothy Glenn Photographers of Ridgewood, timothyglennphoto.com – photography.
- Multi-Vision of Paramus, gomultivision.com – videography.
- Rohsler's Allendale Nursery & Florist in Allendale, rohslers.com – flowers.
- Mariya Molduvanova of Lakewood – wedding day coordination.
- Taylor Nicole Events of Sicklerville, TaylorNicoleEvents.com – wedding day coordination.
- Christine Hyder Events LLC of West Orange, Christinehyderevents.com – wedding day coordination.
- All the Best Weddings and Celebrations, atbcelebrations.com – wedding planning
- Bride Ideas of West Orange, RhondaWeddings.com – public relations.
Although not NJ-ABC members, The Wedding Greenhouse provided the sapling favors and Concorde Limousine as well as Aladdin Limousine Service supplied the transportation for the Velezes, free of charge.
"We were very excited give back to a New Jersey resident in such a wonderful way," states Candice Benson, State Coordinator of the NJ-ABC. "When I learned about Tina's wish to have a wedding, I knew it was one thing that we, as a group, could make happen for her. She has been through a lot of treatments and we were very happy take the stress of planning a wedding away from her, and to make a difference."
Tina is a 1995 graduate from Freehold Township High School and a 1999 graduate from Rutgers University. She has a six-year old daughter, Ashley, from a previous marriage.
The NJ-ABC is comprised of vendor members as well as members who are wedding consultants. The vendor members come from all aspects of the wedding industry, including photographers, videographers, florists, musicians, venues, favor specialists, invitation designers, lighting companies, celebrants, media, insurance, travel, caterers, bridal shops, tuxedo rentals, hotels, rental companies, cigar rollers, transportation rentals, gown and bouquet preservationists, and many more.
Tina and Paul's wedding is the first of what is expected to be an annual NJ-ABC "give back" event. For more photos and video from Tina and Paul's wedding, go to the website for the NJ-ABC, newjerseyabc.com.
The ABC has been the professional organization for the wedding industry since 1955, and has over 4,000 members in 26 countries on six continents. The ABC is a membership service organization, designed to increase awareness of the wedding business and improve the professionalism of members. Membership is open to all wedding-related vendors. Members benefit from a local and national networking system, educational programs, and more. The international headquarters for the ABC is located in New Milford, Connecticut; the ABC can be found on the web at bridalassn.com.
Rhonda Bassat-Rivera is a wedding planner & consultant, and the founder of West Orange-based Bride Ideas. Have a comment on this topic? Want to ask Rhonda a question? Send her an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it – you may appear in an upcoming column!
