About this project

Never caught the bouquet or garter? Damnit—me neither!

It is with great chagrin that I report that I’ve never known that awkward bliss of being singled out in a room of relatives and relative strangers as single, interested in marriage and newly in possession of a three-rose bouquet tied with satin ribbon. While it’s too late for me (since I’m happily married), my Kickstarter project will remedy this sad situation for up to 175 people!

In brief: Project “Runaway Bride Throws Money Away” will help connect people in our fragile, wonderful world by letting them “win” the bouquet- or garter-toss—that seminal, cringe-worthy American wedding experience. But I want to give the whole thing a positive twist by giving them MONEY and a chance to connect with the project backers and myself in the process.

Here’s the deal: Dressed in full wedding regalia (strapless satin gown, veil, opera gloves and garter), I will walk around Las Vegas (where else?) on a spring weekend. At various locations, some of which my backers will get to pick, I’ll gather a crowd of hopefuls and toss a garter and bouquet with a gift card attached. They will also find a letter from me explaining what Kickstarter.com is, how this project works and asking if they’d like to participate.

I will tell them that the gift card (valued between $5 and $50) is theirs free and clear. They may spend the money any way they like. I will suggest they consider funding a project on www.kickstarter.com, but I will stress that this is not a requirement. Included in the letter will be the name and email address of the backer who sponsored that particular bouquet or garter (if he or she wishes to be identified) along with my email address. I will ask that the “winner” send us a note describing what he or she chose to do with the money. These stories will be published in their entirety as part of the project final report which will be distributed to all backers and winners via email.

Here’s where you get involved: Depending upon your level of support, you can pick how much of a gift card I throw and/or where I throw the garters or bouquets. Want me to throw like an Egyptian at the Luxor? I will. Send me to the Chihuly flower exhibit at the Bellagio to throw my own flowers. Have me toss a garter near the fake Venetian canals, I’m game! I won’t throw anything in the actual gaming part of the casinos, though—wouldn’t want to upset the security people or serious gamblers, ya know?

Your support will underwrite the garters, bouquets, gift cards, photo processing and postage as well as help me carve out writing time for the follow-up report and create the souvenir prize packs for the higher-level backers. I have two children and would prefer to hire a babysitter to enrich their lives while I write and create the reward packages, instead of plunking them down in front of a DVD for hours at a time.

I will put a low project budget number on this, but the project gets better with each additional backer. The story gets more interesting as more strangers catch bouquets and garters. The surprise souvenirs will get more elaborate and the fun multiplies. Please consider backing me even if I reach my goal!