Tickets are on sale for the 32nd annual Leader Wedding Fair to be held in early February. The Leader is asking readers to submit photos from their weddings or other wedding-related events for a chance to win a cash prize in the Share the Love photo contest.
The Wedding Fair will be held from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Corpus Christi Event Center at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Imperial. The tickets cost $3 in advance or $5 at the door.
Katelyn Mary Skaggs, the Leader digital marketing manager, said some lucky eventgoers may receive free Wedding Fair advance tickets by going to myleaderpaper.com/weddingfair and entering the code ‘SAVETHEDATE.’
Skaggs said a limited number of free tickets are available, so attendees should sign up as soon as possible to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Make sure you get your free tickets today,” she said.
Each year the Leader donates proceeds from the sale of wedding fair tickets to a local charity, and this year, the funds will benefit the Twin City Area Optimist Club.
“The Twin City Area Optimist Club does a ton in our area and is focused on children,” Skaggs said. “They have a bike program that makes sure every kid has a helmet, and it’s properly adjusted.
“They give out dictionaries to children. They have oodles and oodles of programs that really focus on the kids of our community. They do a lot that sometimes goes unnoticed, so we felt like this was a great opportunity to give a little helping hand to an organization that’s been around for many years and does so much for our community.”
Skaggs said the Leader has raised more than $51,500 at its Wedding Fairs over the years and donated those funds to a variety of local charitable efforts.
Last year, more than 400 people attended the Wedding Fair, she said, adding that the fair is a great place to plan your special day.
“If you need to find a venue, a caterer, a DJ, the right dress, a tuxedo, an event planner, a photographer, a travel agent, all of the above, this is the perfect event,” she said. “We have brides who come alone. We have brides who come with their soon-to-be spouses. We have brides who come with their parents or in-laws. We have brides who come with their whole bride tribe.”
Skaggs said the Wedding Fair is also a great way to plan big events like a family reunion or a class reunion.
“Even if you’re just planning a large party and you need some information on vendors, this is a great stop,” she said.
Skaggs said the event also will include travel agents, so it’s an opportunity for those planning a cruise or other trip.
“Just because you maybe don’t have a ring on your finger doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come,” she said, adding that a mimosa bar will be part of the event, making it a fun place to hang out.
Share the Love photo contest
It’s time to dig out your wedding-related photos, whether they’re from your special day or a wedding-related event, like a bridal shower, a rehearsal dinner or honeymoon.
This year, the Leader will hold a Share the Love photo contest and is seeking entries.
Winners will be drawn at random from all the entries.
A $100 cash prize will be awarded to the person whose name is drawn first, $75 will go to the second person drawn and $50 to the third.
Include the following information with the photo:
■ Photographer’s name, age, address and phone number. (Entries missing this information will not be considered for prizes.)
■ The first and last names of those featured in the photo, as well as the towns in which they live.
■ When and where the photo was taken.
■ A brief explanation of why the photograph is special to you.
The deadline to enter the contest is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16.
Entries may be sent by mail: P.O. Box 159, Festus, 63028; dropped off at the Leader office, 503 N. Second St., in Festus; or sent by email: news@myleaderpaper.com.
Photos will be returned if a self-addressed stamped envelope is included.
Winning photos will be published in the Jan. 29 Wedding Fair Special section. Additional photos will be printed as space allows.
Photos not published in the paper may be posted to the Leader website, myleaderpaper.com.