Billings Gazette Ultimate Wedding Giveaway Contest Official Rules

1. No purchase is necessary to enter or win. All federal, state, local and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. Promotion period begins on December 22, 2013 and ends on February 5, 2014. All eligible entries will be entered into the contest.

2. Agreement to official rules. By participating in the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway Contest (also referred to as the “Promotion”), entrant fully agrees to and accepts these official rules and the decisions of Billings Gazette (also referred to as the “Sponsor”) which are final and binding in all respects.  Failure to comply with the official rules will result in disqualification from the Promotion and forfeiture of any prize or of the right to any prize.

3. Eligibility.  Billings Gazette Ultimate Wedding Giveaway Contest is open to US residents (excluding residents of Puerto Rico, New York, and Florida), who are 18 years or older at the time of entry. Directors, officers, employees and members of employees’ households and immediate family (spouses, parents, siblings, children, and each of their respective spouses), of Lee Enterprises, and the Promotional Participants listed in section 7, are ineligible to enter the Promotion. Both members of each Couple must meet all eligibility requirements. A potential winner may be requested to provide the Sponsor with proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry and that all eligibility requirements are met.

4. Methods of entry. 

1. To enter, go to BilingsGazette.com/wedding between December 22, 2013 and January 12, 2014 (“Contest Entry Period”), and follow the links and instructions to submit your entry information, including your Photo (as defined and described in Section 4(b) below) and Essay (as defined and described in Section 4(b) below). Each entrant must completely fill out the online entry form and submit the Photo and Essay in accordance with the on-screen instructions. All entries must be submitted online. Mailed or hard copy entries will not be accepted. All entries (including Photo submissions and Essay submissions) must be received by January 12, 2014 at 11:59PM. Failure to submit all required information and submissions in the manner required by these Official Rules may result in disqualification. LIMIT: One (1) entry per couple. In the event more than one entry for the same couple is received, only the first of such entries shall be eligible to participate in the Contest.
2. Each entrant is required to submit (i) an original photo of the couple that hopes to win the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway (the “Photo”), and may submit no more than one Photo, and (ii) a story Essay of no more than 150 words detailing why that entrant believes the couple should be chosen as the winning couple for the Contest (the “Essay”). Each Photo must be in good taste and must depict the couple. One or both Entrants must own the copyright in the photo or have obtained permission from the copyright owner for publication of the photograph by the Billings Gazette. Each entrant warrants as follows: that the essay is the original creation of one or both members of the Couple, has not been copied in whole from any other work, has not been previously published, has not been previously submitted in another contest, does not violate the rights of any person or company (including but not limited to privacy rights and copyrights), as determined by Sponsors. Essays must be in English. Essays that do not comply with these Official Rules shall be disqualified.

5. Selection of Finalists.  Round 1 of the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway Contest will run on BillingsGazette.com/wedding from January 13, 2014 12:00 PM – January 26, 2014 11:59 PM. The Top Ten (10) Entrants who receive the highest number of online votes will continue to Round 2. The votes from the first round will not carry over to the final voting round. One vote is allowed per registration, per day. Only one registration per person. Any entry suspected of using a proxy for voting or to hide ones true identity will be disqualified. All information submitted by entrants and voters to the contest must be valid. Any false information submitted to this contest will be seen as trying to hide ones true identity and the entry will be disqualified. Any entry where automated voting is suspected will be disqualified. All voting must follow these Official Rules of the Contest.

6. Selection of Grand Prize Winner. Round 2 of the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway Contest will run on BillingsGazette.com/wedding from January 29, 2014 12:00 PM – February 5, 2014 11:59 PM. The Entrant who receives the highest number of online votes will be determined as the Grand Prize Winner. All voting rules from Round 1 (above) apply. In the event of a tie, a winner will be chosen by random drawing from among all tied entries. In the event the winning couple cannot claim the prize the couple with the second highest number of votes will become the Grand Prize Winner.  This progression will continue until the prize has been awarded or a tie breaking random drawing occurs.

All prize packages must be accepted as awarded, with winner arranging with each sponsor individually for final date of wedding and any arrangements thereof. Each prize is awarded “AS IS” with no warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied. All expenses and costs associated with a prize not expressly stated as part of the prize packages described below are the responsibility solely of the winner.

