WMWA 2009 Honors Banquet
Friday, February 6th, 2009
Grand Volute Ballrooms





WMWA to Announce Business of the Year

Grand Rapids - The West Michigan Wedding Association, and Senator Bill Hardiman announced Friday the Wedding Business of the Year for 2007on February 8, 2008. Dunhill Tuxedo won the honor. Owner Scott Coleman and several of his staff were on hand to accept the award.

Michigan 29^th District Senator Bill Hardiman of Kentwood presented Scott Coleman and his staff of Dunhill Tuxedo the Wedding Business of the Year Award at the WMWA’s first annual Honors Banquet.  Dunhill was recognized as the leader in the wedding industry by former brides and grooms, as well as his peers in the industry.  More than 7,000 former Brides and Grooms were polled for the award, and there were thousands of nominations for the honor.  Nominees did not have to be a member of the WMWA, they only needed to be a wedding-related business in the Grand Rapids area.  There were more than 50 businesses nominated.  The criteria for selection included web site nominations, charitable contributions, contributions to the WMWA and/or the wedding industry, commitment to family and number of years in the wedding industry.

The selection committee, (volunteer WMWA members) narrowed the selection to the top ten, then debated for countless hours about each individual business, and narrowed to the top 5.  Then each top 5 business owners were interviewed by the selection committee member.  A detailed report was shared with all committee members and each member placed their secret vote.  The rest in history.  Dunhill Tuxedo now has the distinct and exclusive honor of being the first Business of the Year recipient.  This is an honor that Dunhill Tuxedo will be able to advertise forever. 

Special thanks to Bunny Tuxedo and MW Tux (formerly After Hours) for allowing us to poll past brides from their leads list as well as our own.  We are proud to be associated with such a great group of wedding professionals, and look forward to seeing more nominations come in over the next 11 months as we prepare for next year’s Business of the Year recipient.  If you would like to participate on the selection committee next year, be looking for an announcement in or around August as we start forming the committee.

Special thanks to Megan Zonavetch as well as she put together a top-notch party.  He food was fantastic, Prime-rib and Chicken Cordon-bleu.  The entertainment was excellent.  Special Thanks to the Band Azz-Is and our MC and DJ Jim Batchelder from Diverse Sounds.  Not to mention our decorations provided by Nance Neville from Creative Events and the linens and chair covers provided by Penny Waltman, from Special Occassions. Lisa Patow and her staff really helped to make the event flawless and beautiful.  Be sure to plan on attending next year!

The Black-tie event also raised more than $2,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Grad Rapids with a Silent Auction.