2019 STARS & STRIPES WEDDING

Official Contest Information & Rules

General Information

One (1) lucky military and/or first responder couple will be selected to win the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST, all made possible by the nonprofit organization Brides Across America Inc. and Levy R & H Limited Partnership (Chicago, IL). The selected couple (the "Winners") will receive a complete wedding reception package (the "Wedding"). Winners and their guests must be willing and able to attend the Wedding sometime between December 2019 and March 2020.

Please see the complete Contest Rules for more information.

How To Enter:

1. Using the Brides Across America online entry form, submit entry by uploading your love story, (max. 500 words) along with photos, explaining why you want to win the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST and answer the following questions:

2. Complete the Contest Entry Form by November 6, 2019.   Finalists will be chosen to submit their videos, where they are going to tell us about their love story.

Finalists:  Five (5) finalists will be selected by a panel of judges and then you will be required to upload your special love story video to your own YouTube account, and create a link for sharing the finished product by November 21, 2019.

3. Winners will be selected and announced on November 29, 2019.

Official Contest Rules

Please review the official contest rules carefully. If you have additional questions or comments, please use the contact form on our website.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. BY PROVIDING A SUBMISSION, ENTRANT AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. SPONSORS

Levy R & H Limited Partnership, 315 North Lasalle Street, Chicago, IL 60654 ("Levy") and Brides Across America LLC, 342 N. Main Street, Andover, MA 01810 ("Brides Across America" and/or "BAA") are the sponsors and administrators of this contest (hereinafter “Sponsors”). In addition, a number of local partners (the “Local Partners”) may provide gifts  ("Additional Products and Services") that are included in the prize package. Brides Across America and Volles Bridal (Lake Zurich, IL) will gift a wedding gown and tuxedo. Other Local Partners may include: providers of photography, flowers, ceremony and reception décor, music and/or a day-of coordinator. Levy and BAA will attempt to secure and work with Local Partners to procure Additional Products and Services on a donation and/or low-cost basis. There can be no assurances that such Local Partners will be secured and that such Additional Products and Services will be procured for free and/or on a low-cost basis.

2. TERM

The 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST contest (the “Contest”) begins October 7, 2019 at 08:00 AM US Eastern Standard Time (EST), and entrants must submit their entry form no later than November 6, 2019 11:59 PM EST ("Entry Deadline"). Winners will be chosen and announced on November 29, 2019. For more information about additional requirements for Contest finalists, please see Section 4 (How to Enter).

Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these official rules (“Official Rules”). By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and warrants that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Official Rules. This is a skill-based contest and chance plays no part in the determination of winners.

3. WHO MAY ENTER

Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States, 18 years of age or older, who: (1) currently serve in a branch of the U.S. Military (U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force); and (2) within the last 5 years have been active; and (3) must be engaged, or have had a civil ceremony or Justice of the Peace ceremony and planning a wedding within the next 18 months.  In addition, those currently serving in the U.S. Coast Guard that have been protecting U.S. waters or borders and have been on a ship for three (3) or more months since January 20, 2014, may also enter if they satisfy (3) and (4) above. First Responders are included if you are EMT, Fire, or Police and have active proof of employment.

4. HOW TO ENTER

All entries must be submitted in digital format through our online entry form. To enter, please go to the dedicated contest page at www.bridesacrossamerica.com and follow the entry instructions, which include telling your story in 500 words or less (the “Entry”).  Photos may also be included with the Entry.  After November 6, 2019, 2019 (Entry Deadline), five (5) finalists will be selected and will be required to provide a link to his/her video on the entrant’s YouTube account by November 21, 2019. The video must be original, created by you, sharing your love story and demonstrating why you and your fiancé deserve to win. Your Entry and Video should answer the following questions:

Your Video must comply with the following requirements (the “Entry Requirements”). The Video can be no longer than 2 minutes and must be in English. The link to your Video must be included on the online entry form, which can be reached through www.bridesacrossamerica.com. The Video must be the entrant’s original, previously unpublished work and not feature or focus on any material owned or controlled by third parties (including without limitation, third party copyrighted material). The entrant must provide upon request all appropriate clearances, permissions and releases for the Video, including any required releases for third parties appearing in the Video. In the event an entrant cannot provide all required releases, Sponsors reserve the right, in Sponsors’ sole discretion, to disqualify the applicable Video, or seek to secure the releases and clearances for Sponsors’ benefit, or allow the applicable Video to remain in Contest. Obscene, provocative, or otherwise objectionable content will not be considered, and such determination is solely at the discretion of Sponsors. There shall be no commercial logos, brands, or other third party intellectual property in the Video (See Section 5 below). Limit one (1) Video per entrant. The Video entries will be judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as described in Section 9 below. All videos must be submitted and received by November 21, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST. Proof of submission is not proof of receipt.

Videos that fail to adhere to any of the requirements set forth in these Official Rules as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, may be disqualified or edited by Sponsor only as specifically provided herein.

Videos posted on YouTube are subject to the terms set by that platform. Please refer to the YouTube Terms of Service and Community Guidelines for details. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by YouTube.

