Thanks to all the judges who helped me narrow the entries down to the top three. I think they all understand why I needed help this year.
Now it’s in your hands. Here’s how it all works: Tell all of your friends and family to become a Facebook fan. Go to the fanpage photo gallery with the final three’s photos labeled. “2012 CONTEST”. They can vote by “liking” the image of the couple of their choice. One entry per person please. Votes will be counted up until midnight December 31st. I will officially announce the winner via Facebook and my blog on January 1st. I will be on vacation so please give me some time that day to get the post made 
What exactly does the winner get?
If the winner is an existing client, their wedding contract balance is PAID IN FULL!
If the winner has not yet booked with Chi Photography, the winner will receive:
~ Up to 6 Hours of Ceremony and Wedding Day Coverage
~ 1 Bridal Portrait or Engagement Session
~ a DVD with all the High Resolution Images
~ and Online Photo Viewing
Below is the top three picked by the judges. Please read their stories and go to my Facebook fanpage to vote. Do not comment on this blog post. It will not count.
HAPPY VOTING!
RICK & LAUREN
Lauren and I have been together for over 8 years, yes we don’t like jumping into things. As much of a joke as that last statement is it is sad but true, we really take our time on everything. It took us years to find a coffee table, a sofa, if one of us finds a shirt we like, forget about it. We are best friends on top of being in a relationship. If there is one thing we are always certain on it is us. We love doing everything together. We have both been through a lot in the 8 years of our relationship, I personally have experienced some great losses in our time but Lauren has always been by my side to pick me up and get me right. The most important thing to us is to have fun, we want our wedding to be a great celebration where we have all the friends and family that have impacted our lives come together and celebrate for one night. We are planning our wedding as a team and on a tight budget. Lauren deserves to have the greatest day ever and I want to do everything I can to give it to her. I have been put in charge of a few things for the wedding, photography being one of them. Winning this contest would allow us to do so much more for our big day (such as her dress) words would not be able to describe our excitement. I would love nothing more than to surprise her with this wonderful gift.
JENNIFER & DUNCAN
Duncan and I were set up on a blind date on December 22, 2008. Needless to say, unlike most blind dates, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my door. We will be getting married aboard The Carolina Girl on June 23, 2012. Duncan is a Sheriff’s deputy and I am a high school math teacher. I asked my students for inspiration about how to describe our unique relationship and they decided that they wanted to help. Each student wrote a sentence on why he/she thought we deserve free wedding photography. Here are a few:
“Ms. Sprinkle and Duncan deserve free photography because this couple puts everyone before themselves and they should have the favor returned for all of the things they do.”
“You’re a teacher and he’s a cop. You don’t make that much money, you could save it for kids.”
“Ms. Sprinkle and her future husband deserve this because she is a good example of a role model, she has taught me so much in the past year.”
“Because you have not only been there as a good teacher, but you have been supportive to all of us students as a good friend.”
“Ms. Sprinkle and her future hubby deserve this because you only find one person that you’re supposed to be with for the rest of your life, they want to capture these moments forever.”
“Ms. Sprinkle deserves this because she is very patient with all of us.”
“Ms. Sprinkle and her future husband deserve to win, because they are wonderful people and they love each other very much.”
“Jennifer and Duncan deserve this, because they both work very hard. Jennifer is a teacher who works very hard doing what she loves. Duncan protects the city and risks his life every day.”
Class Dismissed. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!!!!
AMY & JASON
Once upon a time…After years of being “just friends,” Amy and Jason decided to ride to a friend’s birthday party together. To this day, they both say how much that night felt like a date the whole time. From that night on they were inseparable and whenever we talked I could hear the smile in Amy’s voice. As her mother, I knew Jason was special. The first time I met Jason, every time their eyes met, a smile spread across both of their faces and my heart did a little flip-flop. I thought to myself - THIS IS THE ONE!
When I learned that Jason worked as a police officer who was assigned to the worst neighborhoods in Charleston, I was concerned about what the future held for my daughter. Amy was a military brat, she moved every 2-3 years, she was born overseas and she graduated high school overseas, and her father had been deployed several times. She knew what it was to worry but also how to live in the moment and to handle whatever she was faced with. She was a strong and resilient young lady now. Jason quickly became a part of our family. Whether it’s mimosas and football on Sunday or staying up in to the wee hours of the morning just to see each other after work, this amazing couple enjoys every moment they get to spend together.
After meeting with Chi, a very excited Amy called to tell me that she couldn’t imagine anyone else capturing their special day. Amy and Jason will be throwing the most important party of their lives on November 18, 2012 at The Island House on John’s Island. I know Chi will document the chapter where the soldier’s daughter and coal miner’s son “lived happily ever after” perfectly.
