***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.
Anne says
NOT ME!!!
My favorite wedding part was when a friend had a winter wedding in a beautiful chapel with a large bank of windows curved behind the altar. It was lightly snowing as sunset colored the clouds and absolutely gorgeeous.
Amanda says
How funny! A friend came into town for the 4th and told me about the Not Wedding website! How cool.
There was a time I definately thought weddings were NOT ME, but here I am, beginning to plan my own. I’m excited and blown away by how much it takes to pull this shindig together! It will be a blast.
What I love most about weddings is getting to see old college girlfriends. It seems to be the best way for us all to pull together and I can wait for us all to be together again.
Tricia says
“Not Me”!!
i love all weddings…but my favorite part of everyone’s weddings is when the guy who caught the garter has to put it on the girl who caught the bouquet!! i’ve seen some pretty racey showings…lol!!
nina says
Not Me!
I love outdoor cocktail hours!
Mel says
NOT ME!
I perform wedding ceremonies so I get to see a lot of cool stuff. I recently performed a ceremony where the bride duck taped her bouquet to a watermelon and launched it out of a catapult for the “bouquet toss”. The watermelon flew over the top of the trees into a river.
Abby says
“NOT ME!”
One of my friends got married a little over four years ago and the officiant at her ceremony was hilarious!! His sermon was all about how he came to love his wife’s long black hair…random, but hilarious!
Ashley R says
not me! watching the bride and her terminally-ill father walk down the aisle. there was not a dry eye in the house. moments like this make you realize how precious life is and how grateful i am to have the ones i love me still in my life.
Sarah says
Not Me!
My favorite part of a recent wedding was my cousin’s wedding last summer. In honor of the groom’s Egyptian heritage, the couple entered the reception with belly dancers, performers and musicians – it was such a fun way to start the evening!
Katie says
Not me! I’ve been to lots of fun ones recently. My boyfriend’s sister incorporated a Mexican tradition, where halfway through the reception that brought out a big box of masks, crazy hats, boas, sunglasses, ect. Everyone took pieces of costumes and the dancing got crazy! People of all ages were having a wild time, it really turned up the fun!
Megan Richard says
Not me!! My favorite wedding moments are the outdoor weddings on a beautiful day. I had a very formal church wedding and just love the relaxation of the low key outdoor weddings!
kate says
NOT ME!!
Best part=the vows!
Delia says
NOT ME!
Rachel P says
NOT ME!
I was just a greeter for a friend’s wedding and I got to be the one that opened the door when she and her father walked down the aisle. It was one of the most special moments I got to share with her!
Summer says
NOT ME!
At one of our friends weddings, they had everyone light sparklers and wave them around during the send off at the end of the eveining instead of bubbles or something like that. It was cool to see all those waving sparklers!
petra says
NOT ME! My favorite part was the setting — a state park on a beautiful summer’s day.
Pedro says
NOT ME!
My favorite part was watching my brother dance with the love of his life.
Danielle says
NOT ME!! A couple had an ICE CREAM TRUCK parked in the field of their reception location. AH! Talk about a delicious experience. I just loved it.
Melissa S. says
NOT ME!
My favorite part of my cousin’s wedding was the best man’s embarrassing speech.
Nikki says
NOT ME!
My favorite memory from a not-mine wedding was earlier this spring. A former co-worker of mine got married and we were really looking forward to the ceremony – he and his now-wife are both super charismatic and they make a hugely fun pair. Anyway, he was so emotional the day of the wedding – from the time she started walking down the aisle until the time they walked out together, he never stopped crying! He’s usually so goofy that it was just the sweetest thing!!
Janelle says
NOT ME!!
My favorite part of weddings is the look on the grooms face when he first sees the bride. I know it’s cliche but that is the look of pure love, it gets me every time!
Ana says
Not ME!!!!
Michelle says
NOT ME!!
The least expensive wedding I ever went to was by far the best! Destination in Riveria Maya…vaca and celebration all in one :)
Beth says
NOT ME!
My favorite wedding memory was a Hawaiian friend who surprised her husband at their wedding by dancing a solo hula for him at the reception. Her relatives also danced hula for the couple, which we were told is a tradition.
Emily says
Not me!
I’m a sucker for sappy toasts!
secondcitygirl says
NOT ME!
