RACHEL MACGILLIS AND CHRISTOPHER MOORE FROM WEST HARTFORD, CT WIN MIAMI DESTINATION DREAM WEDDING IN GREATER MIAMI & THE BEACHES "MARRY ME IN MIAMI" CONTEST

MIAMI, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Love was in the air for Rachael MacGillis and Christopher Moore from West Hartford, CT as they raced to the alter to beat out four other finalist couples in the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's "Marry Me in Miami" Wedding Day Challenge today held in partnership with The Knot.  With almost 10,000 entrants from across the U.S. to the online contest, the partnership proved to be one of the most successful for the No. 1 wedding brand, reaching eight out of ten U.S. brides, and with 80 percent of brides-to-be entering from outside Miami, it's clear that Greater Miami is the hot spot for destination weddings!

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110622/AQ24671)

"We had the time of our lives as we finished the series of wacky wedding-related challenges along Coral Gables' Miracle Mile to win our dream wedding at the breathtaking Biltmore Hotel this coming October," said MacGillis and Moore. "Right now it feels too good to be true. Miami is the perfect location for our romantic destination wedding and our friends and family have already started packing their bags and bathing suits!" 

The "Wedding Day Challenge" is capping off the destination's first "Miami Romance Month," a program that celebrates and promotes the Greater Miami & the Beaches as the ideal location for destination weddings, commitment ceremonies, wedding shopping trips, bachelor/ette parties, proposals and honey/babymoons.

"Our partnership is off to an incredible start with almost 20,000 visitors to The Knot's Website and our  MiamiRomanceMonth.com site, and we are not surprised," said Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME. "Pairing the most popular wedding brand with the most romantic destination on the planet simply makes sense.  Greater Miami and the Beaches bring exciting nightlife, acclaimed cuisine, premiere shopping and unprecedented wedding amenities to couples planning a simple or extravagant affair or getaway."

For video from today's event visit: https://files.me.com/marcoantonioruiz/dxphkn.mov

For more information about Miami Romance Month, please visit miami.weddings.com/ and www.MiamiRomanceMonth.com.

About The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. For a vacation guide visit our website at www.MiamiAndBeaches.com or call 1-888-76-Miami (US/Canada only) or 305-447-7777. To reach the GMCVB offices dial 305-539-3000.  Meeting planners may call 1-800-933-8448 (US/Canada only) or 305-539-3071 or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com.

SOURCE The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau