Since the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision in late June legalizing gay marriage across the country, some places in Kentucky haven’t quite come around to embrace marriage equality—looking at you Rowan County. A new campaign by the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau (LCVB), however, seeks to let everyone know that the city isn’t just in full support of marriage equality—it’s a leader among gay-friendly cities.
The group’s new ad campaign, #SayIDoInLou, touts the city as a gay marriage destination, and offers up a contest for one lucky couple to wed in Louisville this September at some of Downtown’s newest hotspots.
To back up its claims of the city being a gay friendly place, the LCVB said in a press release Wednesday that “Louisville was named One of Six Underrated Cities for LGBT Travelers by Conde Nast Traveler in September 2014, and a Gallup Poll dubbed Louisville One of America’s Gayest Cities in March 2015.”
The LCVB is courting LGBT couples with a video contest for a “fabulous” all-expenses-paid-wedding and weekend getaway. This isn’t a contest for the camera shy, though. The group that brought you Possibility City is incorporating social media to make this contest a sort of internet reality show. Couples can submit short videos through Facebook, Instagram, and by using the hashtag #SayIDoInLou on Twitter and the public will vote for their favorites. (Check official rules at the LCVB website.)
The contest launched with a video of its own, up top, with a catchy jingle and the tagline, “Louisville, where the bourbon is straight, and the weddings don’t have to be.”
According to the LCVB, the prize is worth over $20,000:
The winning couple will exchange vows on the rooftop deck of 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen (Louisville’s first and only rooftop bar and restaurant) at Hilton Garden Inn Downtown on Sept. 19. Following the wedding, the couple will celebrate their marriage at the inaugural Louisville Pride Festival in what’s being touted as the “World’s Largest Wedding Reception,” as thousands are expected to attend.
The campaign officially launched on Monday through the bureau’s social media channels. Submissions are accepted through August 11 and a winner will be announced on August 19. Other sponsors include Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, 8UP Rooftop Deck, The Henry Clay, A Thorough Fare Events, Fleur De Lis Events, VOICES of Kentuckiana, Cake Flour, Jaco Limousine & Transportation, Pizzazzle Events, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, the Louisville Pride Festival and more.
