Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do Contest
Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do Contest
Presented by The Spiraled Stem Floral Design
March 12, 2009 – Breaking News – Binh Pham of Garden Grove has won the Say I Do With a Big ‘Do Contest!
21-Year-Old Breast Cancer Patient
Wins Wedding Day Prize Package Valued at Over $16,000
Award to be Presented at Green Wedding Event on Sunday, March 15, 2009 in Anaheim, CA
Anaheim, CA – March 12, 2009 – Breast cancer patient Binh Pham of Garden Grove had no family history of breast cancer and was unexpectedly diagnosed in 2008 at the tender age of 21. She was facing rounds of harsh treatments that would surely result in hair loss and other unpleasant side effects. Boyfriend Dean Blanton not only stood by her, he asked her to be his wife and spend their lives together – through sickness and in health. As the winner of the Say I Do With a Big ‘Do Contest, she will walk down the aisle to her devoted groom with poise, confidence, a full head of hair and cleavage in her gown.
Months before Binh’s life dramatically changed with the traumatizing breast cancer diagnosis mixed with the excitement of her impending nuptials, the wheels were set in motion for her to have a beautiful wedding sponsored by some of Southern California’s premiere wedding, event, and floral industry professionals. The Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do Contest was born in January 2008 at the launch party for The Spiraled Stem Floral Design, where a silent auction raised proceeds for the purchase of human hair extensions for Celebrity Hairstylist Abby Aguilera to apply to a bride who has lost her hair to breast cancer treatment. Other vendors pitched in their services, and soon the prize package swelled to over $16,000 in value.
“I’ve have been just blown away by the generosity of the wedding professionals I am blessed to work with,” says Christine Saunders, owner of The Spiraled Stem and contest administrator. “Once the contest was announced, I received calls from more vendors who wanted to contribute. We have a huge part of her wedding paid for! With the hardship of cancer treatment and financial challenges of the economy, I hope that winning this contest goes a long way towards Binh and Dean having the wedding of their dreams and is the beginning of their happy, healthy, and long lives together”.
In addition to long and luscious locks under her veil, Binh will also receive: florals for the wedding from the e collection – featuring VeriFlora Certified Sustainably Grown Flowers – by The Spiraled Stem Floral Design, valued at $2,000; a day-of wedding coordination package from Simply Mumtaz Events, valued at $3,500; a personalized bra fitting and wedding day lingerie set by The Sculpted Silhouette, including the Bra Pocket, valued at $100; Foot Petals Runaway Bride Gift Set, valued at $44.95; a table linen package from Mikasa Event Linens, valued at $400; a photography package from Luminaire Images, valued at $4,120; a bridal gown from Brides Against Breast Cancer, valued at $500, and limousine transportation by American Limousine, valued at $500 – total prize package worth $16,170.
“Winning this contest means the world to me,” says Binh. “I’ve coped with doctor’s appointments, surgeries, and chemotherapy, but the hair loss was by far the most traumatic for me. Having real human hair extensions will help give me more confidence and self-esteem. I want my husband to see me on our wedding day as the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on, and for the world to see that I have fought, overcome, and am a survivor that won’t be defeated.”
The prize package will be presented to Binh on Sunday, March 15, 2009 during the panel discussion and book signing event for Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration by New York Times Style correspondent Mireya Navarro. The event is being hosted by The Spiraled Stem Floral Design in their studio at 3930 E Miraloma Avenue, Suite H, Anaheim, CA from 2:00-4:00pm. Supporters of Binh, breast cancer survivors, brides, wedding industry professionals, the media, and anyone interested in learning more about green weddings are invited to attend the event and congratulate Binh on winning the Say I Do With a Big ‘Do contest. Please visit www.greenwedding.eventbrite.com to RSVP.
Visit www.thespiraledstem.com/welcome/sayidocontest for complete Contest Rules, profiles on Sponsors, and excerpts from Binh’s entry.
