Almost every weekend I get to work with wonderful brides and grooms and their families and I love every minute of it!! On top of that, I get to work with phenomenal New Orleans Wedding vendors! We have fun and we are creative and professional and at the end of the day we get to be a part of the start to a new chapter in someone else's life! I do this work and choose this business because I truly love to see people happy, and if I can look back and say I helped make it that way even in the smallest way, then I am doubly blessed.
Knowing that I am making a difference in the world I live in has always been a part of who I am and what I do. I spent SIX years in DC and over that time I raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and organizations at home to help after the oil spill and other events. I ran and trained for an ungodly amount of races and miles and I held a ton of fundraisers. I did it all in the name of making a difference. I loved giving back. I still do love giving back. So now that I'm home I've been searching and praying and thinking of ways I could consistently give back.
I did a lot of research and talked to various people and found there was definitely a want within the New Orleans wedding industry to give back, to do something for others. Several of us are doing it! We have each decided to donate our services to a special couple who has been through so much! Right now we have the following:
Big Easy Limos for Transportation
Erin (me)
The bride and groom are old fashioned and love all things Disney and NOLA. The couple has a date of September 6, 2015. They wanted their families and their friends to be able to come and not worry about work or timing.
Our bride is Nina Neesom, born and raised her in South Louisiana. She's 46 years old and has been through a lot, but she's never allowed herself to become bitter. Now, she has finally found love and she is getting married.
Nina says she always lacked grace which has caused her to fall numerous times. Because of the weight and the falls, she's had many broken bones. In March of 2010 she had another fall, but this time she broke both ankles and damaged her knee. She had 3 surgeries and still can not stand for any length of time or walk any distance. Since then, she is very dependent on her wheelchair. She is hoping to be able to have the strength to walk down the aisle on her wedding day. Through all of this she stays so positive and strong in her faith. This past year she has lost about 100lbs and was so excited to wear her first Fleurty Girl shirt!
Nina met Jerry in October of 2013 online. Jerry was born with Spina bifida. A complication of Spina bifida is liver disease and a progressive loss of lower extremities. Jerry has both of these complication as well as others. He is confined to a wheelchair and has had numerous surgeries and is in the hospital so much that everyone at the hospital knows him. Just last year he spent over 2 months in the hospital. He now has congestive heart failure and diabetes in addition to the liver disease. But like Nina, he remains positive and has a great spirit.
Their first actual date was Christmas Day 2013 and they got engaged on July 25, 2014.
When Jerry and Nina met it was a coming together of two souls that had known hardships throughout their lives. Right away they knew how the other felt. They share some common issues, but compliment each other as well. What he can't do, she can and vice versa. They are always there for each other. For example, Nina explained he can get around the kitchen in his chair so he keeps both of them fed and she is able to help him when he needs things he can't reach.
Nina believes God has placed them together perfectly at this time in their lives to share however much time they have together. They both feel all of the roads before lead to this time and to each other.
If you would like to help make Nina & Jerry's day all that it can be, we can accept payments through paypal (send as a "gift" for Nina & Jerry to erin@itsyourtimeevents.com), or you can also contribute to their Disney Honeymoon registry! We are still working on a band/DJ and more transportation. Any help is appreciated!
We are so excited to be a part of this event and to share this wonderful moment with Nina & Jerry!!