My favorite part of my sister’s wedding was the sparkler send-off…they had little boxes of matches that were printed with “Em and Josh…The Perfect Match” So cute, especially if you are a nerd like me and like puns;)
Julie J. says
NOT ME!
I am jealous of friends who do outdoor ceremonies– I was not brave enough to trust mother nature on this one!
Marci says
NOT ME!
my macho uncle, who my entire family thought would be a lifetime bachelor, finally tied the knot. to all of our surprise he wrote his own vows and they were beyond tear-jerking, especially coming from him!
Erin B. says
NOT ME!!
I thought the cutest wedding detail that I ever saw was my good friend used Far Side cartoons instead of framed photos or numbers to mark the table and all of them were themed to inside jokes with the guests at that table! It showed so much thought and caring for their guests and gave us a good laugh too!!
Colleen says
NOT ME! I planned my wedding in 4 days and it was a surprise! Guest were attending my sons Baptism/surprise wedding!
KJW says
NOT ME! My two favourite features at weddings have been the release of butterflies following the ceremony… and when the bride sang to the groom at the reception. :)
Katrina says
NOT ME!
My husband wrote a very touching best man toast for two of our close friends. Everyone teared up. But he did slip in a “mom joke” that only the youngsters caught.
Ruthie Hart says
NOT ME! My favorite part of weddings is DANCING!
Jessica says
NOT ME! I just went to a beautiful wedding at The Orpheum Theatre in Madison, WI, for an old high school friend, and it was one of the neatest weddings I’ve attended. My favorite part was during the ceremony. Instead of the “boring” unity candle they had a unity cocktail. They each poured a mixer into a glass and drank from it at the same time. Hilarious.
gemma@thesweetestdigs says
NOT ME!
Fave part of a recent wedding I went to was the father-daughter dance between my best friend and her Dad. They had a fun, choreographed little number that had everyone laughing!
tiffany says
NOT ME!
One of my friends left their beach wedding on a boat. I loved it!
Elizabeth says
NOT ME!
My cousin’s dessert table at her wedding was to die for!! I would hav loved to be able to do the same!
Whitney Dupuis says
NOT ME!
I just attended a Catholic ceremony (I had never been to a Catholic wedding, or for that matter, mass) and I was amazed at the beauty. However, the priest mentioned the couple having children, praying for children, making good parents, etc about 20 times during the ceremony. I wonder if the couple was feeling a little uncomfortable. Hehehehe
Jess says
Not Me!
My favorite part of a wedding was a New Orleans-themed reception with hurricanes & southern food, complete with a “second line” exit. We all had umbrellas & rags and followed the bride & groom out of the reception for their exit.
Cheryl M says
“NOT ME!”
I love the cake. A beautiful cake takes center stage!
amy says
Not me!
I just went to the most touching ceremony, the bride had been planning for over a year and she had a perfect day, everyone was so happy for her and her Mr.!
Sarah says
NOT ME!!
I loved the photo booth and silly props at my friend’s wedding! They made for awesome pictures!!
lindsey says
NOT ME!
Melissa says
NOT ME!!
My favorite wedding memory was watching my brother marry again after losing his first wife 3 years ago. He deserves happiness and he now finally has it.
Erica says
“NOT ME!”
For my sisters wedding she really wanted to have the ceremony outside even though they said it would rain. So the ceremony started and shortly into it dark clouds started rolling in getting closer and closer. Just as they said I do and took their first kiss the rain started coming down, they ran past everyone and inside in perfect time.
Maggie says
NOT ME!
My favorite part of my brother’s wedding was that for the first time in 7.5 years together my husband and I attended a wedding in which he wasn’t a member of the wedding party. We got to sit together and he didn’t have to disappear for two hours of photos!
Jess says
NOT ME!!
my favorite part of a wedding that wasn’t mine was the location and the band at a friend’s weddding in baltimore. the venue was an old stonemill/house building with beautiful grounds for the ceremony…then we all moved to a tented area where the band kept everyone dancing all night long!
Kim R. says
Not Me!!!
My favorite wedding memory is the warmth and utter bliss everyone feels on the wedding day (after the craziness)!
Julie says
NOT ME!
I loved my best friends wedding outside in a garden with 75 people and the Brooklyn bridge as the back drop, it was perfect.
Lindsey says
NOT ME!
My friend had her flower girl pull the ring bearer down the aisle in a little red wagon. Adorable!
Gina says
NOT ME!
But I would still totally love to win…..