We are so proud to announce our three finalist couples for The Gift Worth Wedding of 2013.  We met so many fine couples this year, all of whom were very deserving in unique and different ways… it was really hard to narrow it down to our three finalist.  So here they are, in no particular order except that they all have a chance of winning this gift wedding from our community of sponsors.

We’ll be adding a little about each couple’s story in the near future.  They have all faced challenges and obstacles in life with determination, bravery and resolve.  They are all hero’s in our book!

Jennifer Hodges and Adam West of Bozeman

     Jennifer and Adam both served our country in the Marine Corp, but although they were sometimes stationed where the other had lived, they did not connect until they were both here in Montana. Meeting casually when Adam worked at a local bowling alley, he says he knew right away that her daughter was a veryimportant part of her life. Since then, a wonderful friendship has formed between Taryn, Jennifer’s daughter, and Adam including both the Little Mermaid and The Ninja Turtles!

After facing many struggles since becoming a single mom, Jennifer is now attending MSU using her GI Bill.  Adam works at the Detention Center and has applied to become a member of law enforcement in the Gallatin Valley.  He will be giving back to our community for many years to come.  They share a huge love for Montana and each other and we are thrilled to consider them for The Gift Worth Giving.

Megan Jacks
Founder

*****

Stephany Kessler and Manny Sedillos of Billings

    Stephany Kessler and Manuel Sedillos from Billings, Montana are described by friends as fun loving people who would do anything to help anybody, they are also described as unselfish, kind and fun.

Stephany and Manuel met working together at Albertsons while still in high school. Their love has remained for the last six years and continues to grow deeper. They have worked tirelessly to support themselves through college and the downturn. Stephany is graduating college in 2013, with plans to become an Occupational Therapist with a special interest in working with children. Manuell is happy to have only one job after years of holding down several jobs at once, a security consultant he is looking forward to building a career.

Patience and devoted hard work are hallmarks of this couple who have grown up at one another’s side and understand how love presents as fire and settles to coals over time making their commitment to each other and their bright future inspiring

Stana Milodragovich
Administrative Director

*****

Jordan Goode and Justin Clay of Bozeman

    On February 10^th, 2010 it was love at first site.  Jordan was best friends with Justin’s younger sister, but for years she had never met Jordan until that date.  Eleven days later, they had their first date and have been inseparable ever since.

Both Jordan and Justin have faced difficult life situations in very different ways.  Jordan is a breast cancer survivor.  The circumstances of the illness, surgery and treatment took it’s toll on her previous relationship, leaving her standing strong on her own to move forward in life.  Justin is the oldest of eight children.  Due to difficult circumstances he had the responsibility of working to make sure his younger siblings had what they needed.  At the age of 10 Justin started his first full time job to help pay the bills.  He put his own education on hold to take care of the needs of his brothers and sisters.  Later he graduated High School and to this day carries a small copy of his diploma in his wallet.

Jordan works as a personal care giver for a disabled person in the Gallatin Valley and struggles with the enormous medical debt from her cancer treatment.  Justin is an on-call mechanic in the Bozeman area. Both of them are involved in helping others in need in our community.  Justin and Jordan believe in what Justin aptly describes as the ‘ripple effect’ of giving, with the notion that little ripples of good build together to form waves of love, help and support for others.

We are honored to share these stories of our three finalists, each enormously deserving.

Larry Stanley
Founder

*****

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Last night we gathered with a few of our Gift Worth Giving vendors that helped up read the applications.  I had invited the yet uninformed couple.  I told them that all three runner’s up were coming in for a photo for the newspaper, and some of the vendors were going to be here to meet them all.  After a few brief introductions I went about my business of getting the photo that they came for.  After a few images, I turned to the vendors and said, “say, did you all meet the winning couple of The Gift Worth Giving?”  It took a moment for it to sink in and after that it was all joy and tears.

Announcing the winners of The Gift Worth Giving wedding of 2012,  Holly Coville and Joshua Watson.

Holly and Joshua get the surprise of a lifetime!

Some of the Gift crew celebrate with Holly and Joshua.

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OK, so… Larry here with the results from the hours of application reading and interviews.  Megan, Jena and I are pleased to announce the three finalists for The Gift Worth Giving 2012!  Here is the press release with all the information.

