FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 28, 2009
Contact: Erik Kent, (908) 874-0417

New Jersey couple marry aboard NJ's official Tall Ship A.J. Meerwald during summer visit to Long Beach Island
NJWedding.com contest winners Tara Meacham and Rick Clapper were married in a one-of-a-kind ceremony on July 25th as highlight of A.J. Meerwald's weekend trip to the LBI region

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ– On Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 6:30 pm, Tara Meacham and Rick Clapper from Lumberton, NJ were married, but their ceremony wasn't held at any usual location. Their wedding took place aboard the Schooner A.J. Meerwald in Beach Haven, NJ during a special summer visit to Long Beach Island. They became the first non-crew members to get married on New Jersey's official Tall Ship in Barnegat Bay.

"Tara and Rick were one of around 100 entries into our contest for a New Jersey couple to 'Tie The Knot on a Tall Ship'," said Erik Kent, Co-Publisher of NJWedding.com one of the sponsors of this one-of-a-kind event. "There were many organizations and businesses involved in putting this all together, including the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce which has been promoting the Long Beach Island region as a growing destination for weddings in New Jersey, especially after the success of the Wedding Road Show on LBI held this past April," added Kent.

It also tied in to several other initiatives with the Schooner A. J. Meerwald to feature 2009 as the "Year of the Tall Ship" and with its pre-planned sail into the LBI region during the weekend of July 24-27th. Other organizations included in this special event were Reclam the Bay to help promote coastal heritage and protection, The Museum of NJ Maritime History and the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

Around 80 guests and onlookers gathered at the Beach Haven dock at Centre Street and Bayfront to witness the marriage ceremony aboard New Jersey's Tall Ship, officiated by Deborah C. Whitcraft, former Mayor of Beach Haven. When asked about looking into plans for the wedding ceremony, Tara stated, "Rick wanted to get married on Long Beach Island after spending summers here as a child, and my dream was to be married on a ship. We did not have enough money to rent a ship or a location on LBI. This was the perfect opportunity for us and we are so grateful for it."

New Jersey wedding professionals Stephanie Somodi of Invitation Designs by Stephanie, offered to create Tara and Rick's wedding invitation at no charge, which featured a nautical theme. Also, new LBI chamber member David Toth of David Toth Photographers took pictures of the couple during the ceremony, and also at their wedding reception at the Mt. Holly Library.

For more information about the A.J. Meerwald and links to the organizations and businesses that sponsored this one-of-a-kind New Jersey wedding, visit http://www.njwedding.com/lbi.