***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries – see who won below!***
Thanks to random.org’s very arbitrary matchmaking skills, our winner is… Lawren (whose favorite wedding moment was when her cousin’s pocketed dress stored tissues to hand the groom when he teared up during the vows). Congrats!
Hope everyone’s having an awesome Fourth of July. We’re enjoying some family time but wanted to drop in with this week’s giveaway, so here ya go. Thursday marks our 4th wedding anniversary, which typically would make this “Wedding Week” around here. But since there’s not much left of that dead horse to beat (we’ve already shared every last detail about our wedding, honeymoon, traditions, how we met, how we got engaged, and our favorite meaningful momentos), we’re gonna go light on the theme this time around. Don’t get me wrong, the last year has been awesome and we’re planning something sweet to celebrate the beginning of year five (nothing big, but we’ll share whatever we end up doing). Feel free to take a trip down memory lane by checking out a recap of our $4,000 DIY backyard ceremony or browsing old Wedding Week posts from the last three years if you’re feeling sentimental though.
And since this turned into sort of a “Not” Wedding Week, we figured it was the perfect time to do a giveaway with The Not Wedding. They’re a self-described “killer alternative to a bridal show” where you attend a mock ceremony, sit down dinner, and dance-filled reception all in the name of having fun and checking out vendors. Basically you get to experience music, food, cake (mmmm cake) and other wedding must haves in a real-ish wedding setting. This year’s “big day” is on July 21st and two tickets (which include dinner, drinks, and dessert) are up for grabs this week.
But knowing that not everyone can get to Georgia on two weeks notice, The Not Wedding is also hooking the winner up with a $150 gift card to their registry sponsor Bloomingdale’s. Plus, you’ll win a pearl bridal bracelet and hair flower fascinator (in white or ivory) from their accessory sponsor (Fine & Fleurie). Which adds up to over $300 of wedding-tastic swag. Or should I say not wedding-tastic swag? Hmm. Either way… score.
- PRIZE: Two tickets to The Not Wedding, a $150 Bloomingdales gift card, plus a bracelet & hair flower from Fine & Fleurie
- TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “NOT ME!” and…
- BONUS QUESTION: … tell us your favorite part about a wedding that was NOT yours. Did a particular family member have an especially touching ceremony? Did your best friend cry or laugh at your killer toast? Maybe your college friend simultaneously had you drooling over her location, dress, and decor? Or – be honest – is it just the time your work friend had an awesome open bar?
- GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, July 6th at 8pm EST
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
- PRIZE SHIPS: Anywhere in the world!
- USUAL STUFF: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Thursday as an update to this post. That’s right, come right back here on Thursday for the announcement of our winners. Good luck…
Note: We weren’t paid or perked to host this giveaway, we just like rewarding our lovely readers. See our Giveaway FAQs page for more info. Pics from The Not Wedding, Bloomingdales and Fine & Fleurie.
Kathy says
NOT ME! It never fails, when I see the bride coming down the aisle, I get a tear in my eye.
Kelly says
Not Me!
My friend’s wedding we stayed in the most amazing hotel that over looked Boston Commons. It was an amazing weekend, and definitely the best wedding we have been in that was not our own.
Dana says
Not me!
Most of my friends went to A&M (whoop!) and at all the Aggie weddings the Aggie War Hymn is played! Love it! Gig ‘Em Ags!
NaomiL says
NOT ME!
My sister just got married this weekend and the band was spectacular! We danced until the end of the night… and also because she’s my sister… it was the best wedding ever.
Amanda says
NOT ME!
My favorite part of our most recent wedding was our first wedding here in China – as Americans we were the only foreigners there and, out of respect, had to hold our laughter when the “preacher” who married the couple then threw off his jacket and started singing and handing out swag like a rock star!
Amanda R. says
NOT ME! Favorite part of any wedding is watching the GROOM when the bride is walking down the aisle. Everyone is looking at her, but I love to see the groom’s expression as he watches his bride. Very sweet.
Lisa says
NOT ME!
Instead of loving just one wedding, I remember the summer of 2006 very well because we went to 11 weddings that summer. Danced the night away nearly every weekend!
Allison says
NOT ME!!
My sister had one of the best weddings–it was low key with just a few people. We went to their favorite thai place for the reception and dessert was at their place. No mess, no fuss. I should’ve thought about that when I was planning my wedding (coming up in September).
ESBlondie says
NOT ME!!