Bozeman, Mont., January 25, 2012 —The Gift Worth Giving is excited to announce the three finalists in their second annual $40,000 dream wedding giveaway. Three wedding professionals, including Larry Stanley, photographer and owner of Montana Wedding Photographer, Jena Silverness, event designer and owner of Silver Lined Weddings and Megan Jacks, owner of After 5 and Weddings bridal and formal wear shop, have teamed up once again to gift a dream wedding to a deserving Montana couple. The finalists are: Aimee Kissel and Gerald Brunckhorst of Belgrade and Bozeman, Jennifer Schrock and Garrison SinClair of Bozeman and Holly Coville and Joshua Watson of Livingston. All three of these deserving couples are now one step closer to the wedding of their dreams. The finalists were announced live at the Bridal Affaire and the winning couple will be announced on Valentine’s Day.  The wedding will take place on June 12, 2012 at historic Springhill Pavilion.

“The selection process has been extremely difficult”, says Megan Jacks, co-founder of The Gift and owner of After 5 and Weddings. “We received over 60 applications, and it has been really difficult to narrow our choice to these three amazing couples.  We would love to be able to give a wedding to every couple who shared their story with us.”

Aimee and Gerald

Aimee Kissel and Gerald Brunckhorst were both looking for a second chance at love – both raising daughters and hoping to meet that special person with whom to spend the rest of their lives.  For Gerald it was difficult to find someone who would not be afraid to begin a relationship with him because he has kidney disease.  Three times a week he has dialysis in order to give him the time needed to receive a transplant.  Twenty two years ago his sister donated one of her kidneys so that he could live a healthy life, but now he needs another transplant.  Aimee looks at it this way, “I know that anything could happen in the future. He may not make it to old age with me, but because of his strength and our love we believe he will.”  They live every day being present and in love and look forward to being married.

Jennifer and Garrison

Jennifer Schrock and Garrison SinClair met during high school at Mt. Ellis Academy here in Bozeman.  After high school they reconnected and fell in love, spending as much time together as possible while living five hours apart.  Now that they live in Bozeman, they spend a great deal of time volunteering both at the school and throughout the community.  Garrison asked Jennifer to marry him on New Years Eve at sunrise and they are looking forward to their wedding day.  Both Jennifer and Garrison grew up in Montana, Jennifer outside Billings and Garrison in Browning.  They lead a youth group and volunteer with groups such as Eagle Mount as well as working full time, and completing college.  As Jennifer says about Garrison, “He is my best friend and my other half.”

Joshua and Holly

Holly Coville and Joshua Watson have been through a lot.  Holly moved twenty times before her eighth grade year.  At that time her family was living without electricity and plumbing and she was no longer able to get to a school at all.  With just an eighth grade education Holly was able to join a program which allowed her to complete her GED and receive an associates degree.  She is now attending MSU full time as well as working to support herself.  Josh works full time for the City of Bozeman while commuting back and forth from Livingston in their only vehicle.  They’ve tried to plan a wedding in the past year, but know that they could only afford a courthouse wedding. As Holly puts it, “It is our dream to share a beautiful Montana wedding with our families.”

This year’s dream wedding is planned for June 12, 2012 at the historic Springhill Pavilion. The venue, the event design, the bridal gown, attendants’ dresses, tuxedo rentals, photography, flowers, catering, live music, DJ, wedding rings, makeup, beverages and more will be provided for the couple by a group of well-known, local wedding vendors. In total, this gift is valued at more than $40,000.

The three couples completed an application to be considered.  The winning couple will be chosen by The Gift Worth Giving founders and contributing vendors based on why they believe they deserve to receive a dream wedding. As Founder Megan Jacks stated, “Deserving can be defined in many ways. Maybe our couple is experiencing financial hardship, an illness or they might be very community-minded and deserve this gift because they themselves are so giving of their time as volunteers. Our couples have been considered for many reasons.”

The winning couple will be announced on February 14, 2012, Valentine’s Day. Once the couple is chosen, they will meet with all the contributing vendors.  First they will meet with the Founders of The Gift Worth Giving, Jena Silverness of Silver Lined Weddings to continue the wedding design and planning, Megan Jacks of After 5 and Weddings to choose the bride’s dress and attendants’ dresses, and Larry Stanley of Montana Wedding Photographer to do their engagement shoot. Then they will have approximately four months until their wedding date of June 12, 2012.

For more information, contact Megan Jacks, After 5 and Weddings, (406) 586-3124,

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