About The Spiraled Stem Floral Design
The Spiraled Stem Floral Design specializes in environmentally sustainable floral design and offers Green Flowers. Available in Every ColorTM. Owner Christine Saunders’ dual passions for floral design and sustainability were recently merged when she decided that The Spiraled Stem would “go green”. She uses organic and eco-label flowers, eco-friendly containers, alternatives to traditional floral design tools and materials, and more efficient office and studio practices. Christine has quickly become a leading expert in green floral design, and has been featured in Florist’s Review, Plenty, Audubon, OC Metro Business, Coast and Architectural Digest magazines.
Press Contact
The Spiraled Stem Floral Design
Christine Saunders
714-488-1529
christine@thespiraledstem.com
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Read excerpts from Binh Pham Contest Entry
The Say ’I Do’ With a Big ’Do Contest was born at the launch of The Spiraled Stem Floral Design on January 31, 2008 in Anaheim, CA. At a gathering of Southern California’s premiere wedding, event, and floral industry professionals, a silent auction raised proceeds for the purchase of human hair that would be used by Celebrity Hairstylist Abby Aguilera to do hair extensions for a bride who had lost her hair from breast cancer treatment. Abby Aguilera has donated her services, which will include the hair extensions and hairstyling on the wedding day.
Download Say 'I Do' With a Big 'Do Contest Flyer
Download Say 'I Do' With a Big 'Do Contest Press Release
Contest Sponsors have donated their products and services to create a grand prize package that will include:
Human hair extension package including application of the hair extensions and the wedding day hairstyling by Celebrity Hairstylist Abby Aguilera, valued at $5000
Floral package for the wedding from the e collection, by The Spiraled Stem Floral Design, valued at $2000
“Day-of” wedding coordination package from Simply Mumtaz Events, valued at $3500
Personalized bra fitting and wedding day lingerie set, including Bra Pockets, from Sculpted Silhouette, valued at $100
Foot Petals Runaway Bride Gift Set, valued at $44.95
Luminaire Images - Molly Yarchin – Photography package, valued at $4,120
American Limousine - Four hour limo transportation, valued at $500
Mikasa Event Linens - Linen package, valued at $400
Brides Against Breast Cancer – Wedding gown valued at $500
As a bonus, Foot Petals will award a Runaway Bride Gift Set to the first TEN qualified applications received!
To be eligible to enter, entrants must meet the following criteria:
Be engaged to be married prior to the application deadline on January 2, 2009 EXTENDED to January 30, 2009 March 6, 2009
Plan to be married prior to December 31, 2010
Hold the wedding in Southern California (San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, or Ventura Counties)
Have lost hair due to treatment of breast cancer
Anticipate at least 2 1/2 inches of post-treatment hair regrowth prior to the wedding date
Be a legal resident of the United States
Be legally allowed to marry in the State of California on or after January 1, 2009
Be at least 18 years of age on January 1, 2009
Applications will be accepted from November 1, 2008 to January 2, 2009 EXTENDED January 30, 2009 March 6, 2009. Five finalists will be selected by a panel of wedding, beauty, and breast cancer communities and announced on or about January 23, 2009 February 7, 2009 March 7, 2009. Profiles of the top five finalists will be posted on this website for online voting for the following seven days. The finalist receiving the most votes during the voting period will be declared the winner. The winner will be announced at a Southern California Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale on or about March 1, 2009 February 27-28, 2009. the green wedding panel discussion and book signing event for Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration by Mireya Navarro on March 15, 2009 at The Spiraled Stem Floral Design.
To Apply:
Download the Say 'I Do' With a Big 'Do Contest Personal Statement from the .zip file, open it in Microsoft Word, and fill out the form. Save the file as an Adobe PDF with the Entrant’s name in the file name and email it, along with a high resolution .jpeg of the Entrant holding a current newspaper, to sayidocontest@thespiraledstem.com. Applications will be accepted from November 1, 2008 at 8:00am PST to January 2, 2009 January 30, 2009 March 6, 2009 at 8:00pm PST. Please contact christine@thespiraledstem.com or call 714-632-6885 with any issues with submitting the Personal Statement. See Official Contest Rules for more details.
