Heeee!!!
Okay, by now you probably have all heard that Derek and I won a $35,000 dream wedding at the first annual Chicago Wedding Gala on Saturday night. (You didn't? You're hearing it now.) Here's how it happened:
On Saturday we went to Derek's cousin's kid's 1st birthday party. We left pretty early because the Dan Ryan is under construction and it was supposedly hellish to drive on. So we took the long way around, arrived at the Civic Opera House at about 5:30, and waited around for the doors to the Gala to open. We actually ended up sneaking (actually, it was more "accidentally walking") in to the Gala at about 5:40, and the doors didn't open until 6. The coordinator of the event actually came up to us at aboue 10 minutes before 6 and introduced herself. We explained that we were way early, but that it looked like it was going to be a fun time. So the doors opened (they actually let us check in a little early) and we started wandering around talking to vendors. Unfortunately, since it was the first Gala, there weren't a whole lot of vendors to see. We got the required initials on our card from the required vendors, and turned in our card (which allowed us to be entered into the drawing to win the grand prize). We finished up with that at around 7:30, and the drawing wasn't going to be until 10:20, and you had to be present to win. So Derek and I busied ourselves with going through the stuff we got from the vendors, and I enjoyed the chocolates that I gathered along the way. We also got to have wine/champagne/soda and hors d'oeuvres while we waited. A fashion show took place at one point, and Derek actually enjoyed that. The DJ was playing some awesome tunes, so sitting around wasn't as bad as it could have been. Both of us thought to ourselves that we should just leave, but there was something telling me that if we left, our name would be drawn. We actually started to get a little pissed because we weren't winning any of the little raffle prizes. But eventually, 10:15 rolled around, and the DJ read off the list of things the lucky couple would get. You can see the list here. So then they pulled a card out of a hat, and it was MY NAME! Immediately, the words "No shit..." came flying out of Derek's mouth, and I wasn't quite sure I heard the name right. It took about 5 seconds for it to sink in, that in fact they had said "Gretchen Warner," and I dropped my coat (which I was holding in my lap) and walked up to the DJ booth where the event sponsors were standing. About halfway between my chair and the DJ booth, in the middle of the dance floor, I started jumping up and down! I got up to the girls and gave them all huge hugs and began crying. Derek joined me after gathering our stuff, and we went through the package with Kristie (the event planner) and had our picture taken, which I am told will be published in some bridal magazine.
So...yeah. I'm sure we'll have to pay for some stuff (like I don't know if the reception is covered), but now we can go all out on the things we were going to cut corners on or eliminate altogether. And I believe she said the event will be covered and featured in magazines! HOLY HELL! We're gonna be famous!
The only stipulation for the whole thing is that we have to have the wedding on a Friday and sometime between January 1 and June 30, 2008. So scratch September 22, 2007 off your calendars! We are more than happy to comply with this rule. We are thinking either April or May. If anyone knows of any graduations or stuff like that happening next April/May, please let me know so we can plan accordingly!
WHEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Saturday we went to Derek's cousin's kid's 1st birthday party. We left pretty early because the Dan Ryan is under construction and it was supposedly hellish to drive on. So we took the long way around, arrived at the Civic Opera House at about 5:30, and waited around for the doors to the Gala to open. We actually ended up sneaking (actually, it was more "accidentally walking") in to the Gala at about 5:40, and the doors didn't open until 6. The coordinator of the event actually came up to us at aboue 10 minutes before 6 and introduced herself. We explained that we were way early, but that it looked like it was going to be a fun time. So the doors opened (they actually let us check in a little early) and we started wandering around talking to vendors. Unfortunately, since it was the first Gala, there weren't a whole lot of vendors to see. We got the required initials on our card from the required vendors, and turned in our card (which allowed us to be entered into the drawing to win the grand prize). We finished up with that at around 7:30, and the drawing wasn't going to be until 10:20, and you had to be present to win. So Derek and I busied ourselves with going through the stuff we got from the vendors, and I enjoyed the chocolates that I gathered along the way. We also got to have wine/champagne/soda and hors d'oeuvres while we waited. A fashion show took place at one point, and Derek actually enjoyed that. The DJ was playing some awesome tunes, so sitting around wasn't as bad as it could have been. Both of us thought to ourselves that we should just leave, but there was something telling me that if we left, our name would be drawn. We actually started to get a little pissed because we weren't winning any of the little raffle prizes. But eventually, 10:15 rolled around, and the DJ read off the list of things the lucky couple would get. You can see the list here. So then they pulled a card out of a hat, and it was MY NAME! Immediately, the words "No shit..." came flying out of Derek's mouth, and I wasn't quite sure I heard the name right. It took about 5 seconds for it to sink in, that in fact they had said "Gretchen Warner," and I dropped my coat (which I was holding in my lap) and walked up to the DJ booth where the event sponsors were standing. About halfway between my chair and the DJ booth, in the middle of the dance floor, I started jumping up and down! I got up to the girls and gave them all huge hugs and began crying. Derek joined me after gathering our stuff, and we went through the package with Kristie (the event planner) and had our picture taken, which I am told will be published in some bridal magazine.
So...yeah. I'm sure we'll have to pay for some stuff (like I don't know if the reception is covered), but now we can go all out on the things we were going to cut corners on or eliminate altogether. And I believe she said the event will be covered and featured in magazines! HOLY HELL! We're gonna be famous!
The only stipulation for the whole thing is that we have to have the wedding on a Friday and sometime between January 1 and June 30, 2008. So scratch September 22, 2007 off your calendars! We are more than happy to comply with this rule. We are thinking either April or May. If anyone knows of any graduations or stuff like that happening next April/May, please let me know so we can plan accordingly!
WHEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!