Couple's essay earns trip to State Fair contest

Friday, July 28, 2006

"We've got the rings, when's the wedding?"

This was the first line written in an essay that won a local couple a chance to win a free wedding at the state fair.

Rebecca Vanevery, Greencastle, was watching FOX 59 one morning last week and heard about Marriage on the Midway at the Indiana State Fair. Ten contestants were picked from all the entries and Vanevery and her fiancee Paul Treadwell Jr. just happened to be one of them.

Vanevery said she wrote her 150 words or less essay in 10 or 15 minutes, but didn't tell her fiancee she was entering the contest.

"I thought, what do I have to lose," she said.

Then on Monday they received a phone call telling them they had been chosen. Now all they need are votes.

The winning couple is the one who receives the most votes online. Votes are unlimited and can be submitted at www.northamericanmidway.com/motm/indiana/weddingvote.aspx until midnight on Aug. 9.

Last year's winning couple received 65,000 votes out of 105,000 submitted. Vanevery and Treadwell are hoping for the same results.

The couple, who have been together for almost six years and engaged for the last five and a half years, said every time they have tried to plan their wedding, something happens. This would be the perfect opportunity and time for them to get married.

Vanevery was born and raised in Greencastle. She graduated from South Putnam High School. Her future husband was originally from Indianapolis, but Vanevery said she could never live in the city.

"I love Greencastle and I'm not leaving," she said.

The couple is very family oriented and plans on raising their family in Greencastle. In fact, they just found out they are expecting their third child in March.

"We'd really like to be married before this baby is born," Vanevery said.

The winning couple will be announced on Aug.10 with the wedding following on Aug. 18.

Vanevery and Treadwell, who always go to the fair with their family, said this would be an ideal wedding for them.

"We're spontaneous," Vanevery said.

The winning couple of Marriage on the Midway will receive a free wedding ceremony, wedding dress, flowers, photographer, free admission for themselves and 100 guests to the fair, food and much more.

Vanevery said financial issues have made it difficult to plan their dream wedding because they put their family first.

"I want a dress and a ceremony," Vanevery said.

This contest was the perfect chance for them to have their wedding because all they really want is a chance for their wedding day to be a special occasion with many members of their family and friends present.

But most of all, they just want to be married.

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