TODAY THROWS A WEDDING
Official Rules
June, 5, 2006
These are the official rules for TODAY THROWS A WEDDING (“EVENT”). “TODAY” is giving a wedding and honeymoon to a couple who will be chosen by TODAY and TODAY viewers. The wedding will be scheduled for broadcast, live, on NBC’s TODAY show.
1. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
Anyone considering submitting an application to participate in this event should read all of the information below for eligibility rules, requirements of participation and an explanation of what the wedding couple will receive.
Please note that all entrants must be willing to, among other things:
- Make a two-minute video explaining why TODAY should throw your wedding,
- make themselves available to be interviewed and videotaped by TODAY,
- provide all of the information requested in the entry form,
- allow TODAY to conduct a background check on them,
- and appear on TODAY to compete against other finalists if selected as finalists.
The wedding couple must agree, among other things:
- to make themselves available for multiple appearances on TODAY and for related publicity and promotions in July, August, and September,
- to be married during a broadcast of the TODAY show, on a date chosen by TODAY, currently scheduled for the week ending October 6, 2006, including a three week period in September and October,
- to agree that viewers and others will decide upon numerous elements of the wedding, without input from the couple, to be married at a venue to be selected by TODAY,
- to depart immediately following the wedding reception for a honeymoon arranged by TODAY.
The requirements detailed in these Official Rules cannot be waived or changed except by TODAY, and entrants who cannot perform these requirements or make the necessary time commitment, or whose religion does not permit a marriage outside of a religious dwelling should not submit an entry form.
PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is open only to currently engaged couples, who are legal residents of the United States, each of whom is at least 21 years of age as of June 5, 2006 and each of whom complies with the additional requirements set forth in these Rules.
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited or restricted by applicable federal or state laws and regulations.
2. TO ENTER
To enter, please fill out and then print the application form available at www.TODAY.msnbc.com. The application form consists of a series of questions, including name, address, e-mail address, background information about each of the individuals involved, family information, and other detailed and personal information. We want to see both of you, so make a video in either VHS, DVD or mini DV format introducing yourself and explaining why you should be married on TODAY (“Video”). The Video should last no longer than two (2) minutes. By entering, you and everyone appearing in Video agree that the Video may be broadcast on TODAY and in promotions and advertisements for TODAY. Videos must be original, truthful, unpublished, created solely by the submitting entrants, must not have been submitted in any other competition, must not include any music, singing or photos, film or other images that are not originally taken or created by you and must not infringe upon any rights of any third party, including but not limited to copyright, trademark, and rights of privacy and publicity. You must have the permission of all persons appearing in your Video for you to submit your Video and permit TODAY to use the Video and such appearances as set forth in these rules. By entering you grant TODAY and NBC a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use your Video, including the appearances contained in the Video, for use in all media now known or hereafter devised. Your entry will not be acknowledged or returned. By submitting Application Materials to TODAY THROWS A WEDDING applicants are not submitting an application for employment.
Each couple may only enter one completed application form with Video.
MAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Print your name, address, telephone numbers (daytime and evening) and e-mail address on a label, and affix the label to your Video. Send BOTH the Video and your application form (“Application Materials”) to the following address:
TODAY, NBC, c/o TODAY THROWS A WEDDING
30 Rockefeller Center
New York, New York 10112
All entries must be received by5 PM June 30, 2006.
By completing the application, entrants agree to receive e-mails and/or other materials from NBC regarding this Event.