5. NO THIRD PARTY LOGOS/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY/TRADEMARKS.

Any entrant who incorporates any logos, intellectual property, trademarks or material owned by a third party into his or her Video does so at his or her own risk. If Sponsors are notified that any element of an entrant’s Video infringes upon the rights of another person and/or receives a legally valid request to remove the Video from this Contest because of such infringement, such Video may be removed from and/or disqualified from the Contest, as Sponsors determine in their sole discretion. Further, no entrant will be eligible to receive the prize unless Sponsors determine, in their sole and absolute discretion, that such entrant’s Video has been or can be sufficiently cleared for legal purposes. Sponsors may elect to blur incidental third party trademarks or logos in any entered Video at its sole discretion.

6. MUSIC

Any music included in a Video must be original to the entrant, and all music and/or lyrics must be written and performed solely by you. The composition and performance may not have been published by any third party and must not infringe on third-party rights. If Sponsor determines in its sole discretion that the music you have included in your video is not original, or infringes on any third-party rights, the Sponsors may either disqualify your entry or Sponsor may dub over the music with music selected by the Sponsors in their sole discretion.

7. CONTEST PRIZE

One (1) couple will be selected as Winners.

Levy will commit to provide a prize package including one (1) of their RIVER ROAST Private Events packages (roughly equivalent to either their "Riverside" or "Brunch" offering) and services for the Winners at the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST. Products and services include:

Riverside Package

  • Five-hour reception up to 220 guests (including bride, groom and their parents)
  • Three-course dinner menu: salad and entree prepared by our award winning culinary team
  • Custom designed wedding cake prepared by Bittersweet Pastry
  • Four-hour standard open bar, one-hour wine service with dinner, sparkling wine toast
  • Complimentary house chairs and tables with white linen
  • Complimentary votive candles: 3 for each dinner table and along windows to accent
  • Personalized menus placed at each table setting

Brunch Package

  • Four-hour reception for up to guests (including bride, groom and their parents)
  • Four passed hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour Chef table prepared by our award winning culinary team
  • Custom designed wedding cake prepared by Bittersweet Pastry
  • Four-hour standard open bar including mimosa and bloody mary
  • Complimentary votive candles: 3 for each dinner table and along windows to accent

Additional Products and Services

As stated above Additional Products and Services may be procured on behalf of the Winners. Brides Across America and Volles Bridal (Lake Zurich, IL) will gift a wedding gown and tuxedo. Other Additional Products and Services may include:

  • Wedding photography services
  • Wedding flowers
  • Services related to the wedding ceremony
  • Reception décor
  • Music
  • Day-of coordinator

Levy and BAA will attempt to secure and work with Local Partners to procure Additional Products and Services on a donation and/or low-cost basis. There can be no assurances that such Local Partners will be secured and that such Additional Products and Services will be procured for free and/or low-cost basis.

Some restrictions, conditions and limitations on these prizes may apply and will be communicated to the Winners. Sponsors have exclusive control of any vendors selected for the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST. No other vendors will be allowed to provide any goods or services whatsoever for the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST without the Sponsors’ written approval. If winners are unable to travel on the available dates, the entire prize package will be forfeited, and Sponsors may elect to select an alternate winner from remaining entries based on the judging criteria. PLEASE NOTE: The prize does not include any travel for the couple and their guests  to, or from, the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST. All travel to the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST location is the personal responsibility of the bride, groom and guests. The prize may not be transferred or assigned by the winner. No cash equivalent will be provided in lieu of the prize. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute the prize in the event of unavailability. Retail value of prize may vary depending on particular style of items selected and other variables. Any difference between the actual retail value of prize and the Approximate Retail Value will not be awarded. WINNERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY TAXES ON PRIZES RECEIVED IF REQUIRED BY LAW.  SPONSORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPORT TAXES RELATED TO THE CONTEST IN ACCORDANCE OF APPLICABLE LAW.

THE WINNER IS REQUIRED TO SIGN AND AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING: (1) AN AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY AND LIABILITY RELEASE; (2) WARRANTY OF OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE; AND (3) PUBLICITY RELEASE, UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LAW, WITHIN 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF NOTICE IN ORDER FOR SPONSOR TO AWARD THE PRIZE. NONCOMPLIANCE OR RETURN OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION AS UNDELIVERABLE MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION AND SELECTION OF AN ALTERNATE WINNER.

8. ODDS OF WINNING

This is a skill-based contest. The odds of winning depend on the skill of the entrant and the quality of the entry in regards to the Judging Criteria.

9. JUDGING CRITERIA AND CONDITIONS AND PUBLIC VOTING

The contest consists of one (1) round of evaluation by judges and a second (2nd) round of evaluation and judges. The judges will use the Judging Criteria set forth below and will choose the Winners that they determine
represent the best love story out of the entrants. The judges will be representatives of the Sponsors, Brides Across America and Levy. The judges will watch and evaluate the videos starting November 22, 2019. The judges will evaluate the entries based on the following criteria, and will select the Winners by applying those criteria (“Judging Criteria”):

1. Extent to which the entrant has answered the following questions in the entry form and the Video in an interesting, unique, and compelling way (30%):

2. The quality of the video, and creativity and romance demonstrated through the Video (30%).

3. Extent to which the couple’s story is the best love story (40%).

The top five (5) candidates chosen by the judges will proceed to the second round where the judges will vote based on their video.  The top five (5) will be contacted by email and asked to sign and submit an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release form. If Sponsors do not receive the signed Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release within two (2) business days of Sponsors’ email request, the finalist may be disqualified, and may not proceed to the finalist round.

