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I received the below in my work e-mail. Asking for ads on your personal wedding page is definatly a unique wat to pay for a wedding.
I'm don't think I would have the guts to ask for something like that!
We will be getting married on November 15, 2008 at half past one o'clock in the afternoon at Cornerstone Harvest Church in Lima, Ohio. Our wedding is going to be an "open ceremony," which means anyone can attend!! Cornerstone has well over two thousand members. Mind you, this does NOT include our families and friends that will be attending that are outside of our church. We do not desire the most extravagant display, but we do desire a day that will be memorable for anyone that attends while being able to start our lives together debt free!
With Scott being an inner city teacher for over 15 years and myself being a contracted administrative assistant, we are not gracing the covers of Forbes magazine, and on an average, the cost of a wedding is around $15,000 to $20,000 dollars.
With that being said, we are seeking sponsorship in exchange for media coverage and targeted publicity. Here's how this would work...
We have built a wedding website that every guest will receive information on. The wedding site, www.scottandliz.org, not only features information about our special day, but will also feature an established page/link specifically for those companies that would like to take part in this offer. Your company will be able to offer our guests special discounts, if you choose, and a link to your personal business site! In addition, other ways to garner publicity are at the event itself:
*There will be mention of your business name in our programs.
*Your Business Name will be displayed on our church media screens
*We will place your business cards on the tables at our reception.
*Our DJ will have a special "sponsor toast."
*We will do our best to obtain media coverage
This would be an exceptional venue to showcase your business and demonstrate your company's generosity. Our guests on average will be young, single, and or married professionals, which is a perfect target audience for your business!!
Our goal is $10,000, which we believe, is very doable since it is close to the end of the year and would be a great way to write some things off. Also, our wedding date of Nov 15th is 2 weeks away from THEE biggest shopping day of the year! Wouldn�t it be great if your business were at the forefront of consumers� minds?
Thank you in advance for your consideration!!
If you would like to take part in this sponsorship program, call me at 614-638-4292, email me at weddingsponsorship@gmail.com, or simply go to www.scottandliz.org and click on �Wedding Sponsors� for details on where to send your gift.
Appreciatively,
Liz Flowers and Scott Bland
That is just too tacky for words. I'm sorry. Why in the world can't people just have the wedding they can afford?
I agree with Kate that this is tacky, but unfortunately, this isn't the first time I've heard of such a thing!
Ugh. Maybe the bride could have the phone numbers of local businesses embroidered on garters to throw as well. Or stamped on her train. Or embossed on the favors. Why not just auction off the seats at the reception, as if it was a charity dinner?
I think that any business that falls for this is pretty naive. I absolutely would not be picking up coupons or business cards at a wedding. In fact if I was hit with a barrage of advertising the minute I came in the door, I would absolutely be less likely to patronize those businesses. I would guess I would also be less likely to socialize with the couple any time in the future.
Nooooo! When did weddings stop being about dedicating your lives to each other in love and start being about a huge display!?!? I usually try to reserve judgement but seriously...yuck!
I have to admit that we spent a fair amount on our wedding but we were sure to save as much as we could for two years before the big day and did not go one penny into debt as a result.
I would have been just as happy getting married ina courthouse, on a hilltop, or in my backyard if that was what the budget allowed. After all, it's about the couple...not advertisements!!!
I can't even tell you how distasteful I find this. I hope they reconsider this route before their wedding. Please!!!
The only sponsor I would allow is Doritos. If it's good enough for Stephen Colbert, it's good enough for me. Hail to the Cheese!
tberry are you in san francisco or are you in ohio? do you know this couple? did they seriously cold call/e-mail random businesses. that takes guts. so i looked at their website and everything on the site shows san francisco, but there wedding is in ohio. as a bride actually getting married in san francisco, i can say that it is ridiculous what it cost (as we all know it is everywhere) but i would be ashamed to do this.
I really like Doritos - but I prefer the nacho flavor, and I couldn't have them at my wedding because I'd end up with orange all over my dress!
I didn't know a town of 40,000 could have an "inner city." That was seriously the thought that went through my mind as I read that.
This post makes me feel spoiled. I've always known my parents would pay for my wedding (and they are paying A LOT) - I don't know how to judge someone who is in really the complete opposite situation as the one I'm in. In the end, if the bride and groom and the advertisers are happy - I guess it is win-win. There are so many tacky things about weddings, it is easy to fall down the slippery slope of tackiness - which we've confirmed on here during many a money dance/garter/registry-on-the-invitation post is really quite subjective.
San Fran is where they are going for their honeymoon according to their website, hence all the San Fran stuff
Yuck. I can't handle it when marketing is pushed in my face in regular situations, let alone a wedding. Bottom line is that they shouldn't be having a $10k wedding if they can't afford it on its own. And to use the "works with urban kids" line is so tacky, because it's an effort to gain empathy for the couple and the fact that they don't have the cash for a 10,000 dollar wedding.
