Farm Girl Events Hosting Bridal Expo and Event Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project

Event Planning Firm Will Also Donate $20,000 Wedding to Wounded Veteran

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Nov 05, 2015, 04:00 ET

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Sunday, Nov. 8, Farm Girl Events will be hosting a Wedding Event and Bridal Expo, with all admission fees being donated to benefit Wounded Warrior Project^®(WWP). Taking place at the beautiful Valley Farms, located at 1125 Dietrich Rd in Foristell, Missouri, the expo will feature some of the area's top wedding vendors offering door prizes, wedding updos, wedding eye makeovers, a Trotter photo booth, refreshments for the brides, hayrides, and other activities.

The biggest event that day, however, is the private wedding of WWP Alumnus Joshua Cousins and his fiancée Heather Hostetler. The entire wedding ceremony has been donated by Farm Girl Events and over 20 of the participating vendors at this expo. Featured vendors include Valley Farms who is hosting the event at no cost, with Grand Rental Station providing tents and ceremony/reception setup, and Russo's Gourmet Catering providing the food and beverages for the wedding.

"There are many ways that we as a nation can express our thanks and give back to those who have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms," said Gary Corless, executive vice president of Strategic Giving at WWP. "We're so grateful to Farm Girl Events and their participating vendors for this amazing gift to one of this nation's veterans. We at Wounded Warrior Project want to wish both Joshua and Heather a lifetime of joy and happiness on their special day."

Joshua and Heather first met in September 2014, in Sunrise Beach, Missouri. He stopped in to get dinner at a local restaurant and noticed Heather working there. Joshua was enamored with her immediately, something a regular customer of Heather's noticed.

"I was fairly obvious. I was admiring her, and a regular customer of hers walked up and told her I was staring," Joshua said, laughing as he shares the story. "So, she walked up and asked if I 'wanted to take a picture, because it would last longer'. I mentioned that 'I'd rather just have her number because it would last longer than that', or something along those lines. We've been together ever since."

Joshua is an Army veteran who served from September 2003 until February 2007. Today, Joshua spends his time with other wounded veterans, serving as a Peer Mentor through WWP's Peer Support program. WWP Peer Mentors are registered as WWP Alumni and family support. The certified Peer Mentors are further along in the recovery process and have received training specifically designed to help them support their WWP peers. The roles of a Peer Mentor include being a role model, motivator, supporter, friend, and embodying the Peer Mentor mantra: Peer mentoring is not about me; it is about the warrior I am mentoring.

"Doing this is a passion for me," Joshua said. "I'm still working on my degree, but I want to pursue what I feel is my calling --- to work with other injured veterans. There are so many avenues where help can be given. I love speaking out about this, so I just want to bring awareness to what Wounded Warrior Project does and can do for wounded veterans."

The Wedding Event and Bridal Expo is set to begin at 10 am, with the private wedding ceremony being held later that day. The expo event is open to the public and military service members are welcome to attend. Those interested in attending the expo can register at the Farm Girl Events website.

About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

About Farm Girl Events
Farm Girl Events is an event planning firm specializing in rustic celebrations that accentuate local businesses and produce. Our team prides themselves on providing each client with nothing less than the highest level of personal attention and professionalism. A keen eye for the intricate details and creativity ensures every client's vision becomes a reality.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project