A wedding day is one of the most important moments in a couple’s lives.

The Washington waterfront, along with Festival Park, is already marketed as a place to host weddings, and a new group is working to promote Washington and the Inner Banks area as a must-see destination.

Inner Banks Wedding Association, formed last fall, is comprised of business leaders from Beaufort, Pitt, Pamlico and Craven counties, looking to better their communities through the wedding platform.

“The goal is to focus on developing a network across the coast and state line to state line. We’re going to be working basically east of (Interstate) 95,” Executive Director Beth Baker said. “It’s just a really good collection of people that are really already tapped into that industry.”

By connecting with DJs, venue owners, bridal boutiques and the like, IBXWA will also work to revitalize historic sites and waterfront areas, essentially bettering the location while also preparing it as a venue space, according to Baker.

“It’s not about promoting ourselves. It’s about the association as a whole giving back the community,” Baker said. “We’re not just a wedding association. We’re a business association.”

As part of the “giving back” mentality, the association also formed The Wedding Gift, which is a commitment to organize one wedding per year for a deserving bride and/or groom.

This year’s recipient is Washington resident Kayla Hudson, who has battled cancer since the age of 2, Baker said. Hudson recently found out she has an inoperable brain tumor.

“Lots of happy tears,” Baker said of Hudson when she found out she’d been selected. “She was actually very surprised, very gracious, and now she’s just ecstatic and over the moon.”

Every aspect of the wedding so far has been either provided by the association or donated by businesses and friends, according to Baker.

“She just seemed like the logical first choice,” she said. “We just felt like this was the perfect fit for us this year.”

Hudson is engaged to Eric Sawyer, who lives in the Pungo area, and the two are planning May 6 nuptials.

Secretary Paige Horne said the association works with brides from all over the country, and many of them come to the Inner Banks area because of the allure of the waterfront, or because they have a passion for the historic.

Baker added that all of the cities involved are excited to participate and promote their area. She said the association has received plenty of positive feedback.

“It’s just been a phenomenal backing and response. They all seem to share the same passion and the same vision,” Baker said. “This is about growing our economy, growing our business traffic.”

Inner Banks Wedding Association will host “The Bridal Experience” Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Washington Civic Center. Tickets are $5 online, or $8 at the door. Event is open to the public. For more information, visit IBXWA’s Facebook page.