***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.
beth says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding was a casual backyard wedding where the bride and groom jumped in the pool after the ceremony.
Andrea says
NOT ME!!
A good friend from college got married to a Brit this past April and WE LOVED seeing all of the fascinators worn by all of the women in his family. This was pre-Royal Wedding so we thought we were pretty cool knowing everyone would be wearing one at the Royal event as well.
Susan C. says
NOT ME!
My favorite parts of other people’s weddings have been open bars and one had a great DJ that made us do stellar dances such as the Sprinkler and the Lawnmower (it was cheesy, but fun!). :)
Bethanie says
NOT ME!
My favorite part of a wedding that was not mine was at my best friend’s wedding last summer. She had an iPod DJ (me and a friend) and we put Full House’s Uncle Jesse singing “Forever” as the last dance song. We all started out dancing with our individual dates or dance partner, but soon everyone who was still on the dance floor (there were only seven or eight of us left) joined into a circle and sang to my best friend and her new husband.
chelsea says
NOT ME!!
I went to a wedding where the band got the couple up on stage to help sing a song they did not know. It was hilarious and really made for a celebratory experience.
Karen says
Not me!
My favorite part of a wedding was the beautiful scenery at my husband’s cousin’s wedding in Vermont. The ceremony was outdoors with a beautiful mountain landscape in the background. The weather was perfect and it was just a very serene and beautiful location.
Kathy says
Not Me!
My favorite thing about a wedding was the balloon rides!
It was such a fun wedding reception.
Lacey says
Not me!
My favorite part of any wedding was at my sister’s wedding in Disney. The magical-ness of them running out of the Disney chapel towards a glass horse and carriage with fireworks going off behind them is pretty hard to duplicate! Everything is magical in Disney!
Maryann says
NOT ME! My favourite part of a wedding that wasn’t mine was when a groomsman wrote a song to the groom and sang it in place of a speech.
Paige says
I LOVE your anniversary photos. Happy 4th Anniversary!
Allison says
NOT ME
When my friends groom looked at her and started singing the song she thought their soloist was going to sing
Sarah says
NOT ME!
I loved my friend’s cupcakes in lieu of a big cake. The raspberry vanilla icing? To die for!
jackie says
NOT ME!!! My favorite wedding memory was when my husband and I surprised our guests with a not so traditional first dance.
KellyA says
I’m single so NOT me works! (besides the fact my dad bought me a car for my wedding and won’t let me have it until I actually get hitched!)
Best wedding moment comes from the 90s. Good friend and new hubby are walking back down the aisle together and the sound booth guys get their tape flipped over. Remember tapes? Instead of some sweet country love song we get these lyrics:
Who’s cheatin’ on who
And who’s being true
And who doesn’t care anymore?
All of 2 minutes after they said “I do” – thankfully they have a good sense of humor, stopped mid-aisle and cracked up and are still married with 2 beautiful boys to this day.
Still my favorite wedding moment. Oh, and the time the pastor’s son started putting the silverware in his mommy’s purse.
Shifra says
Not me!
I’m actually going to a wedding today (not mine!)and I’m really looking forward to the long drive there- for some reason I’m in the mood of a long ride.
Jackie says
NOT ME
My best friend got married last month and I just loved dancing and drinking with old friends! My hubby and I were in the wedding too, we all had a blast!
shari says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding to date was my sister’s wedding in Miami… she did it right!
Angela Griffith says
Not me!
My favorite was a best man’s toast at a friend’s wedding. He wished the happy couple a good honeymoon trip to Maine. When someone corrected him and said that they were going to Mexico, he replied, “Oh, I’m sorry. The groom told me that he was going to Bangor for a week!”
Read it aloud and it will make sense.
Marcella says
NOT ME!
My favorite part of weddings is always the father daughter dance. Cry every time thinking of me dancing with my dad! It’s lovely :)
Lorin says
NOT ME!
Our all time fav wedding was a destination wedding in st. john, not only for the location but all the personal touches the bride had to make it special for not just her but everyone there.
Jenna says
NOT ME!
jaclyn says
NOT ME!
I’m getting married on 12/17/11 so right now I love a lot of different things from other people’s weddings! Something I’ve seen so far that I LOVED (and wish that I could totally rip off) was a couple who made cassette mix-tapes instead of place cards. They had awesome old school labels on them and the tapes themselves were white and the labels where their wedding colors (pink and bright green).
Mary says
Not Me!!!
My daughter is getting married in October. That wedding will be my favorite–other than my own, of course. (30+ years!)
ELW says
Not me!
I can’t think of a favorite wedding, but my husband & I have been to 14 weddings in the 6 years we’ve known each other. All of them wonderful in their own unique way.
Sara says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding memory comes from the recent wedding of a good friend. The bride and groom wrote their own vows, and they were so beautiful and touching that the groom AND his groomsmen all got teary eyed. It was just amazing to see all of the love that was present that day! :)
Leah says
NOT ME!
I love, love, loved our friends’ surprise Second Line band that marched the entire wedding, guests and all, up and down Bourbon St. in New Orleans! Definitely an unforgettable time!
Angela says
NOT ME!! I love all things weddings! What’s better than love, food, liquor and cake?
Christine says
NOT ME!
