Following the report in last week’s edition of The Anguillian on the above story, the Special Adviser for Tourism, Donna Banks, issued a comprehensive press release which appears below.

Mr & Mrs Nicholas Graby

The Caribbean Fair & DoItCaribbean Wedding was one of the highlights of the recently concluded CTO Tourism Week held in New York from May 29 to June 3, 2005. The event took place at the historic South Street Seaport, Pier 16, welcoming thousands of consumers from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.

The Fairchild Bridal Group, publishers of Bride’s, Elegant Bride and Modern Bride magazines, collaborated with CTO to stage the second annual live DoItCaribbean Wedding which took place at 3 p.m at the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, May 31, 2005.

The lucky couple to get the Caribbean wedding at the South Street Seaport, Pier 16, was Nicholas Graby and Jennifer Kaseta both graduates of UCONN in Connecticut, USA. The couple was selected after entering a sweepstake during which they were required to send in their engagement story. The couple “literally bumped into each other” during one summer, started going out in the fall and did not leave “each other’s side ever since”. The proposal was made on December 24, 2004 under the “big Christmas tree in Rockerfeller Center”. CTO and the Fairchild Bridal Group reviewed the submissions and interviewed the finalists before determining the winners.

In addition to the wedding at South Street Seaport, Pier 16, the couple received flowers for the bridal party, a wedding cake, a wedding gown , bridal photography, a bridal fork and knife, a four-night stay at a New York City hotel and a Caribbean honeymoon in their destination of choice _ Anguilla and the Cap Juluca Hotel. The couple was also serenaded by three-time McDonald’s Gospelfest winner Mr. Gerard Placide and following the ceremony, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda hosted a reception in the couple’s honour. The couple was also honoured at the 32nd annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball on Friday, June 3, 2005 at the Waldorf Astoria.

Anguilla’s Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming among others at the wedding

Chief Minister, Hon. Osbourne Fleming at the wedding ceremony, offered congratulatory words to the couple and extended to them a pre-arrival welcome to Anguilla. Following the wedding ceremony the bridal party visited the Anguilla booth (which exuded an atmosphere of opulence and romance) for a cake cutting ceremony, met with Anguilla’s tourism officials and received a number of gift items.

The DoItCaribbean Wedding and Anguilla’s sponsorship of the honeymoon for the couple afforded the island much publicity reinforcing Anguilla’s image as a honeymoon and romance destination. The island received radio, television, newspaper and magazine coverage as a result of the event.

Anguilla was represented at the Caribbean Fair and DoItCaribbean Wedding by Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, Special Advisor Tourism, Donna A. Banks, Director of Tourism, Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch, as well as staff of the Anguilla Tourist Board, USA, and its public relations agency, PMG. Minister of Finance Victor F. Banks and Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board John Benjamin subsequently joined the Anguilla delegation for the remainder of the CTO’s Caribbean Week as well as the Anniversary Dinner marking the 2004 opening of the Anguilla Tourist Board offices in White Plains, New York.

The couple, Nicholas Graby and Jennifer Kaseta, arrived on Anguilla, June 4 for their 4-day honeymoon stay at the award winning Cap Juluca Hotel. Air transportation was provided by American Airlines and American Eagle.

According to CNN Money, Modern Bride’s readers picked Anguilla as number 4 in the 10 best honeymoon spots. Anguilla topped all other Caribbean destinations making it on the 10 best list.

Highlights of Caribbean Week 2005 activities including the DoItCaribbean Wedding are available at www.caribbeanweekny.com or www.onecaribbean.org.

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