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Airman takes the leap, weds fiancé free of charge

  • Published
  • By By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  It was a dream wedding for both the bride and the groom, and it was free.

Air Force Reserve Capt. Paul Hayes, 920th Rescue Wing military equal opportunity officer here, married his fiancé Aleshia Panbamrung at a nearby beachfront hotel on Leap Day Feb. 29, and it cost them nothing because nineteen local vendors sponsored their wedding.

A little more than six weeks earlier, during a meeting at the local chamber of commerce about a new destinations wedding web site they were launching, wedding vendors decided the best way to kick it off was to have a wedding.

With little time to select interested candidates willing to trade nuptials in the media spotlight, yet pull off a first-class affair, it was decided to offer it up to a Patrick AFB couple, according to Christine Michaels, Melbourne Area Chamber of Commerce president.

So an email went out which eventually landed in Hayes' inbox. With little time to spare, he discussed it with Panbamrung and the two decided to tie the knot, sooner rather than later.

"With life going a million mph, we just didn't think it was going to happen any time soon," said Hayes who popped the question six months earlier. Both Panbamrung and Hayes are working toward doctoral degrees and live on a strict monetary budget.

When they said, "yes," planning the wedding commenced immediately. Many of the vendors commented on how perfect Hayes and Panbamrung were, not only as a couple, but as people. They were often referred to as "down to earth, nice and easy to work with."

"It was exactly what we needed," said Hayes of the wedding opportunity.

Hayes is earning his doctorial degree online through Indiana Institute of Technology in Global Leadership and Panbamrung is attending the University of Central Florida for Modeling and Simulation. In addition, both Hayes and Panbamrung work full time.

"Jenny was awesome and relentless," said Hayes. "She forced us to do things we would not have thought of ourselves."

"They were the ones for us," said Jenny McClure, Creative Events wedding planner. "There couldn't have been a more perfect couple to do this with." McClure put the wedding together free of charge using various products and services from all the other vendors.

On their wedding day, all vendors were in attendance while they sped through the marital traditions--the first dances and the cake cutting, then everyone enjoyed a piece of lemon chiffon sponsored wedding cake.

It was estimated that the couple saved $12,000 with all the products and services that were donated to them for the wedding web site launch.

While the wedding was held on leap day, that does not exclude the couple from celebrating their anniversary annually, according to the bride. According to Michaels, Leap day was a unique day to hold a wedding and that is why it was selected.

Some of the donations included: wedding dress, wedding bands, tuxedos, Deejay entertainment, pianist, video and photography services to include engagement photos, the wedding venue, the flowers (decorative and bouquets), their rehearsal breakfast and three wedding cakes.

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No federal endorsement of sponsors intended.