One friend did a great job for the kids at her reception- kids-only appetizers, special meals for the kids, crayons at the table. It was so thoughtful and made the meal a lot better for the Moms and Dads!
Cristina says
Note me! ^^
The last wedding for me was about three weeks ago. It had a wonderful open bar (from mojito to whatever you wanted) so a lot of people got a little bit.. drunk! But it was fun and we danced a lot in the park of that wonderfull old villa.
(open bar = very dangerous!;)
Nicky says
Not Me!
My favorite part of weddings with my college friends is the “flash mobs” we (they) organize for the each. and. every. reception! Hooray for spontaneous choreographed dancing!
Teri says
NOT ME!! My favorite wedding experience (other than my own, of course!) was my sister’s wedding. My mom did all the decorations and flowers, I made all the food, our dresses were all handmade, my daughters were the flower girls… it was such a beautiful, loving, family event!
Katie Johnson says
Not me!
I went to a wedding in Vegas, and that was super fun!
Éva says
NOT ME!
I celebrate 3 weddings this summer and they’re all unique :)
Leslie says
NOT ME!
My sister’s wedding was a fantastic getaway for my family to Hilton Head Island. My favorite part was dancing with the flower girl, and we got an excellent picture of our dance!
Jody says
NOT ME!!
One of the best weddings both my husband and I have been tow as last summer – a girlfriend of mine got married and everything about the reception was amazing. They had mad-libs on the table to help everyone get talking, and driver-take home so no one was driving drunk or forking out for expensive cab rides. It was not the most expensive reception, but by far the most fun.
NYer says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding story was at a wedding for a friend who didn’t get married until he was in his 40s. The best man stood up to make his toast. He lofted his glass, said “Hell froze over” and promptly sat down.
Anna says
Not Me! The most jealousy-inducing wedding location I’ve ever been was a back-yard wedding where the backyard happened to be overlooking an unbelievable expanse of vineyards in Yakima, WA.
Haley says
NOT ME! My sister got married in Ireland 2 years ago and had a traditional Irish ceremony. Sounds sweet and unique, right? Well it was ca-ray-zy! The minister looked like Jeremy Irons and rambled on, blessing rocks and tying them up for two hours! At one point, I was pretty sure he was just making it up. I spent the entire ceremony staring at my husband and laughing. At one point, I burst out laughing and crying and had to pass it off like I was tearing up from being touched for my sis. Amazing.
jennifer s says
Not me … and bless my bf’s heart, she just told us (the bridesmaids) to wear a dress that made us feel pretty. I wore something from my closet and effectively pocketed the $250 it would have otherwise cost.
Sarah says
NOT ME!!!
Best part of weddings by far is the open bar.
Meg Smith says
NOT ME!
My girlfriend, Lindsey, held her beautiful wedding on her families estate in NC. Swanky as all get out! There were stations of food all over the grounds and a live swing band. Such a wonderful weekend!
Michelle says
NOT ME!
I loved my best friend’s wedding. She and her husband were Eucharistic ministers during the mass and it was so cool to see them interact with everyone during the actual ceremony.
LaVerna DuBois says
NOT ME
This one will get ya, cuz it almost brought tears to my eyes. You were married on my 37th birthday 7/7/07. I love the sequence of 7’s (but nothing was quite like 7/7/77 when I was 7…groovy man). I hope noone ever forgets your anniversary. I know I won’t!!
Valarie says
NOT ME!
When my aunt got married I was part of the wedding party. Right before the ceremony my aunt asked me to take something to her soon to be husband. It was soooo awesome, they decided to exchange notes before the ceremony and I got to be the one to help deliver the messages.
Kathleen says
NOT ME!!
I loved the location of my cousin’s golden gate park wedding in San Francisco!
daniel says
NOT ME
Our friends Kelly and Dan had a simple outside wedding at a family home. We loved the simple atmosphere and casual feel
connietacazon says
NOT ME!
My fave weddings to go to are Chinese. They serve at least an 8 course meal and it’s really delicious. A smorgasbord!
jenny says
not me! I work for a catering company and have been to quite a few weddings this year as a result :P I always love weddings that arent too extravagant, but have just the right amount of personal touches. I’m always more interested in delicious food than an open bar!
Christie says
Not me…
I love weddings…Mine is coming up in less than 3 months. scary!
My favorite memory from a wedding I went to was my cousin’s wedding in December of 2006. I remember when everyones jar dropped as the bride (not my cousin) walked down the aisle in her prom dress….If that wasn’t enough…when the preacher opened his mouth….his voice. It reminded me of the movie, The Princess Bride. “Marriage is what brings us together”….I think he said marwage…..instead of marriage.
Oh memories.
The reception was quite hilarious too, something that I should write a book about!
Sarah says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding memory was at my good college friend’s reception at the Maymont nature center in Richmond. The ceremony and reception were beautiful, complete with the bride wearing her mom’s vintage lace wedding dress. Minutes after the wedding party finished their photos, there was a huge thunderstorm that flooded the tented balcony where all the tables and DJ were set up. While the staff attempted to fix the drainage issue, they opened up the normally closed nature center and the guests got to party with the fish, turtles, and otters on display! While most brides would be devasted by an underwater dance floor, Nora led a synchronized swimming version of the Cupid shuffle. If it’s really true that rain on your wedding brings good luck, then this couple is destined to be swimming in happiness!