NAHANT — Yasmene Driscoll spends her days serving brides at the Nahant Country Club Estate, but what she really wants to do is serve those who have served the country.
The Nahant Country Club Estate is giving away a free wedding ceremony and reception for 100 guests to a local military couple.
“It’s very easy for the American family to live day-to-day and feel safe and secure and not think anything of where that freedom came from, but it really is a gift,” said Driscoll. “This is sort of a way for us to say thanks.”
Contest entries are being collected through the end of the month.
The package includes a 5½-hour Friday or Sunday wedding at the Nahant Country Club Estate private mansion and use of the grounds. The couple can use the space for both a wedding ceremony and reception and use the bridal suite to get ready or take photos before the ceremony.
Food options include brunch, plated dinner, or a cocktail reception, and sweets and coffee. The winners will also receive a free wedding cake, champagne toast, place cards, linens, and coordinating and planning staff.
Driscoll is asking applicants to like and share the Nahant Country Club Estate Facebook page and record a video less than two minutes long about why they should win. The video should be sent to Driscoll through Facebook messenger. The applicants will also need to show their military and Massachusetts IDs to be eligible to win.
All Massachusetts military members can apply, including veterans. A military ID will be required for at least one person in the application and two proofs of ID will be required. Applications made on behalf of others will not be accepted.
The Nahant Country Club was built in about 1825 by Frederic Tudor, the ice king, as a summer cottage. Tudor made a fortune shipping ice from New England ponds to warm climates across the globe.
The seven-acre estate has space for the couples to have either an indoor or outdoor ceremony.
“In this line of business, we meet a lot of military couples,” said Driscoll.
Oftentimes their plans change and they need to reschedule dates and other details because of their military obligations, she said.
“They’re just trying to get married and have one normal, civilian day,” she said. “There’s not many ways that I can give back to them, but this I can do. I can use my tools to give back to them.”
Video applications are being accepted through the end of the month and Driscoll hopes to announce the winner on Jan. 1.