The Winner will be selected and announced on November 29, 2019. Once potential winners are identified, then the potential winner must demonstrate that he or she meets the requirements for entering into this contest and signs the following: (1) Warranty of Ownership and License; and (2) Publicity Release. If Sponsors determine the entrant meets the requirements for entering into this contest and did not violate any of these Official Rules, and further signs an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release, a Warranty of Ownership and License, and Publicity Release, then the entrant will be declared the prize
winner.

If Sponsors determine that the entrant does not meet the requirements and/or violated any of these Official Rules, then the entrant will be disqualified and Sponsors will select an alternate prize winner.

10. LICENSE

Each entrant retains the copyright to his/her Video, but explicitly grants Sponsors, Brides Across America, Prize Providers, their licensees, affiliates and their designees, including Prize Providers (collectively, the Authorized Parties”) an irrevocable, nonexclusive license for the duration of copyright to use his/her Video for advertising, marketing, and promotional purposes, in any and all media now known or hereafter created, at Authorized Parties’ discretion, without consideration, notification, permission of entrant or any third party.

11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE

Sponsors (Brides Across America, Inc., Levy) and Local Partners assume no liability or responsibility resulting from any entrant’s participation in or attempt to participate in the Contest or ability or inability to upload or download any information in connection with participating in the Contest. Sponsors and Prize Providers assume no liability or responsibility for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Contest: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any email transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted email transmissions; inaccessibility of the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST contest web page located at bridesacrossamerica.com and any supporting pages, in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the Internet or the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST web page located at bridesacrossamerica.com and any supporting pages; unauthorized human or non-human intervention in the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Contest. Sponsors and Prize Providers are not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST web page located at bridesacrossamerica.com and any supporting pages. Use of the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST web page located at bridesacrossamerica.com and any supporting pages is at user's own risk. Sponsors (BAA & Levy), Local Partners, YouTube, LLC, and each of their respective related companies, and all of its or their company or organization’s officers, directors, employees and agents ("Released Parties") are not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained by entrant's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Contest, use of the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST web page located at bridesacrossamerica.com and any supporting pages or the download of any information from the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST Contest web page located at bridesacrossamerica.com and any supporting pages. By participating in the Contest, the entrant releases the Released Parties from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to such entrant’s participation in the Contest. By accepting the prize, the winner agrees that the Released Parties shall not be liable for any loss or injury resulting from participation in the Contest, or the acceptance, use of any prize, or participation in any event associated with or comprising a part of the prize, including any travel to and from the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST and any and all events related to the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST. The Released Parties are not liable in the event that any portion of the Contest or the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST or any scheduled events related to this Contest are cancelled due to weather, fire, strike, acts of war or terrorism, or any other condition beyond their control.

12. CONDITIONS

THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

Entrants agree that this Contest shall be subject to and governed by the laws of New York and the forum for any dispute shall be in the State of New York. To the extent permitted by law, the right to litigate, to seek injunctive relief or to make any other recourse to judicial or any other procedure in case of disputes or claims resulting from or in connection with this Contest are hereby excluded and any entrant expressly waives any and all such rights. Certain restrictions may apply. Entries are void if the Sponsors determines the Video to not be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error, obtained through fraud or theft or do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above.

Participants also agree (1) to be bound by these Official Rules; and (2) that the decisions of the Judges are final and not appealable on all matters relating to the Contest. All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. In the event that the selected winner of the prize is ineligible or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to another winner.

Winners and their guests are responsible for any and all travel to and from the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST, including all guests. In addition, prize winner is responsible for any travel insurance related to travel to and from the 2019 Stars & Stripes Wedding at RIVER ROAST. By accepting the prize, the winner represents that s/he understands and accepts, and has complied with these rules.

13. RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST

If, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, Trojan horses, denial of service attacks, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If Sponsors elect to cancel or terminate the Contest, Sponsors will not retain any rights to the submitted Videos.

14. WINNERS LIST

For names of the winners send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Brides Across America Inc, 342 North Main St, Andover, MA 01810.

15. DATA PRIVACY

Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and address, may be processed, shared and otherwise used for the purposes and within the context of the Contest and any other purposes outlined in these Official Rules. The data may also be used by the Sponsors in order to verify the participant’s identity, postal address and telephone number or to otherwise verify the participant’s eligibility to participate in the Contest. Participants have the right to access, review, rectify or cancel any personal data held by Sponsors by writing to BAA 342 North Main St Andover, MA 01810. Personal data will be used by Sponsors, Prize Providers and their affiliates exclusively for the purposes stated herein.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at info@bridesacrossamerica.com.

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