Something borrowed, something corporate: Sask. couple seeks sponsorships to pay for nuptials
He lost his job, she wants a dream wedding and, no, eloping to a courthouse is not an option, he says
Seeking corporate and private sponsorships to help pay for your wedding opens up all kinds of possibilities.
But groom-to-be Jason Mielke has his limits.
He probably won't be branding the wedding dress of his wife-to-be Rebecca Winter Hansen with an "ACME" stamp or anything.
"I don't know if we're going to go that far," said Mielke. "I have seen pictures from the United States where the bride has whatever logos on her dress ... we probably won't do that."
But the happily-engaged Moose Jaw, Sask., couple is asking individual community members to donate money in return for a seat at their winter wedding reception and a chance "to be a part of our life story," said Winter Hansen.
Companies, meanwhile, are being asked to pay for the cost of specific aspects of what Winter Hansen calls her "dream" wedding.
'The power of giving'
That dream includes:
- Pre-spa services for the bride and maid of honour.
- A winter shawl.
- Cigars (on the website "LOL" is added).
- A red carpet leading to the church.
- Saskatoon berry champagne
- A gluten-free wedding cake.
"When a brand or product service or company makes a donation and gives to us, it's an association that is made with a happy, positively emotionally charged moment," said Winter Hansen. "And the result is always a long-lasting and double-fold reciprocal return.
"The power of giving always moves everyone towards greatness and making the impossible possible."
Met in a library
The couple met in 2015 while Winter Hansen — about to write a university exam — sought to de-stress in the relaxing confines of the Southland Mall Regina library branch.
There, she first set her eyes on Mielke and his "just phenomenal haircut."
She sat across the table from where he was reading.
"I said, 'Hey, how ya doing' and the rest was history," said Winter Hansen.
Eloping not an option
Mielke's idea to seek sponsorships was sparked by his losing his job in the oil and gas industry last January.
"Our story is about courage, hope, bravery and not giving up and moving forward to the next chapter as a team together," he said.
Asked if it wouldn't just be easier to elope, he said, "It was mentioned to us by someone here in the community but no, that's not an option ... We don't want to just get married at the courthouse."
The couple is slated to clinch its merger on Nov. 25
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with files from CBC Radio's Afternoon Edition