Age: Both partners must be 21 years of age or older. This ensures they are legally able to participate in all aspects of the wedding, including venue and vendor agreements.
 

Residency: At least one partner must be a resident of the local area (60-mile radius) to ensure they can easily attend.
 

Nomination: Couples cannot nominate themselves; they must be submitted by a friend, family member, or community member who can share their story.
 

Commitment to Marriage: The couple must be engaged and genuinely committed to getting married.
 

Financial or Personal Hardship: The couple should have a demonstrated financial need or have faced significant challenges (e.g., medical issues, loss of a loved one, personal setbacks) that have prevented them from affording a wedding.
 

Availability & Flexibility: The couple must be available on the designated wedding date at the chosen venue.
 

Guest Count: The couple must be comfortable with the wedding size limitations set by the venue and vendors (50 guests).
 

Media & Publicity Agreement: They must agree to share their story publicly, including photography, videography and social media coverage as part of the fundraiser and promotional efforts.
 

No Prior Fully Planned Wedding: The couple should not already have a full wedding planned and paid for. (Having started minor planning, like an engagement party, is fine.)
 

Willingness to Work with Selected Vendors: Since the wedding is a collaboration of donated services, they must be open to working with the vendors chosen for the event.
 

Legal Readiness: They must be legally eligible to marry in the state and able to obtain a marriage license before the wedding.
 

Background Check Verification: The selected couple must consent to a background check to confirm there are no major legal or ethical concerns.