Tennille Darville was just 21-years-old when she watched her mother die from cancer in 1999.

Years later, she was diagnosed with the same deadly disease.

“So, it’s because my mother passed away from cancer-related complications, and I, too, have been affected by cancer that I know firsthand the demands and stress it takes on one’s mind, body and finances,” said Miss Darville who was not only battling the disease, but was thrust into motherhood when she was called on to raise her three younger siblings. “Every year I go to the doctor and I thank God that I am still cancer-free, but I often reflect on what my life would have been like had things turned out differently.”

These days, Miss Darville, who heads the wildly popular Five Seasons Events Bridal Boutique, is more known for her bridal expertise than her personal triumph.

For years, anxious brides have turned to her for help finding the perfect wedding dress and making their big day special.

But, she always had a calling to do something bigger.

“I have been trying to give back to a cancer survivor for years, but could not find a medium that measured up to my personal standards. I reached out to several persons directly involved with cancer organisations, but they told me to just bring in the dress and they’d give it to someone. So, I sought out another way,” she said.

“I plan weddings for a living and knew several vendors who could partner with me to give back to someone deserving and the desire grew beyond just giving away a dress. I needed a way to find that deserving person.”

Miss Darville reached out to Anastarcia Huyler, who is also the founder of Bahamas Beauties Against Cancer, an organisation dedicated to encouraging women to get healthy and undergo annual check-ups.

Miss Huyler also happens to be the marketing manager at Atlantis, which is supporting this wedding giveaway dubbed, “Cancer Survivor: A Wedding In Paradise, as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.

Atlantis is providing the wedding venue at Ocean’s Edge, a reception, wedding cake and is also giving the couple one night free in Royal Towers.

“We’ve been supportive of cancer survivors then, now and always and we hope to offer our support in a brand new way through this wedding giveaway,” she said.

The Counsellors Ltd. is also partnering to make this event a success. The company will broadcast the wedding ceremony live on its popular morning TV show, Bahamas At Sunrise.
The winner of the competition will have his or her wedding held at the Atlantis Resort, receive full wedding attire, inclusive of the bridal party, be photographed by ScharadL Photography and videographed by Kalumuntie Media.

The couple’s wedding bands will also be provided, along with entertainment, décor and a host of other gifts and surprises.

Contestants vying for a chance to win must have plans to get married, be a cancer survivor or a current cancer patient and demonstrate financial need.

The competition is open to male and female survivors. Family Islanders are also encouraged to enter.

Contestants are required to submit videos explaining their love story and demonstrating why they deserve the wedding.

Videos are to be submitted to The Counsellors Ltd. by emailing Tanya Cartwright at tcartwright@tclbahamas.com.

Once the videos have been submitted, a committee will meet to review them and decide on a winner.

All video entries must be submitted by June 30, 2014.

The wedding will take place at the Atlantis Chapel on either Friday, October 3, 2014 or Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. depending on whether the winner is a Seventh Day Adventist.

The winner must also agree to have his/her wedding aired on Bahamas @ Sunrise.

“As someone who plans weddings, I know all too well about people planning a wedding on a limited budget. This opportunity gives all connected the ability to give back to a well deserved cancer patient or survivor who doesn’t have to sit in the front of me and say this is all that I can afford while tears of pain and unhappiness fall from their face,” said Miss Darville.

“Anyone affected by cancer should welcome the opportunity to participate because after all they’ve been through mentally and physically, a group of companies who genuinely care have put together a wedding giveaway package you won’t believe. It’s not every day that one gets the opportunity to put the entire planning and expenses of their wedding in the hands of the best vendors in the business, and let’s not forget, thanks to the Counsellors Limited, the entire Bahamas will get to see it live.”

She added, “The hardest decision you will have to make is deciding which persons will be invited to this awesome wedding that will etched in the lives of The Bahamian people for years to come.”