7. Grand Prize.  One winner will receive the Grand Prize, which consists of and is limited to: One wedding package valued at $8,250 that includes:
1. $2,500 venue rental, compliments of The Historic Billings Depot for both the wedding ceremony and reception. Applies to free venue rental only – excludes some items such as the damage deposit and bar service, if desired. Rental cost includes all day access to the facility and set up with all tables and chairs (seating up to 300 guests).  Food caterer of couple’s choice can be used. Restrictions subject to change. 
2. One $1,500 gift voucher toward a Wedding Flower Package courtesy of Gainan's. Not redeemable for cash or payment to account. Value not to exceed $1,500. Non transferable. Expires December 31, 2014. Restrictions subject to change. 
3. $500 good toward meeting space, reception space or bridal shower rental, courtesy of Billings Hotel & Convention Center.  Based on availability; space needs to be booked by 12-31-14. Gift certificate must be presented to redeem. Cannot be redeemed for cash. Restrictions subject to change.
4. One Year Sunday Subscription to the Billings Gazette valued at $250. 
5. $500 toward catering services from Montana Jack's for the rehearsal dinner, reception or other catering service. Valid within an 80 mile radius of Billings. Certificate does not include 18% service charge. Certificate expires 1/31/15. Restrictions subject to change. 
6. One $500 gift voucher toward any dress in the store courtesy of Belle en Blanc.

7. One $2,500 gift voucher toward rings courtesy of Goldsmith Gallery. Good for purchase of new engagement and/or wedding bands only. Not valid on existing layaways or special orders. Not redeemable for cash or credit. Special and custom orders will be based on current market value. Not transferable. Expires August 31, 2014. Restrictions subject to change. 

8. Tax Liability.  All Winners agree to pay all applicable federal, state, and local taxes associated with the award of the Prize, including income tax, and all other taxes, costs, fees and expenses related to the Prize. The Prize Winners should consult with his or her tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences associated with winning the Prize. The Prize Winners will be issued a 1099 tax form for the value of the Prize.

9. Winners List.  The Prize Winning Couples will be posted online at BillingsGazette.com/wedding after the Prizes have been awarded. This information will also be published in the Billings Gazette newspaper.

10. Publicity.  By participating in the Promotion, Participants and the Grand Prize Winner agree to provide and to grant the Billings Gazette and the Promotional Participants the absolute right and permission to use the Finalists’ and the Grand Prize Winner’s name, likeness, voice, opinions, biographical information, address, and photograph in any and all advertising and promotional materials, in any manner or media whatsoever, for purposes of advertising, trade or promotion.  The Participants and Grand Prize Winner acknowledge and agree that he/she shall have no right of approval, no claim to any compensation, and no claim arising out of the use, of his or her name, address, personal information, photograph or likeness.   

11. General Conditions.  By participating in the Promotion, entrants agree to comply with and to be bound by the official rules and by all interpretations of the official rules by the Sponsor. Decisions of the Billings Gazette shall be final in all matters relating to the Promotion.  The Billings Gazette reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the Promotion if fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond the Billings Gazette's reasonable control impairs the integrity of the Promotion and the integrity of the selection of the Prize Winners as determined by the Billings Gazette in its sole discretion.  In such event, the Billings Gazette reserves the right to award the Prizes in a random drawing from the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment, or to implement any remedy it sees fit.

12. Release.  By entering the Promotion, all entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor and the Promotional Participants; each of their affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries; and their respective officers, directors, employees and members, from and against any claim or cause of action arising in connection with each entrant’s participation and/or entry in the Promotion and/or their receipt or use of any prize awarded in this Promotion.   

13. Sponsor.   The Promotion is sponsored by the Billings Gazette and its parent company Lee Enterprises, Incorporated, whose decisions regarding the selection of Finalists winners and all other aspects of the contest shall be final and binding on all persons in all respects.  Promotional Participants listed in section 7 are additional sponsors.   The Sponsors are not responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the contest.  If you have any questions regarding this contest please contact Billings Gazette Communications at 406-657-1340 or write to Ultimate Wedding Giveaway, Billings Gazette Communications, 401 N. Broadway , Billings, MT 59101.