The Challenges
Challenge 1: The Newlywed Game
Here's the recap:
Challenge 2: Iron Maidens – May 4th
Brides and their entourages compete against one another, Iron Chef style. A panel of celebrity judges will determine who can really own the kitchen and who will be ordering out, followed by a secret Pinterest challenge.
Challenge 3: Let’s Get Physical – May 18th
Strength, wit and teamwork will triumph over all. The remaining three brides-to-be will put everything on the line and battle it out with a four-part physical challenge. We are bringing in the guys for this round: the entire bridal party will compete to become the final two.
Challenge 4: The Love Game – May 19-31
Throw humility out the window for this popularity contest. The remaining two brides will convince people to vote for them over a 13-day period in this online challenge. The bride with the most votes wins Battle of the Brides: The Pinnacle of Wedding Giveaways and receives a 17k dollar wedding from The Pinnacle and almost 13k more from the Pinnacle’s select vendors.
The Pinnacle of Wedding Giveaways
As Pat Benatar said, “love is a battlefield.” The five women selected for The Battle of the Brides: The Pinnacle of Wedding Giveaways are competing for their dream wedding. Over the next eight weeks these women will duke it out to win a 30k wedding provided by The Pinnacle and other participating wedding vendors. Meet the five women who are holding nothing back.
These brides-to-be will compete in a series of four game show-styled challenges over the next eight weeks. One young lady will be eliminated in each round, until an online vote decides the ultimate winner. Every event will be covered by Living Today, and the results will be posted on Facebook. More details, including how to attend the challenges, will be revealed in our April 23 issue. To find out more about the challenge, tickets and the more visit: facebook.com/ThePinnacleofWeddingGiveaways Read on and support your favorite bride to be….Game on, ladies!
No. 1 Andrea Miller
No. 1 Andrea Miller Hometown: Metamora
Occupation: Dental Hygienist
Age: 27
Favorite color: Purple
Groom: Justino Covarrubias
Who What inspired you to join the Battle? We began wedding planning and realized how insanely expensive it is for just one day! All we want to do is to include our friends and family and have a great night without going broke. That would be perfect.
Why should you win? I am pretty quiet and at times can be kind of awkward. To enter a contest like this is very unlike me and a big deal. I’m definitely ready to battle to win and to start our marriage in an awesome way.
What would this win mean to you? We would have one incredible story to tell about our wedding day. It would mean everything. I’m most excited about my handsome groom, delicious food, cold beer and bad dance moves from our wedding party.
How did you meet your fiance? My best friend has known my fiance for years. She always knew we’d be a good match. Four years ago we all went to the German-American Festival and he approached, telling me that I had beautiful eyes. We’ve been together ever since.
If you are the winner, you have two months to plan your wedding. How will you handle the pressure?
Actually, winning a dream wedding would probably reduce our stress. Giving up pizza and getting my butt to the gym to fit into the dress in 2 months might be stressful, but I’m already working on that.
What should people know about you?
I’m a pretty cool girl once you get to know me. We will be forever grateful, and are ready to win this!
No. 2 Katie Ramsdell
Hometown: Toledo
Occupation: Phlebotomist
Favorite Color: Pink
Age: 26
Groom: Brandon Main
Who/What inspired you to join the Battle?
A wedding like this has been something I could only dream of. I had my oldest son when I was in high school and it’s been challenging to become financially stable to give my kids the life they deserve. We just haven’t been able to make a wedding a reality because any money we’ve saved has finally been used to buy a house, car payments and paying for school. I would feel guilty spending a large amount of money on a wedding instead of on things for my children. My dream wedding has just always been pushed aside.
What would this win mean to you?
This win would mean the absolute world to me! We have recently considered just going downtown and tying the knot but I’ve always had a vision of my dad walking me down the aisle and this win would make that a reality!
What are you most excited about if you win?
Tough question! Honestly, I can’t just say one thing in particular. It’s all equally amazing. Well, maybe the cake; I really do like cake! Do I have to share?
How did you meet your fiancée? We met at a mutual friend’s party and at the end of the night I realized I parked my car in a mud pit and it was stuck! He came out and rescued my car and scored my phone number!
If you are the winner, you have two months to plan your wedding. How will you handle the pressure?
Probably like Bridezilla! No no, I’m joking. This is a dream come true! So we could even squeeze it into a two-week planning time frame and I’d still be thrilled!
