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It has been a tough year for Ontarians looking to get married.
Over the past two years, many wedding plans have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the demand for venues and other service providers has increased dramatically, as have the associated costs. According to the Globe and Mail, the number of weddings in the province is expected to increase by 46 per cent in 2022, while the cost of weddings could increase by more than 20 per cent.
This year has seen “unprecedented demand for weddings,” said Rebecca Chan, founder of the wedding and event planning company that bears her name.” The wedding industry is experiencing supply chain issues, staff shortages, and a huge demand for dates, venues and vendors. Anyone who is planning a wedding right now knows how difficult it can be.”
Enter luxury menswear retailer Harry Rosen, which sells a not-so-small selection of suits and accessories to soon-to-be-married men. The clothing store launched its “Marry Rosen” contest this summer, which took place on Instagram in early July. The contest had dozens of entrants, but Randy Coles and Justin Hughes-Jones won the opportunity to get married on the retailer’s rooftop patio, which overlooks Toronto’s city skyline. The wedding hosted 35 guests, with catering and decorations provided by Harry Rosen and his partners and, of course, the couple’s costumes.
“Our Marry Rosen honorees are just one of many couples facing the challenge of finding the perfect place to celebrate amidst unprecedented demands,” said Ian Rosen, the retailer’s president and chief operating officer.” We are proud to be a partner in helping men prepare for one of the most important moments in their lives. We feel honored to take it a step further this season.”
The idea for the contest was conceived by Zulu Alpha Kilo, the company that designed the look and feel of the contest and supported the event with social assets.
“Weddings are a key expression of one’s style, but they need a runway to showcase it. The backlog was felt everywhere this year, yet we found a clever new way to make at least one couple’s desire to get married easily a reality,” said Wain Choi, ECD of Zulu.” With all the pieces of the puzzle coming together, it was a beautiful event.”
