Crate and Barrel Announces 2nd Annual Ultimate Wedding Contest

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Crate and Barrel announces its second Ultimate Wedding Contest, which offers engaged couples a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win the wedding of their dreams – designed by celebrity wedding planner, Yifat Oren, and valued at over $100,000! Crate and Barrel has long been the go-to destination for couples who appreciate the brand's timeless style, vibrant design and great value. The Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest, kicking off February 1, 2011, will give one lucky couple the exciting chance to have their wedding fantasies come to life – from a gourmet menu to a breathtaking venue.

Crate and Barrel Gift Registry Director Marjorie Daugherty says, "The Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding contest offers couples an opportunity to start their new life together in an unforgettable way. When we launched this contest last year we were overwhelmed by the touching love stories as well as the sense of community that formed among couples and voters. For us, this is a wonderful opportunity to be part of their special day and of many others to come. We are so excited to get to know this year's couples and to continue offering the best resources and tools for registries across the board."

This year, Crate and Barrel chose Yifat Oren to create the winning couple's fantasy wedding, inspired by her unparalleled ability to translate a client's dreams and style into a masterfully orchestrated event. For Crate and Barrel, the partnership with Oren was a natural fit as her timeless chic easily aligns with the brand's comfortable, classic lifestyle. Oren is a sought-after name in wedding planning, and has coordinated celebrations for a number of well-known celebrities, including Kevin Costner, Jason Bateman and Mariska Hargitay, among others.

"When I think about the ultimate wedding, captivating design and tasteful aesthetics is what immediately comes to mind," said Yifat Oren, principal, Yifat Oren & Associates.  "Crate and Barrel has developed an exciting program that will deliver just that to a lucky couple, the Ultimate Wedding experience, and one that I am thrilled to be a part of."

Couples can enter the Ultimate Wedding contest by visiting www.crateandbarrel.com/ultimatewedding between February 1 and March 31, 2011. The contest entry calls for couples to share three special things about themselves, each in 100 words or less: 1) their own love story 2) three important details of their ultimate wedding and 3) a description of how they would design and decorate their dream home. Eligible couples must maintain an active Crate and Barrel registry valued at a minimum of $2,000 and 50 registry lines.

Couples are urged to spread the word to their friends and family (via email, Facebook, Myspace, twitter, blogs etc.), in an effort to get as many votes as possible, as the 100 entries with the highest number of public votes will advance to a final round of judging by Crate and Barrel and Yifat Oren. Winning couples will be announced in early June.  

In addition to the fantastic grand prize, contest prizes totaling over $30,000 will be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd place winners, 15 honorable mentions and the couple receiving the highest number of votes.

For complete rules and FAQs, please visit www.crateandbarrel.com/ultimatewedding.

About Crate and Barrel

Multi-channel home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel was founded in Chicago in 1962 by retailing pioneers Gordon and Carole Segal.  Working directly with European ateliers and factories to import their products, Crate and Barrel was among the first to make contemporary tabletop and kitchenwares designs affordable to American consumers. Today, Crate and Barrel is an industry leader, known for exclusive housewares and furniture designs, excellent value and superb customer service. In addition to a thriving direct marketing division, the company operates stores in most major North American markets, including Toronto and Calgary. The Crate and Barrel family of brands now includes its more modern off-shoot, CB2, and childrens' home furnishings retailer, The Land of Nod. Crate and Barrel is a privately held company owned by the Otto Group of Hamburg, Germany.

About Yifat Oren & Associates

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California for more than 12 years, Yifat Oren & Associates provides a full range of event services to a discerning clientele. Yifat and her team create exquisite events, masterfully produced and distinctively designed. Defined by grace and impeccable attention to detail, the company has garnered widespread praise from media, industry experts and high-profile clients.  Yifat's innate sense of style and ability to translate concept into reality have elevated her to the top of her field. Highly knowledgeable and possessing an extraordinary commitment to excellence, Yifat has the unique ability to create completely personalized, unforgettable events with refinement and tasteful restraint.

With extensive experience in food styling, lighting and floral design, fabric treatment, space planning and technical production, Yifat Oren and her seasoned staff design and flawlessly manage every aspect of an event. Repeatedly acknowledged by her peers and the press as an innovator of industry trends, Yifat and her staff take pride in intently listening to each client and designing an event that underscores their taste and individuality.  For more information, please visit www.yifatoren.com.

SOURCE Crate and Barrel