The other thing that bugs me is the proliferation of the "average wedding costs $15,000 to $20,000" myth. The wedding industry itself publishes these number, polling brides-to-be who read bridal magazines, visit bridal websites, and choose to take part in these surveys. Therefore, they don't count people who have budget weddings, backyard weddings, or go to a justice of the peace- therefore, the true average is not really measured. They're averaging only people who are really into planning a wedding. Works great for the industry, though, because people think it's normal to spend a lot.
Ok, after reading their website I think I might actually hate them. LOL It's beyond tacky. They want people to pay for their wedding, come to the ceremony, but not the reception and then give them a honeymoon. OMG, I almost let a note on their guest book, but what could would that do. They'd just take it down. OMG, how do people live with themselves.
Kate!
I was thinking the exact same things! I couldn't help but go to their website and saw so many additional awful things! They want as many people to come to their ceremony as possible and I am sure they are hoping they ALL bring gifts. And then only a few people are coming to the reception, the part they actually pay for.
And yes, no gifts! They just want portions of their honeymoon paid for so basically, they only want cash. I think this can be an ok option in addition to other registries, not as the only registry.
They need to stop discussing how they work with inner city kids and begging for money. Just go to the courthouse already!!
Side note: What is my deal that this makes me SO angry!?! Seriously...
Jesus Christ, I'm not against the idea of a honeymoon registry but theirs is appalling. $350 for a limo, $900 in taxi money, $625 for breakfast in bed. I am in shock.
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Ex~ I was shocked by the amounts as well. I've spent a week in San Fran and didn't come close to spending that much on taxis, never had a limo, etc. and we were just fine. I don't get it. Some people have no clue.
MrsSpitzer~ Don't worry, it makes me mad as well.
I remember reading in Bride magazine a few years ago a couple that had their whole wedding sponsored - it was a lot of work but they said it was well worth it.
I coulnd't do it, but I thinkthat everyone calling it tacky or worse could have found a different way to word things. Though you did ask for an honest opinion. I think that leaving in your number and info was a way for you to promote on here though and while clever, defeats the purpose of this board.
I do wish you luck and hope to hear about the outcome.
Sweeney - The original poster wasn't talking about her own wedding; it was an email she got on her work email.
There is just so much to say.
However, I will leave it at, it's: "itinerary" not "intinerary"
I want to know how the initial conversation about this went between the bride and groom... "Hey honey, I have this idea!"
I am a big believer in having the wedding you can afford, because ultimately it's not about the dress, flowers or DJ, it's about the commitments you make to each other. Commitment doesn't cost $15k! ;)
Also, I just looked at the sponsors page on their website, and so far their sponsors are the parents and a singing telegram company.
It's not the poster's wedding, it's the tacky people pictured on the website. I asked my husband about this today and his full answer was "Over my dead body" So, apparently even cheap men think this is a bad idea.
Tacky though it may be, is it really any different -- in principle -- from "Today throws a Martha Stewart Wedding"? That's all advertising -- only the sponsors are Reem Acra and the like.
KateMW, I think what Sweeney and Enmoore were objecting to was not the subject matter, but the way in which it is being discussed on this board. Frankly, I agree with them. This type of discussion is remarkably similar to what's on that other wedding website...
I just got this same e-mail today, that is how I found this post. I goggles their names. I don't kinda fishy to me.
If I could get people to have sponsored my f'in wedding! GEEZ.
We had the wedding we wanted- and ONE WE COULD AFFORD.
I'm a grad student and my husband is a COP. Do you see us begging for handouts? Give ME A BREAK!
Oh, dear. I hope Liz reads this, because I didn't want to leave this message on her website, like some other tasteless, but nonetheless insightful, people have done. It's a shame that these two have turned their wedding into a "luxury for us" event- they looked like such a cute couple!
Let this be a lesson to all of us: Liz is all like, "What a blessing, God, God, God, God, etc...". To my knowledge, God, Jesus, and friends were all about humility, not multi-thousand-dollar weddings and honeymoons. God probably thinks a wedding is about the union of two people, not an expensive "Me me me" party. A "blessing", indeed!
I'm poor too. Real poor. And getting married next month. But my fiance and I are paying for the majority of it ourselves. Can't afford a DJ- using an iPod. Can't afford a dress- bought one at a second-hand shop. Can't afford a videographer- won't have one. Can't afford our dream honeymoon- scheduled an extremely pared-down alternative honeymoon. Reasonable hotels. No massages. No expensive meals. No breakfast in bed!!! No several-hundred-dollar day at the museum (what in the F kind of museum are you going to, girl?!).
Liz thinks that she can live like Paris Hilton, and, let's face it, not all of us can (or should!). And can her husband-to-be, the schoolteacher, please help her with her spelling?
