Jefferson County and Eureka Leader readers are invited to share their wedding ring stories for the “The Ring’s the Thing” contest being held in conjunction with this year’s Leader Wedding Fair, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Quality Inn, 1200 W. Gannon Drive, in Festus.
The deadline to submit an entry in the contest is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16.
Admission to the fair will be $3 per person, with proceeds going to BackStoppers, an organization that provides financial assistance and support to the spouses and dependent children of first responders who are injured or killed in the line of duty.
This is the 26th annual wedding fair put on by Leader Publications. Over those years, the event has raised $44,310 for local charities.
“We’ve really enjoyed seeing this event grow and change over the last 25 years,” Leader publisher Pam LaPlant said. “It’s a fun event and provides a needed service to wedding and other event planners all over our area.”
Tell us about the ring; you could win $200
The winner in this year’s “The Ring’s the Thing” contest, who will be drawn at random from among all eligible entries, will receive $200. Plus, the winner’s story, along with as many others as space permits, will be published in the special section slated to run in the Jan. 23 issue of the paper.
For the contest, readers are asked to share stories about the history behind their rings.
Brides – Is your ring a family heirloom or was it purchased new? Is it an expensive piece of jewelry or just the band off a cheap cigar? Did you pick it out, or was it a surprise? Have you changed it over the years in any way?
Grooms – Do you wear a ring? Does it coordinate with your wife’s?
Tell us about it in 300 words or fewer and send a photo (or two).
The following information must accompany all submissions:
■ Your name, phone number and town of residence.
■ The date you were (or will be) married.
■ A brief (300 words or fewer) description of your ring(s).
There are several options for submitting:
■ Bring to the Leader office at 503 N. Second in Festus.
■ Mail to the newspaper at P.O. Box 159, Festus, 63028.
■ Email to news@leaderpublications.biz.
For more information, call the Leader office at 636-931-7560.
Fair helps with planning non-wedding events, too
At the fair, representatives of wedding-related businesses will have booths throughout the hotel lobby and atrium area, representing everything from photos, cakes and food to jewelry and travel. Financial institutions, home decor businesses, and insurance and health care companies will be represented as well.
“There are a lot of people who come to the fair to plan other kinds of events,” LaPlant said. “Graduations, retirements, reunions, company functions – something like this is a great way to find what you need for any kind of party, all in one place.”
A fashion show featuring wedding wear from White Weddings in Ste. Genevieve will once again anchor the fair. Local models will show off dresses for the bride and the whole bridal party, with first responders as escorts.
Calling all vendors
Booth spaces are still available for the fair. Call the Leader at 636-931-7560 for information about pricing and requirements or email us at peggyscott@leaderpublications.biz.
