Local Businesses Want To Get You ‘Hitched’
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Being married and divorced twice, I don’t think a third wedding is in my future. That said, I am a fan of happy relationships and great marriages. Although my alter ego is ‘BitterMel’, I’m not THAT bitter! LOL! If you’re planning on becoming engaged soon, planning a wedding or would like to renew your vows, this is for you!
Local Life Magazine is partnering with several local businesses in the Charlotte area to celebrate life, love, community & the power of collaboration. They’ve joined together to give one deserving couple a FREE wedding on September, 15, 2024.
This is huge! A free wedding! So, of course, you’re wondering what it entails. Well, luckily some of the folks involved have sent me the info! So many of the ‘must haves’ for a fabulous wedding will be taken care of for you. The dress, venue, cake, flowers and more. This is a huge deal as we all know even small weddings can be quite pricey!
Here’s How To Get Hitched
In order to be in the running, you’ll need to give details about your special love story. In addition, you’ll need to send some photographs of you and your significant other, and answer some questions about what being in a marriage means to you. There are some other questions and there are some requirements that are musts if you’d like to win.
I’d love to list all the businesses participating but honestly, the list is long! It’s so cool to see so many local folks stepping up to help a lucky couple have their dream wedding. Scrolling through all the sponsors, the folks that win this wedding will be unbelievably happy!
If you’re interested, all of the details on getting ‘Hitched’ can be found here. And if you’d like to apply for the free wedding, the info is here.
Wishing you lots of luck if you enter! It’d be so cool if one of our listeners win!
Photo by Local Life Magazine
Ditching Tradition: A Look At 'Anti-Wedding' Trends
It’s easy to become overwhelmed when planning a wedding. From booking the venue and the caterer to the guest list and music selections, there’s a lot of decisions leading up to the big day. The latest trend to take social media by storm is “anti-bride.” Many soon-to-be brides are embracing the trend that encourages people to ditch the pressure of wedding traditions and go for more of a personal experience.
Last year, a Pinterest x Zola wedding report showed an increase in searches for “anti-bride wedding.” On TikTok, Zola, the wedding planning platform, shared posts about the trend. They described it as a way for couples to take the reins on wedding planning, giving them the freedom to do what they want with no rules.
Amy Shack Egan, or who some call “The Anti-Wedding Wedding Planner” mentioned in a 2022 interview with The Cut that “love parties” are meant to reflect the couple rather than adhere to societal expectations.
Couple taking a break from tradition with anti-wedding trends
Anti-wedding doesn’t mean no wedding at all. Some people see it as having a micro wedding with a smaller guest list or saying no to party favors and excessive extras. It could also be having a wedding at home, wearing an inexpensive dress from Target that’s not white at all. Many anti-brides are even opting to walk down the aisle by themselves or with their partner, or not walking down the aisle. This trend become a financial necessity for some people.
Throughout the years, plenty of celebrities have followed the anti-wedding trend. For instance, in 1997, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick had an anti-wedding. People reported that the couple exchanged vows at New York City’s Angel Orensanz Synagogue. The pair invited friends and family to the event under the guise that it was just a party. In the end, they surprised roughly 100 guests with a wedding. Parker said “I do” in a black dress rather than the traditional white.
In 2022, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got married in Vegas with a very relaxed wedding ceremony. Entertainment News reported that the couple got married next to a Caesar’s Palace blackjack table. Affleck changed into the white jacket he’d grabbed out of his closet in the men’s room. Meanwhile, Lopez wore a dress she used in an old movie.
Check out some anti-wedding trends below.
Melany Myers is a Gastonia native and has spent most of her life here in North Carolina. Mel has worked in radio for over 20 years, many of which she spent co-hosting morning shows in Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC. Mel loves 80’s music, going to concerts, cooking, and eating! She is always writing about random news stories that really make you wonder, “what in the world?!” She also writes about rock music and human-interest content.