Category: Giveaways
We have a winning couple!
Congratulations Melissa and Rob!
I would like to personally thank everyone that visited my blog and voted for the couples. And a huge thank you goes out to all of the couples that sent entries in and helped to make my vision come to fruition. I’m not sure that I’ll do such a huge giveaway again in the near future, but will definitely have more fun things planned for the future. 
Wow! What a task this was. I loved reading through all of your entries. I wish I could give everyone free wedding photography next year.
Without further ado, please meet our three finalist couples (in no particular order)!
Couple 1: Melissa + Rob
Rob and Melissa met through a mutual friend in Bloomington, Indiana in early 2007, where both were pursuing graduate degrees at Indiana University. Their love was later kindled that year when a vicious winter storm hit the area and the young couple became trapped inside for several days. Passionate about the natural world, Rob and Melissa now both work in the area of environmental policy, just one of the many shared professional and personal interests of the couple. Other interests include good food, good friends, the outdoors, and an outrageous (and at times expensive) love of dogs, which the couple foment by spoiling their two big puppies, Jersey and Kofi, and through their support of several canine charities. The couples’ love has remained and indeed grown over time, despite their seeming inability to actually live and work in the same state–Rob estimates the relationship has resulted in over 30,000 miles driven between the two simply from the long drives to see one another. The couple are excited to finally make the ultimate commitment to one another and, after marriage, find a house to share together and share their love with as many puppies and senior dogs as possible.
Says Melissa: “Rob is the most selfless person I know. He would give his last dollar to help a friend, a stranger, a cause or an animal in need. His ability and desire to live simply and give more has made me a better person. I see him not just as my partner, but as the great teacher and researcher that I know him to be. I feel incredibly lucky that I get to spend the next decades of my life learning from him and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for us.”
Says Rob: “Melissa is passionate about life–the good times, the bad times, and all times in between. She reminds me on a daily basis that there is good in the world to cherish and evil in the world to fight. Her desire to bring about positive change in the world led her to pursue a career in public service, but her intellect and ingenuity in all aspects of life are what make her the most remarkable person I know. Every day I remind myself how lucky I am to be apart of her life and how glad I am to be along for the ride as I witness her achieve all that she sets out to accomplish.”
“We will be “eloping” with our wedding party consisting of six of our closest friends. Several complicated factors played a part in the decision Rob and I made to have a small elopement rather than a large traditional wedding, but what it really comes down to is that Rob and I do things simple, that’s what we’re comfortable with and that is what makes us happy. Because our families will not be there to see us get married, we feel that capturing the event is that much more important. We want our families to be able to look at the images from our wedding, see the love between us and know that they were in our hearts on that special day”
Couple #2: Ashley + Jeremy
“We will be together 3 years this February and we have realized it is the right time to get married we are tired of waiting for the money so we are just making it happen. Jeremy proposed to me last March on a horse and buggy ride down town Louisville. It was perfect and he was so nervous. I was so excited that night I started planning right then not even knowing when the big day was going to happen.
Jeremy is an amazing man he comes from a split family and has a heart of gold he always knows when I need a pick me up. I could not ask for anyone better he works hard all day and comes home and does not stop till he cant go anymore. I have become to realized he is the one I want to spend my life with. He gives me a feeling I just don’t know how to describe not even “I love you” can tell him how much I love him.
We have recently decided to move our wedding date to April 14, 2012 from October 2013. Our lives have been a roller coaster since we started dating but we always find a way to keep each other positive and to look forward in life! I always say communication is the number one thing to make a relationship work.
Some changes have happened recently to cause us to move our wedding date sooner. My mother who I am her pride and joy has recently been off work due to some illness’s and has kept her from being involved with planning our wedding. My wonderful groom has been by my side in helping me make decisions for our big day!
As many others money is tight and planning for our wedding has made it even tighter. We have a pretty good layout of what we need for our wedding all except for a photographer to capture our amazing day. I have a dream of my wedding and I am trying to capture that dream on a budget. I just keep praying we can work in our budget a photographer that I can look back at our portraits and remember the wonderful moments of our special day!”
