Art Center launches ‘Love is Viral’ contest
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PARKERSBURG -- Love is Viral, too, says the Parkersburg Art Center where planners have organized a contest for couples whose wedding plans were affected by the pandemic.
The Art Center through August is accepting 250-word-or-less essays about how the coronavirus crimped wedding and reception plans, Lyndsay Dennis, events and membership manager at the Art Center, said.
"How COVID changed their wedding plans," she said.
Entries for the Love is Viral contest will be accepted by email until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 22. The email address to send entries is lyndsay@parkersburgartcenter.org.
The Art Center on Aug. 31 will announce the winner, chosen after review by judges from the Art Center and local bridal vendors, Dennis said.
Judges will consider originality, need, sincerity and humor, among other areas, she said.
Another factor is the number of "likes" and "shares" entries receive. The essays will be posted on the Art Center's Facebook page.
"I want people to share them and like them," Dennis said.
The winner will receive the use of the Art Center's "spacious and elegant" Main Gallery for a ceremony and the Grand Ballroom for a reception on Nov. 21. The value of the prize is $2,700.
To enter, write a 250-word-or-less piece and e-mail it to lyndsay@parkersburgartcenter.org. The Art Center will post entries in the Contest area on its Facebook page.
The Art Center wants to know:
∫ How you met your soul mate, your love story and the piece of your relationship that you want to bring to life on your special day.
∫ How the COVID-19 pandemic changed your plans and what getting married rent-free at the Art Center would mean to you.
∫ Include pictures.
For more information or questions, email Dennis at lyndsay@parkersburgartcenter.org.
Other requirements include:
∫ One member of each entering couple must be a legal resident of West Virginia or Ohio.
∫ The Art Center requires the winning couple hire local vendors for their wedding event services, including caterers, florists, DJs or any music, invitations, bakers and others.
∫ The number of allowable wedding guests will be determined by the current CDC pandemic guidelines at the time of the event.
∫ Currently booked rental clients are not eligible to enter the contest.