What should people know about you My fiancé and my two little boys are my absolute world. I work full time as a phlebotomist and I’m slowly making my way through nursing school. I love animals, I hate socks and I live in a house with all boys so I have an acquired appreciation of all things sports, mud and loud noises.
No. 3 Kimmie Rose
No. 3 Kimmie Rose Hometown: London, Ontario
Occupation: Spiritual Life Coach
Favorite color: Turquoise
Age: 46
Groom: Michael Morgan
Who or what inspired you to join the battle?
I was reading about the contest and it reminded me of the importance of being able to afford to share it with all our children would truly make it special. Blended families coming together through two people who love each other.
Why should you win?
I don’t necessarily think we are better than any of the other contestants. I would love to win so our families can share a day with us that we have been waiting for all of our lives. Our children want to be there and because of financial situations it would be hard to afford to pay for a wedding including kids. I have five and he has two. The one thing the kids have always wanted was for us to take them to Disneyworld, if we win we can spend our honeymoon fulfilling their dreams and having them all with us will be the happiest time of our lives I am sure it will be that the same for the other contestants.
What are you most excited about if you win?
Being together as a family. Having a cake to share with our family, a celebration, and a wedding that could help us plan something that includes the kids!
How did you meet your fiancé? He came to my front door and asked for a check for payment for cutting my lawn (he was cutting my lawn for a company) we saw each other and I got so nervous I wrote the check in marker. He asked me out the next time I saw him after I texted his boss!
What should people know about you?
We are best friends, love each of the kids as our own and even though our family is blended it is a beautiful thing because the kids love each other. We listen to one another, always hold hands when we go to sleep and believe that living in the moment is the key to true happiness.
No. 4 Brandi Hartlage
Hometown: Oak Harbor, OH
Occupation: Cashier/Pharmacy Technician
& College student
Favorite Color: Orange
Age: 19
Groom: Austin Taylor
Who/What Inspired you to join the battle?
We were told about this battle by our families, and immediately sent in our application.
Why should you win?
We believe that we should win the competition because we’re a young couple that fell in love, got engaged, and are now stuck on how to afford our big day. After losing both of our mothers, we’re struggling to plan without them.
What are you most excited about if you win?
We’re most excited to win the venue part of this giveaway, because most venues we looked at were nothing we could afford.
How did you meet your fiancé? My fiancé and I met in high school and have been crazy for each other ever since.
If you are the winner, you have two months to plan your wedding. How will you handle the pressure?
If we win, we will be too excited to feel the pressure! I’m not going to school in the summer, so I would put all my time into planning our big day!
No. 5 Stephanie Matthews
No. 5 Stephanie Matthews Hometown: Delta, Ohio
Occupation: Resident Nurse,
Toledo Children’s Hospital
Favorite Color: Purple
Age: 25
Groom: Chris Lybarger
Who/What Inspired you to join the battle?
My friend Shanan sent me the link to the Pinnacle of Wedding Giveaways on Facebook and asked me if I had seen it. That was February 26th, so I immediately sat down, wrote up my essay and sent it in. Chris and I were just engaged on February 12th so I was super excited to apply. So I guess being newly engaged and winning a wedding package is what inspired me to enter.
What are you most excited about if you win?
The dress is what I am most excited about! Going shopping with my mom, sister and future mother-in-law will be such an amazing experience. Those three mean so much to me and being able to share the moment when I find “THE” dress will be the perfect experience to share with them. Also, great food and cake never hurt anyone!
If you are the winner, you have two months to plan your wedding. How will you handle the pressure?
As a volunteer fire fighter and paramedic as well as being a pediatric RN I face stress and pressures every day and I can honestly say I do my best work under pressure. I am extremely excited to take on this challenge. I also have the most amazing family that will help and support me as well the wedding coordinator Bee for the Day.
What should people know about you?
My name is Stephanie Matthews, I am 25, engaged to a wonderful man and my best friend Chris Lybarger. I would like to have four kids. I am a volunteer firefighter and paramedic with the Delta Community Fire Department, as well as an RN in the pediatric department at the Toledo Children’s Hospital. I have two siblings, a brother and a sister. I love the outdoors and like to spend free time with my family and friends and all of my animals including my horse. Being a home body, I would rather spend time at home instead of going out; I would take a night on the couch watching movies over going out any time!