Couple #3: Anna + Derek
“I am entering this giveaway because I am marrying my high school sweet heart. We met in algebra class, which now seems so long ago, he sat two chairs and one row up from me. I remember the first time I saw his bright red hair! I never seen hair so red in my life. Slowly we formed a friendship as we struggled through the battle of Algebra together. He always made me laugh from the moment we met. Next thing you know we are at prom together and a high school official couple! We never were apart we went to school together walked to class together and left together.
I remember one day we were setting on a bench blushing from stolen kisses and he said “I want us to be on this bench together 50 years from now” I closed my eyes and had the clearest picture of us setting on that bench together all old and gray. I warmed my heart incredibly. I soon panicked though! I mean I was 16 I wasn’t ready for marriage. I explained to him how we were so young and that this is the only relationship we ever had how did we know it was real?? He was reluctant but he soon agreed maybe I was right. So we decided to stay best friends and see what else was out there. Was that really the powerful love we thought it was? Or were we just hormonal teenagers??
Soon we graduated and got adult jobs, but always stayed close, and saw each other everyday. I remember when I went on my first adult date with another guy, it was to a cage fight. I forgot to mention early that Derek was into ufc/cage fighting. He was also a wrestler in high school. Anyways I went with this other fellow to a cage fight and that night Derek would be fighting. I was nervous for him more than I was about the date. I remember right before he entered the ring he walked up to me and asked me to hold his grandmas necklace before he went in. I was so nervous I saw my dates mouth moving but didn’t hear a word all I cared for was Derek and making sure he ended up ok and on his feet. Soon the fight was over. Me and my date were leaving and Derek was fine. I walked out and as my date leaned in for a smooch it hit me like a ton of bricks, the image of me and Derek setting together on the park bench old and gray with a teenagers stolen kisses hit me. I didn’t want this guy to kiss me! I had no interest in anyone other than Derek. So I told him sorry but I can’t, bid him a good night and waited for Derek outside. As he came out I ran to him and hugged him. We ended up talking together forever which neither of us tire of doing.
Now in the present we are living in our apartment with our dog daughter Lucy who is the most feisty Saint Bernard you will ever meet, and our calico cat Betty. I am so happy to have Derek in my life and to know that love will strike when it is ready whether you think you are or not. Love can be found in the young and old, and endure any length of time, distance, or stupid 16 year old girl!”
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I am asking your help in deciding who should win wedding photography with me for 2012. I am asking that you please vote (once per person!!) for the couple that you feel best deserves to win a wedding collection with me. Please feel free to share this link with your friends and family.
UPDATE: I just would like to clarify that you are allowed to vote once per person. Please be honest.
Voting will end at 11:59pm on December 31, 2011. Winning couple will be contacted/announced on January 1, 2012. Please feel free to share the link to this post with all of your friends and family and ask them to cast a vote for the couple you feel should win!
A big thank you to all of the couples that took the time out of their busy wedding planning to enter into this giveaway. While you all will not be receiving free photography for next year, you will receive 20% off any wedding collection booked for next year.
Have I lost my dang mind? Perhaps. I can feel my photographer friends out there shaking their heads in disbelief. I mean, who gives away wedding photography?! Yeah, this girl.
Here’s why…
November 3, 2001. Our wedding day. We planned for a very very small wedding. Now, I’ve always had an appreciation for good photos… not as much as I do currently. However, on one of the most important days of my life, I had not planned for a hired photographer. I (*gasp*) was going to just rely on my mother’s friend to snap some photos with my camera and hope for the best. The thought of hiring a photographer honestly never crossed my mind and honestly wouldn’t have been in our very limited budget.
Enter my bridesmaid’s boyfriend. Her boyfriend that dabbled in photography and knew how to wield a camera. I had no idea he would be there or that he would end up capturing our day… for free! I cherish those photos more than he’ll ever know.
Some of my faves (these are scans of not so great quality prints – I need to get my wedding photos reprinted… one of these days):
Jason and I
My beautiful mother, sister and I
One of my absolute all time favorite photos of my dad and I
Jason and I with his parents (who I can honestly say are two of my favorite-est people in the world. I am beyond blessed to have the in-laws that I have!)
I have no words. Haha. This was as we were walking out of the tiny church, with the tiny aisle, while I was wearing a big poofy dress. By far, one of my most favorite photos from the day! 
