Help on Spatial Tables/Query/Index

Hi all

I am trying to map some data out of MS SQL Server 2008 (express) and Mappoint with the Mappoint addin for Sql server. The only issue i have is this spatial table stuff. I think i understand what a spatial data is now but i just need an example of how to go about cross referencing my states table with its spatial data. so i have a table with Vendor names, states they perform work in, type of work they do etc. States listed e.g (Florida, Montana, Puerto Rico, all 50 states) what is going to be their spatial reference. Or can i just add a Long and Lat to the table to reference the states.