Fort Lauderdale Weddings Part Of Love Project Commercial Campaign
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - Wedding cheers echoed through the beaches of Fort Lauderdale on Thursday morning. However, none of the matrimony celebrations were actually real. It was all part of a commercial campaign meant to promote its "Love Project".
Three mock weddings, packed with extras, were conducted as part of the "Love Project" put on by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitor & Convention Bureau.
"I think it's all about love," said Mike Mesveskas who acted in the commercial. "You find that person that you're really connected to and you start a life with them."
Meghan Bussell knows a thing or two about making a strong connection with someone. When she met Tanya Rodriguez, it was love at first sight.
"I got this weird feeling in my tummy and didn't know how to explain it," Bussell said.
Eventually Bussell said she figured out those butterflies were her love for Rodriguez.
"She asked me to marry her," Rodriguez explained.
"We got married in April in New York in the cherry blossoms. It was awesome," recalled Bussell.
The couple is part of Greater Fort Lauderdale's "Love Project" and went to the beach to support the idea of the faux festivities.
Tony Warner and Sean Warner did an excellent job modeling for the commercial. That is because the two have been together for 22 years and got married three months ago in Canada.
"It's like what we wanted to do, originally, just go have a beach wedding with all our friends and family," explained Tony Warner. "Now we're getting the chance to actually have that beach wedding, which is fantastic."
Although same-sex marriage is still going through court challenges in Florida, tourism official said this campaign is all about love, no matter whose hand you're holding.
"In the meantime, any couple can come here and celebrate whatever commitment they want to make; whether it's a legal marriage, hopefully soon, whether it is a commitment or just a fantastic honeymoon," said Nicki Grossman who works for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Visitor & Convention Bureau.
The ads for the "Love Project" will start to airing up and down the East Coast in the next month or so, mainly focusing on the northeast.
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