For more privacy information, please see the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for MSNBC.com:
3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To enter and to be eligible to receive the TODAY wedding and honeymoon, entrants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- each individual of a couple submitting a completed application form must be at least 21 years of age as of June 5, 2006;
- the couple must have been engaged to be married for at least one month prior to June 5, 2006;
- each individual must be a legal resident of the United States and must have a valid United States passport;
- each individual must not be subject to any travel restrictions and must agree to obtain the requisite immunizations, if necessary;
- each individual must be of good moral character, must have never been convicted of a crime of any nature (other than moving violations of a misdemeanor type that did not involve personal injury, drugs or alcohol), and must have nothing in their background that would be an embarrassment to NBC News or TODAY neither of the individuals may be an elected official or may be currently running for any political office (local, state or federal);
- each applicant must be willing to undergo a background check conducted by TODAY and be willing to sign waiver forms authorizing the release of personal and background information;
- each applicant must be willing to have his or her wedding ceremony performed at a venue to be selected by TODAY, in TODAY’s sole discretion, including, without limitation, an outdoor wedding; each applicant must be available to travel by airplane, automobile, boat, helicopter, train or any other vehicle of TODAY’s choosing to an undisclosed location given approximately 24 hours notice;
- each applicant must be willing to sign an affidavit attesting to the truth of the facts in the application form and Video and attesting that each applicant meets all the eligibility requirements.
Selected entrants must also be willing to undertake the following:
- to be interviewed by telephone, and to either appear in a videotape produced by TODAY or to submit a videotape in which the entrant couple appears;
- to make themselves available to travel to New York City or a destination of TODAY’s choice to appear on TODAY at least once a week for a period of up to 10 weeks, and, if selected as the wedding couple,
- to be available in New York City or a destination of TODAY’s choice for three weeks in September and October;
- to make themselves available for videotaped appearances to air on TODAY, and to ask friends and family to appear as well;
- to make themselves available to attend fittings and to engage in public appearances and in photo shoots, as needed by TODAY;
- to make themselves available for an appearance on TODAY following the honeymoon.
The entrants selected as the wedding couple must be prepared to be legally married in a wedding to be broadcast on television and organized by TODAY. Entrants must be willing to accept choices made by TODAY, viewers, website users and others (and without input from the couple) as to significant elements of the wedding, such as: nature and length of ceremony, choice of wedding attire and wedding party attire for couple, cake, flowers, music, wedding rings, honeymoon itinerary, wedding venue and scheduling, and other elements to be furnished by and in the sole discretion of TODAY.
Entrants must agree that, if selected as the wedding couple, they will be married on TODAY on a date chosen by TODAY, and will be prepared to immediately depart for a honeymoon destination that the final couple will be told about on the day of the wedding. The wedding is currently scheduled to take place during the week ending October 6, 2006. This date is subject to change in the sole discretion of TODAY.
Entrants must agree, if they are among the preliminary group of couples identified (see Selection Process, below), to make themselves exclusively available to TODAY for publicity and promotion, and must agree that they will not allow interviews by other media outlets, including television, magazines, newspapers, radio, and internet, unless authorized by TODAY, from the time the seven finalists are announced, through the final on-air appearance of the wedding couple.
Employees of NBC Universal, Inc. (“NBC”), MSNBC Cable LLC (“MSNBC”), NBC’s affiliated TV stations or Web site, Nestle Corporation (“Nestle”), iVillage Inc., General Electric and their respective advertising and promotion agencies, their parent, subsidiary and joint venture companies, as well as members of their immediate families and households (including children and siblings) are not eligible.
If at any point during the Contest TODAY deems an entrant or finalist couple ineligible, TODAY may disqualify that couple and at its sole discretion, select an alternate.
4. SELECTION PROCESS
TODAY in its sole discretion will select a preliminary group of couples from eligible entries (completed application form plus Video) submitted. TODAY will begin reviewing entries on a rolling basis as they are received, and will end the selection process when a preliminary group of qualified couples has been chosen.
Selection criteria used by the judges shall include:
- The couple’s video and application materials;
- The personality of each entrant, individually and as a couple;
- The demonstrated strength of couple’s commitment;
- The nature of the couple’s history and background (how each couple met, became engaged, how long they have been engaged, the relationship of the couple with family members and friends, and any other factors that make the couple’s story unique or compelling);
- and The appearance of the couple, both individually and as a couple.
The semifinalist couples thus selected will be interviewed by TODAY and may be asked to participate in the filming of a videotaped interview by representatives of TODAY.