I don't know ladies. After looking at her website an the sponsor page there were a lot there! They asked and from the looks of it they received. Perhaps it is not something that everyone would do for their wedding, but then again there is something in everyone's wedding that someone wouldn't do.
Whether we agree with the methods or not, it is not up to us to judge how people pay for their wedding.
Does anyone watch Entourage? They had an episode where it was Vincent's birthday and they had some funny sponsors:)
My goodness, ya'll are a judgemental lot, eh? Just because you wouldn't do it because you think a wedding should be a certain way, doesn't mean that this couple is wrong, immoral, or any other negative descriptive thrown around here. This is their wedding vision, and if they like it, I love it. Good grief!
It's totally fine if that's their vision, but I think what most of us have an issue with is their desire for the ultimate luxuries (massages, 5 star hotels and restaurants, shopping, mysterious cab and limo rides in the thousand-dollar range) on their "shoestring budget". A lot of us have shoestring budgets, and we know better than to think we can live like a spoiled princess during our wedding and honeymoon (if we even have one!).
This seems to be a growing idea, terrible as I think it is. Definitely agree with those that have said that people should live within their means.
As for being judgemental, I don't think anyone here has been terribly rude. People have been expressing how they feel about a controversial way of doing things, much like debates about money dances or some such, not criticizing someone's choice of colors or something!
Not to pick on you michelle, but "if they like it, I love it"? I don't understand that. We don't all agree or like the same things, and as long as opinions are voiced in a polite manner, I think it's necessary for honest dialog. Of course, we could all go by "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all", but then how would we get any real opinions on things?
I don't think their honeymoon registry is outrageous. They aren't asking one person to pay for all of their massage. They are asking for donations towards a larger purchase. It would by like 4 friends going in together to get a dyson.
No one seems to have a problem when large ticket items are on a registry at Bed Bath and Beyond.
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I agree with Katie B. Let these people be. I am impressed that they know what will make them happy, and instead of sitting around and moping about what they don't have, they are finding a way to make it work.
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well since i was called out (LOL)...i just mean, if that's what they want to do, why knock it so hard? some posters are being a bit judgemental with the "i would never do that...it's tacky" line; or, questioning these folks' religious faith--those kind of comments are what i'm talking about. how many people on this board are having big weddings? are they not being "good believers" because they are not being humble in your eyes? now granted, this couple wants publicity and should be prepared for a backlash; i just don't have that strong of a negative reaction to their strategy that i would post the link to their site and commence to bashing. they won't get all of the things they are asking for...they probably just went for it all hoping that a big corporation would catch on. and finally, i can certainly understand someone having a small budget and wishing they could do/have more (even if it wouldn't be wise financially). okay, i'm in the minority here, so i should probably back down. :) have a good day ladies!
I would just like to point out that these are real people and this is their real wedding and they are going to have real memories of their day. Anything we post is going to be a part of their wedding memories. Even though I disagree with their ideas, I would never want to cause anyone to have wedding memories that hurt. I wish them the best and hope their day is everything they dreamed it would be.
Yes, but by doing what they are doing, they are seeking the public's $ - which means they get the public's opinion as well. I think if you are willing to ask people you don't know to pay for your wedding, you can't expect not to have some discussion around what you are doing.
I think its fine for them to do this, and its fine for people to comment on it on a public forum. The point of these forums is not to have a love fest and agree with everything and everyone, but to offer opinions and thoughts free of "snarkiness".....
But some posters' thoughts weren't free of snarkiness at the beginning of this thread. I, too, was pretty weirded out when I first peeped at this couple's wedding website. But then I realized, to each his/her own. And also, their entire "wedding registry" is their honeymoon registry. They said they already have pots, pans, etc. and have expressed they want a really nice honeymoon in lieu of traditional gifts. Ok, I can live with that. Couples today do a number of outrageous things to create a "dream wedding day". What are you gonna do? You can't hate them for it.
ugh. sorry to revisit this but i was trying not to comment, and just HAD to. A few people pointed out that the forum is a fine place for these (largely snarky) comments because how else can we create a REAL dialogue with honest opinons? I don't think this couple ever asked for our opinion. It was anohter poster who kinda' put them on blast here. They didn't ask for "public" money because they are asking "private" corps for possible sponsorships. I don't agree with them, but I also don't agree with how some are responding to it.
Come on, people, EVERY wedding outside of a courthouse is an extravagance. I agree that we should all live within our means, but how many of us really do? (I fail at this as well). There are people DYING on this planet from poverty and starvation and we all pat ourselves on the back saying, oh well, my wedding is within MY budget - whether that be $10,000 or $20,000 or even more - it is still a crazy amount of money. Some people need to stop justifying how mean they are being by acting self-righteous. If you feel that strongly about the misuse of money, choose some real culprits like corporate America (charging as much as they do) and harness your passion into some real activism. thanks!
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