There’s nothing inexpensive about planning a wedding these days.
But one lucky couple will save a cool $500 thanks to the Oxford Downtown Development Authority’s Uptown Weddings event held Saturday afternoon.
Lake Orion resident Kristina Smith and her husband-to-be, Andrew Allen, of Swartz Creek, won the drawing for a $500 gift certificate to be used at any of nine downtown shops that participated in the event designed to showcase wedding wares ranging from jewelry and cakes to invitations and flowers.
‘I was so excited. I was telling everybody at work,? said Smith, a 1999 Lake Orion High School graduate who works as an interior designer for La-Z-Boy.
There were about 50 entrants in the drawing, according to DDA Director Carolyn Bennett. The winner was selected during Monday’s DDA meeting.
Smith and Allen will be married in October at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion and have their reception at the Myth Golf and Banquet Center in Oakland Township.
Smith said the entire $500 will probably be spent at the Sweet & Savory Bake Shop.
‘The lady we talked to there was extremely friendly, very helpful,? she said. ‘The cake itself was wonderful. It tasted great.?
The couple was also impressed by the shop’s ‘atmosphere? and how nicely the cake selection was presented in a scrapbook.
Overall, Smith was pleased with the Uptown Weddings event.
‘It was really helpful,? she said. ‘My mom actually told me about it and I’m really glad we went.?