The semifinalist couples will also be subject to background checks to verify and determine additional information about each of the individuals.
Based on TODAY’s interviews, the Videos, the background checks and the selection criteria noted above, seven finalist couples shall be selected by TODAY, in its sole discretion. These seven finalist couples must, in the sole discretion of TODAY, appear live on TODAY once a week for a period of up to seven weeks from the middle of July to the middle of September, but which is subject to change. During each weekly appearance, the finalist couples will be asked to participate in competitions that feature, among other things, their talent, intellect, and physical skills. TODAY, in its sole discretion, may have guest judges and may grant immunity to certain couples. After each competition, a panel of judges selected by TODAY may comment on the finalists’ performances and may grant immunity to a couple from being eliminated in that week’s viewer vote.
Pictures of the finalist couples, and a brief synopsis prepared by TODAY regarding each of the couples and their performance in the TODAY competitions will be placed on the TODAY website. Viewers will be asked to vote each week on which couple shall receive the TODAY wedding. Each viewer may vote only once per week. Multiple votes will be voided.
The couple that receives the least votes by the date and time specified on the website each week (except for anycouple that may win immunity) will be eliminated before the next week’s competition. The wedding couple will be announced on TODAY the week of September 17, 2006,but which is subject to change as necessary by TODAY. The finalist couples may, in the sole discretion of TODAY, appear on the TODAY show on that date, and the wedding couple may, in TODAY’s discretion, be announced live during the broadcast of the show.
If there is a tie (if two couples receive an equal number of votes by viewers) in any week, the couple to be eliminated will be selected in the sole discretion of TODAY.
If the wedding couple is disqualified or otherwise unable to fulfill the requirements asked of them, a second couple from among the seven finalist couples, selected by TODAY, may receive the TODAY wedding and honeymoon.
5. THE TODAY WEDDING SELECTION
After the wedding couple is selected, the couple will appear on TODAY, if requested by TODAY, for approximately two weeks for TODAY on-air segments devoted to wedding planning. TODAY currently intends these segments shall be in New York City, but location and dates are subject to change at TODAY’s discretion.
Each segment will be devoted to one aspect of wedding planning such as wedding attire, cake, wedding rings, honeymoon destination and the like. Each segment will feature a number of examples of such elements of a wedding. For example, the bridal attire segment may feature a number of designs by a number of designers. After each such segment, TODAY shall select some choices (for example, 4 different gowns) and, by 10:00 am EST of the day that the segment airs, those choices will be posted on the TODAY website and viewers will have an opportunity to vote for one of the designated choices, until the voting deadline announced on air and on the web site. The item or element that receives the most votes will be featured in the TODAY wedding.
The wedding couple must agree not to disclose publicly their preferred choices or to otherwise attempt to influence viewers’ votes, for any of the elements of the wedding or the honeymoon destination.
6. WEDDING AND HONEYMOON
The couple selected to receive the TODAY wedding will receive and participate in a televised wedding. TODAY in its sole discretion shall determine and/or approve the length, venue, content and nature of the wedding ceremony, with emphasis on the demands of a live television program. The wedding provided by TODAY shall consist of:
A wedding ceremony officiated by a person selected by TODAY or officiated by an individual chosen by the couple and approved by TODAY, provided that individual is legally entitled to perform marriages in the location selected for the wedding ceremony, including an outdoor location; wedding attire for the couple (outfits may be rented); full makeup and hairstyling for the couplewedding attire for the wedding party, including up to five people on each side; wedding flowers; wedding music; wedding reception designed by TODAY; wedding cake; wedding rings; a honeymoon for the couple at a destination which shall be announced on the day of the wedding.
Additional or different features or participants may be requested by the wedding couple, but are subject to approval by TODAY and additional costs may not be covered by TODAY.
The seven couples who are chosen as finalists to appear on TODAY must make themselves available to be interviewed in New York City by TODAY at times and dates selected by TODAY, in TODAY’s sole discretion.