I love big fancy weddings that I didn’t have to pay a dime for :)
Stephany says
NOT ME!!! My favorite wedding was two of my best friends that were married on the beach. They spent $3000 for the entire wedding, had GREAT friends (uh hem, ME) that did all the decorations, and family members that made delicious food. The place was a run down building by the beach to start with but turned out beautiful…if I do say so myself ;) The best part of the wedding was when the bride and groom walked out on the beach to say their vows. No music, no bridal party, just the two of them and everyone quietly crowded around them. It was an awesome moment…
Suzanne says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding was one I planned for the aunt and uncle this past May. My cousins planned a choreographed dance and video taped themselves counting out the steps. They uploaded it to YouTube & sent the link to all the family members so we could learn it weeks before the wedding! It turned out great and it was the highlight for the bride & groom too. It’s a great way to have the whole family incorporated in the festivities (even the little ones).
Sarah says
NOT ME!
At my sister’s wedding instead of throwing the traditional bird seeds or rice as they left the building, we threw rose petals at the couple. It looked so much more colorful!
Candie says
NOT ME! At my best friends wedding, while I was giving my speech (or attempting to) I couldn’t stop with the ugly cry. I ended up crying so much that I couldn’t see my notes and ended up winging it. It was terrible! I just couldn’t pull it together! Also, fun fact. I’ve been to like 12ish weddings in my day and have caught the bouquet at everyone that I’ve been to. Still not engaged though, so I’m starting to think its a curse!
Emily I says
NOT ME!!!
My favorite part of anybody’s wedding is always the cake. It’s really the main reason that I go to weddings at all… :)
amanda says
NOT ME!! my cousin’s bride entered the reception by coming down an escalator to the willie wonka song “if you want to view paradise”…super cool!
Sadie says
NOT ME!!
My fav part about a recent wedding we attended (we have 7 total this year, two down, 5 to go) was a sweet and salty table they brought in towards the end of the night. Of course, I went all “salty” and it was delicious!!! Props to Betsy on that one!
jeanna taylor says
Not Me!!!!
My best friend(and her new husband) set sail on a boat after the reception, as the sun was setting.
Alison R says
Not Me!
My favorite wedding was the guest list at my friend’s wedding in Traverse City MI last summer– just 15 guests and we all sat in a circle as the bride’s mom (ordained online) married the couple!
Jillian says
NOT ME! My favorite part of a wedding I went to was their photo booth!
Anna says
NOT ME!
My favorite part of someone elses wedding was catching the bouquet when I never thought I would and then, to top that off, getting to dance with my boyfriend to a song I got to pick out because I was the “bouquet girl” :)
The second favorite (at a different wedding) was a rap/hip hop dance written and performed by the grooms brother and the brides two best friends that honored the couple. It was very touching!
Third favorite was at my cousins wedding and it was the location. They got married in Lugano, Italy. It was such a romantic place and it was sooo cool to couple a wedding with a vacay at a nice boutique hotel :)
Okay, I think I’ll just stop here before I bore everyone to death! ;)
Sara says
NOT ME! My favorite wedding moment was acutally not at the wedding…it was at my best friend’s rehearsal dinner. Let’s just say wine + karoake + good friends = FUN TIMES!
Nycole says
NOT ME!
My cousin got married and there were the deppest red roses EVERYWHERE. Not a choice I would make, but very beautiful.
knycks1(at)aol(dot)com
Dominika says
NOT ME!
my best friend had his wedding at a local brewery, which was such a unique location and at night you had the most wonderful view of the big city, all lit up. so pretty!
Joanna says
Not me! I live in Greece and I like Greek island weddings.
Carol says
NOT ME!!!
My brother got married in a fabulously untraditional ceremony in New Orleans and — family drama aside — everything about it hit the spot. I mean, is there any better place in the world to eat, drink, dance and be merry?
-Carol
Jennie says
A friend of mine got married in an old farmhouse in rural NY – it was one of the most beautiful locations. She got lucky with perfect weather and all of the plants were in bloom!
Avigail Barel says
NOT ME!
Two of my closest friends had a perfectly choreographed first dance number to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
Jennifer says
NOT ME!!
My favorite part of a wedding was when a friend of mine had her mom walk her down the aisle. She was the primary parent, and my friend wanted to honor that. It was very sweet.
Amber says
NOT ME!
My aunt rented out an entire campgound with cool log cabins for family to stay during her wedding. When it came time for the ceremony she rode to the spot in a canoe from a little island…very pretty! This kind of stuff serves as inspiration for my own off-beat wedding in 3 weeks!
Bethany says
Not Me!