Looking back on our wedding (which I always thought we’d have a vow renewal “one of those days”), I know that I was blessed to have someone there that knew what he was doing. And knew that I would regret not having “real” wedding photos. And out of the kindness of his heart, stepped up and gave me a priceless gift.
I want to pay it forward. I want to give some loving couple that same gift that was given to us. I want to bless a couple who is thinking they can’t afford a wedding photographer and will just hope to get some decent snapshots from their family and friends. I want that couple to look back at their wedding photos on their 10 year anniversary and think of something they can do to pay it forward for someone else.
So, have you recently gotten engaged? Is your mind blown with all of the details that go into planning a wedding? Would you like to have one of the planning burdens lifted?
Here are the details:
What – The gift of 4 hours of wedding coverage, 5×7 album and a hi-res disc of images with print release along with a 30 minute engagement session with a hi-res disc of 3 images from the engagement session (retail value $1,425)
When – Any date in 2012**
**Of course, I must be available for your selected wedding date. So please ensure that I am available before entering. Or perhaps consider a date change?
Where – Within 40 miles of Seymour, Indiana
Please contact me before entering if your wedding will be take place outside of that 40 mile radius
Cost – FREE
How to enter:
I want to get to know the couples that are entering this giveaway. I want to know what you love about each other. I want to know why you want me to photograph your wedding. I want to know why I should photograph your wedding. I want to know about the two of you! So, I’m asking that you write me a little essay telling me about yourselves, your wedding plans, your dogs, your cats, your crazy Aunt Sue… whatever floats your boat. I’d just like to get to know you. It doesn’t have to be a novel… just a short little essay will be fine. However, if you want to send a novel, by all means. I love to read!
After reading through the entries, I will choose my favorite three couples. Then I will do a blog post featuring those three couples and have my blog readers help me choose who should win free wedding photography.
Where to send entries:
Please send entries via email to marindafowlerphoto@yahoo.com with the subject line as “WEDDING GIVEAWAY 2012“. Please include photo of yourselves along with your entry (to be used in the blog post). Don’t have access to a computer to send me an email? No worries, give me a call at 812-569-4997 and I will gladly give you a mailing address to send your entry.
When to send entries:
Entries must be received by 10:00PM EST on December 23, 2011. No exceptions.
Can I submit an entry for a couple that I love?
Yes, absolutely! You can submit an entry for a deserving couple if you wish.
Can I submit an entry and use the prize for a portrait session?
Nope. Sorry. This giveaway is for wedding photography only.
Can I have the retail value in cash instead of photography?
Nope. This prize has no cash value.
What if we want you to stay longer than the 4 hours?
No problem! We can discuss adding extra hours into your wedding coverage.
What if I do not win but still really want you to photograph our wedding?
All non-winning entries will receive a 20% discount on newly booked wedding collections (wedding must be booked before December 31, 2011)
9 Comments
I think Jeremy and Ashley more than deserve this, they are the sweetest people I know. Please, consider them. I couldn’t think of two more deserving people!
Good Look Melissa!
here’s to wishing all 3 couples the best of luck!! i do hope my baby sister, melissa, and future brother in law win!!! i am planning on crashing their wedding (which they don’t know) and maybe, just maybe if they win, i could be in some of these photos!!
Melissa and Rob!
Good luck Melissa and Rob!
whos cheating NOW?
I love you, Melissa Lynn! You will be a beautiful bride. I can’t wait to see your pictures!!
Tom Rorer (the Dad) – I know that I am baised but it was a beautiful day captured by Tessa perfectly.I have looked at these several times and each time I see something new.Tessa, you did an outstanding job. I dont think anyone could do better. Frost Chapel is a unique and beutiful place, the kids were beautiful and the bridal party all made for a day that I”ll never forget. And if i do, these wonderful photo’s can take me back. I can’t express how happy I am. Carol(the Mom) has looked at these a thousand times and is checking e-mail every 30 minutes for part 2. Gotta go, part 2 has arrived. KT and family: Welcome to our family!!!! Barbara and John: Thanks for Kevin. We will take good care of him when he is here in Georgia. Tessa, feel free to use me as a reference!God Bless each and every one of you..
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