For the wedding couple, all reasonable expenses, including hotel (if outside couple’s hometown), transportation and meals in connection with the couple’s weekly appearances on TODAY, and any publicity and promotion activities required by TODAY, will be paid for by TODAY.
Travel and hotel for couple’s honeymoon arrangements shall be determined by TODAY, which, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to provide ground or other transportation in lieu of air transportation. Regarding all travel provided by TODAY, certain restrictions may apply and all travel and accommodations are in the sole discretion of TODAY.
The wedding shall take place and honeymoon must be taken on dates and times designated by NBC or another couple may be selected by Today to receive a wedding. The wedding and honeymoon cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash.
All members of the wedding party and other guests invited to attend the wedding ceremony must be able to travel and attend the wedding during the week ending October 6, 2006 and must complete a liability and publicity release, which will be supplied by TODAY.
TODAY further reserves the right to postpone or cancel TODAY THROWS A WEDDING and any component thereof, including without limitation, the selection process, the wedding and the honeymoon or cancel the broadcast of the wedding for any reason, in the sole discretion of TODAY. In all events, TODAY reserves the right to substitute the wedding and honeymoon or elements thereof with other items of equal or greater value at its sole discretion. The wedding couple shall be responsible for applicable taxes, upgrades, personal incidentals, and any other expenses not specified herein.
7. DISQUALIFICATION
MULTIPLE ENTRIES RECEIVED FROM ANY PERSONS WILL VOID ALL SUCH ADDITIONAL ENTRIES. Entries that are incomplete, illegible, postage due or corrupted are void and will not be accepted. If any entrant becomes ineligible during the Contest, they may be disqualified.
NBC is not responsible for telecommunications, network, electronic, technical or computer failures of any kind, for inaccurate transcription of entry information, for errors in any promotional or marketing materials, for errors in these rules, for any human or electronic error, including but not limited to the administration of this Event or Prizes, or for entries that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed by computer transmissions, lost, late, damaged, or postage due.
All entries, including application forms and photos, become the property of NBC and will not be acknowledged or returned.
Caution: Any attempt by an entrant or any other individual to deliberately damage any online service or web site or undermine the legitimate operation of TODAY is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, NBC reserves the right to seek damages and/or other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.
8. DISCLAIMER
All entrants and participants assume all liability for any injury or damages caused or claimed to be caused by their participation in this Event, including the acceptance of the wedding and honeymoon. All entrants and participants release NBC Universal, Inc., MSNBC Cable LLC, Nestle Corporation, and their respective advertising and promotion agencies, their parent, subsidiary, affiliate and joint venture companies, as well as their respective officers, directors, and employees, from any such liability.
NBC, MSNBC, Nestle and their respective advertising and promotion agencies, their parent, subsidiary, affiliate and joint venture companies, as well as their respective officers, directors, and employees assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to entrant’s or to any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software. NBC, MSNBC, Nestle and their respective advertising and promotion agencies, their parent, subsidiary, affiliate and joint venture companies, as well as their respective officers, directors, and employees are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, or telephone malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the user or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this event or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in this event.
Completion of an entry form constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use entrants’ name, city, state, likeness and/or voice for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity without additional compensation and constitutes agreement by entrants to be bound by these Official Rules.
9. ADDITIONAL RULES
TODAY THROWS A WEDDING is sponsored by NBC. NBC reserves the right to terminate the entry period prior to its scheduled end date and to choose among entries received prior to the date of such termination.
Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the judges, whose decisions are final. Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification from TODAY THROWS A WEDDING. NBC reserves the right to permanently disqualify any person it believes has intentionally violated these rules.
Except where prohibited, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and NBC in connection with the Event, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the state of New York, or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state of New York. If any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Official Rules, or the Event cannot be otherwise resolved, it shall be resolved in the courts of New York County, New York.
10. ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINAL COUPLE
For the names of the wedding couple visit after September 17, 2006 or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to TODAY Throws a Wedding, Wedding Couple Info, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.