A wedding planner, photographer, florist and a host of other industry vendors and support businesses will have some extra work this winter thanks to the second annual Weddings on Whidbey and Events Tour this past weekend.

The tour, which commanded a registration list of about 200, was held Saturday at four locations around South Whidbey: Fireseed Catering and Events Garden in Langley, Dancing Fish Farms in Freeland, Freeland Hall and the Roaming Radish Catering and Event Facility at Holmes Harbor Golf Course.

“I thought it was fantastic,” said Gloria Mickunas, tour organizer and owner of Whidbey Party Girls! “People seemed to enjoy themselves; they were booking vendors; what’s not to love?”

But best of all, the tour did what it was designed to do — shine a spotlight on the island’s growing wedding industry and make clear that events on Whidbey aren’t limited to summer.

“The main goal of the tour is to brand Whidbey for winter events,” said Mickunas, adding that at least two cold-season weddings were booked.

“There’s going to be about a dozen local vendors with January work, and that’s huge.”

Saturday’s tour began with a drawing for Win a Whidbey Wedding, a contest in which couples from Western Washington and out of state vied for an island wedding worth $16,000 this January.

Forty-three couples competed by submitting a short explanation why they should win, with the public voting to narrow down the running to 10 finalists — five were from Whidbey Island.

The lucky couple was then selected by a drawing, with Jacqueline Rutherford and Nicholas Serrano of Lake Stevens taking the prize.

“It was a shock,” said Rutherford, who admitted she was overwhelmed and shed a tear or two when they were selected.

As winners, their wedding will, of course, be held on Whidbey, at Dancing Fish Farms, which is just fine with the couple. Serrano said the island has an “earthy” and “local” feel that will make their special day all the more memorable.

“It’s really comfortable here,” he said.

For those who didn’t win, they spent hours perusing the four event locations, each of which was packed with various industry vendors.

For Madisun Clark and David Stern of Greenbank, who were recently engaged and work as event producers, it was a great opportunity to shop around and get a few ideas for their special day, beginning with where to tie the knot.

“We’re trying to find the right spot,” Stern said.

Some of those in attendance were already married, such as David and Adrienne Dumais of Oak Harbor, but were planning to renew their vows.

The couple said they were impressed by many vendors, but none so much as with PlumaPaper, which specializes in wedding invitations and printing.

“She does beautiful stationary,” said Adrienne Dumais, of owner Krista Mullis. “We don’t have anything else planned yet, but we have stationary down.”

Overall, participating vendors seemed pleased with the tour.

This is the event’s second year running, with the first highlighting Central Whidbey and this year being focused on the south end.

“I’m amazed how many are coming from off-island,” said the Rev. Dave Bieniek, who is based in Coupeville but officiates ceremonies across Whidbey.

“It’s [the island] becoming a destination.

“Today would have been a great day for a wedding,” he added, noting Saturday’s sunny skies.

Ali Vail, of Vail Studio in Oak Harbor, agreed.

Vail and her husband, Erik, do more shoots off-island than on, and the tour is important because it highlights Whidbey’s wedding professionals and the great weather.

This is a great place to get married, anytime of year, and the tour is getting that message out, she said.

“It’s really good for the island to get this kind of exposure,” Vail said.