I have been to 5 weddings in the past year, four of which I was pregnant and one I was nursing! No boos for this little lady! I was everybody’s favorite designated driver.
Katie says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding moment thus far (besides my own of course) was when the groom wrote and sang a song for his bride. Beautiful and hilarious at the same time.
Krista Muolo says
NOT ME!!!!
My favorite part of a friend’s wedding was her waky photo booth with props! So fun!!!
Michelle says
Not Me!
My favorite wedding was a last minute decision by some of my closest friends. They debated whether they wanted a big or small wedding and decided to just take the plunge and do it – IN TWO WEEKS! She called me up and said “want to go to the mall? I need a dress – we decided we’re getting married in two weekends – how does the beach sound?” It was super quick and incredibly intimate and it was one of the sweetest weddings I’ve ever been to.
abany says
NOT ME!!…and a crazy memory of my friend’s wedding was when she had planned this BEAUTIFUL, elaborate outdoor wedding, 400+ guests, had worked for weeks on the property to prepare it. A few days before the wedding, we realized that it was scheduled not only to rain, but to POUR DOWN with massive storms….even the Doppler radar was NOT looking good.
But as the wedding music began, LITERALLY within seconds, the storm parted into a fork and divided – missing the exact wedding site completely!! We have proof on the radar pictures!! It was such a beautiful miracle. Absolutely amazing…
SJ says
NOT ME!!
My favorite part of all weddings are the best man and maid of honor speaches. They always bring me to tears!
nikki says
NOT ME!!!
The last wedding we went to…while the bride was walking down the aisle the dj played that song “under pressure”! turns out the bride nor the groom knew that was going to happen…the grooms dad totally set the whole thing up..the look on the brides face was priceless!
Bonnie says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding memory was at my cousin’s wedding. The new groom changed into the bride’s fathers original wedding tux from 1976 for the bride and groom’s first dance- a tango no less. The tux was powder blue and a little too short for the groom but he rocked it and it was all a complete surprise for her parents. It was hilarious and touching!
Sheila says
NOT ME!
My favorite part for one of my friends weddings was they did a carousel ride!
Michelle Ross says
NOT ME!
Allison says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding was a beach side wedding on a private island with the reception following in the island clubhouse. It was elegant and casual all at the same time!
Elizabeth says
“NOT ME!” my dear friend Sara had mini pies at her wedding – they were adorable and super tasty!
Jessica F. says
NOT ME!
My cousin had Bucky, the Wisconsin Badgers mascot, attend their reception to get the party started! It was awesome because both the bride and groom attended UW-Madison, and actually met at a Badgers game. :)
Melissa says
Not ME!
Hello… the cha cha slide. Fo sho.
Kelly says
NOT ME!
I recently attended a wedding of friends, and animal lovers, who had a dog walk down the aisle with one of the couples. The dog then walked around during the whole ceremony. (It was outdoors, at the beach, so fun & lighthearted!)
Jessica says
NOT ME! My favorite was at my BFF’s wedding when my girls and I all got up on stage and belted out “Living on a Prayer” (the bride’s favorite song!) one of my favorite memories of all time… :-)
Katie Vlietstra says
NOT ME!
Our friends wedding reception in Syracuse ended with an amazing fireworks display. The wedding happened to fall over the 4th of July weekend, so it was timely, but awesome. Since most of the guests missed seeing a “traditional” show on the actual 4th due to the rehersal dinner.
Tara F says
NOT ME!
My fiance’s friend got married two summers ago, and since they weren’t up for endangering the lives of area birds with rice-throwing, we were all given sparklers to wave when they exited the church. Their wedding was right around sunset and it was SO pretty!
Amber says
NOT ME!!
My favorite wedding was a close friend’s from college. Our group speech was a mini “survival guide” to her new husband. Got tons of laughs! Now I’m getting married and I’m worried what she’s going to say in her speech!
PS I’m in Atlanta and this event sounds awesome!
Natalie Ray says
NOT ME!!!
I LOVED my sister’s wedding week! A WHOLE bunch of our friends from college came together in the mountains of North Carolina and went hiking, ice-cream getting and rock sliding. It was literally the greatest week of my entire life. I think about it all the time. The youth, the love, the fun!
Suz McA says
NOT ME!
Our college buddy & his mom surprised everyone by doing the entire “Thriller” dance for their mother-son dance. It was totally unexpected and seriously awesome. If you are inclined to check it out – someone put a video up of their smooth moves on YouTube….. http://youtu.be/QINgUkKWcYw.