Oh yeah, this is BIG NEWS alright! To celebrate our 10th year of marriage (everybody say "aawww!") and the fact that we photographed our first wedding together ten years ago (Hi David and Angie Pointer - we love you guys!), we are having a contest to give away a wedding!! Well, not the whole she-bang. What, do you think we have the budget of NBC? ;) No, we're going to gift one lucky couple a $3000 photography package! And the even better news is that we've got some other great vendors to chip in with some awesome prizes too to bring the total value over $7500 (more on that in a minute)!!
Why are we doing this?
[Mushiness] Danielle and I can not believe that we've been married for ten years! It's not that we didn't think we would make it this far, it's just that it has flown by. In those ten short years we have started a successful business together, remodeled a house, and become parents to two amazing little girls.
We started out as a couple of young lovebirds with no real direction in life. Danielle was still in college and I was an underpaid newspaper photographer. But then things started to fall into place. Inspired by our own horrible wedding photos (we didn't know the first thing about wedding photography back then) we decided to photograph a friend's wedding. And then another. And another. The couples were thrilled with their photos and poor Danielle cried every time she worked on the proofs because their photos were so much better than ours.
The next thing we knew we were officially in business. We both worked full time jobs, but we dove head first into making the business work. With every wedding, we felt we got better and stronger. Before we knew it, we were talking family. And then remodeling the old shack we lived it. And then Madilynn came along. And man, did life get crazy. Danielle quit her job (she just couldn't leave the baby) and I started racking up 40 hours a week for Hope Photography on top of 40 hours a week at the paper. Something had to give.
Almost three years ago we took a huge leap of faith and I left the newspaper to focus on the business full time. Eighteen months ago, Danielle gave birth to our second terror, I mean angel, Amelia. We haven't looked back for one second. Life just keeps getting crazier and better.
Danielle and I realize that we are both so truly blessed. We get to work with our best friends every day (and yes, we mean each other). We see our girls constantly and have the most active role in their upbringing (which means it's all our faults when they behave poorly). We are our own bosses (she is sooo Michael Scott and I'm Jim Halpert, btw). We have the best clients and friends and family in the world! And we know that we wouldn't be here now if it weren't for you. So to share this love we have, for each other, for our business, and for our relationships with our clients, we wanted to give something back to the wedding world; give one lucky couple a shot at an awesome wedding. Karma can be a beautiful thing... and since we've been blessed, it's our turn to share those blessings with others (and by Karma, I'm talking the Earl Hickey kind, not the Buddha kind). [/Mushiness]
To honor our 10 years of marriage and 10 years of wedding photography, we are giving away a wedding on October 10, 2010. Yep, I know you're quick. That's 10/10/10!
The Details:
We are holding a contest to give away a wedding package consisting of photography, planning, videography, reception lighting, and a bridal bouqet/boutonnière combo. This package can only be applied to a wedding on 10/10/10 and has to be in the Knoxville area. The total value of the package is $7,670!
Who is giving what:
Hope Photography: $3000 photography package that includes two photographers (us), a coffee table book, an online gallery and a proofbook.
One Enchanted Evening: Princess Package including Pre-Wedding services, Day of Wedding services and After Ceremony services. ($2350)
Ambiance Light Design: Color wash and eight uplights ($1500)
Midnight Magic Studios: Video of the ceremony coverage ($655)
Lisa Foster: Bridal Bouquet and groom's boutonnière ($165)
How it will work:
We're going to try to keep this as simple as possible (which means it will be difficult... so pay attention!). Couples will email us with their name and contact information by January 31st.
We will then email them a questionnaire and a link to the official rules. The questionnaire will ask them to share some details about the couple (how they met, how he proposed, etc.).
We will then share those stories on our blog over the following week and a half.
We will open voting up on 2/10/10 by posting a new email address (just for this contest) and letting you all vote on your favorite story. You will be given ONE VOTE PER EMAIL ADDRESS. Danielle and I will keep a tally going until voting closes at 11:59 pm on 2/13/10. We will then announce the winner on 2/14/10!! Sound easy enough? It is (at least on paper)!
Why such a convoluted way of voting? We've seen too many online polls be skewed by people who knew how to skirt the system. While our system is going to be a pain in the booty for us (counting each vote, making sure only one vote per email address), it's the only way we could come up with that would be fair for all the couples who enter.
The Basic Rules (email us if you want see the full list of rules and regulations):
• The entrants CAN NOT be under contract with any other photographer (including Hope Photography), planner, or videographer. The last thing we want to do is take business away from someone else who has already been retained for their services.
• The wedding must take place in the Knoxville area and on October 10, 2010.
• Cheating will not be tolerated! In fact, we'll flog you and torture you with 84 straight hours of ShamWow! commercials if we catch you cheating.
• By entering, couples are granting permission for Hope Photography, and it's partners, to use their names and likenesses to promote this contest.
Ready to Enter?
If you're reading this, then the contest is officially open!! Send your name, phone number and email address to: info@hope-photo.com
Deadline for entries: January 31, 11:59 pm EST (No more entries will be taken after that time.)
Questionnaires will be emailed in batches starting at the end of Day One to all entrants for that day. The sooner questionnaires are returned to Hope Photography, the sooner those entrants will be blogged (and the more people will read your story).
Questions or need more information? info@hope-photo.com or give us a call at 865-977-6483
Not getting married anytime soon or already married? Then pass the word! Everyone knows someone getting married. And if they don't have a photographer lined up already and want to get married on a unique wedding date, then they will love to hear about this contest.
So there you have it! Exciting, huh? And a little bit crazy; we do realize that. But we promise that we will devote as much energy and time to whoever wins this contest as we do our regular clients. We are looking forward to 2010 and have big plans for this to be the best year ever!
-Wes
6 comments:
Fun! I'm going to post on facebook. Okay with you guys?
E
Awesome idea for a contest! I remember helping you guys get your gown & tuxes together for your own wedding-and how disapointed you were in the photos. Can't wait to see how this plays out.
what a great contest! I am getting married on 10-10-10, but in Vegas.. any chance of getting y'all to come out there if I win? ;)
Becca! We would LOVE to come to Vegas for a wedding. However the terms of the contest won't allow us to do it for 10-10-10...so we think you should totally change your date and hire us to come out there :)
if I devorse my wife of 11 years, now, do I qualify? I am sure she would remarry me on 10/10/10
the deadline is over
we are in barcelona, spain
just looking around for 101010
cos next 101010 we are getting married!
so
all the anyways... we just wanted to say it is a cool idea!
and as far as we share the 101010... we would say it's a 10 points idea!
bubbles on yooOooOOur way!
joan and cristina
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