1. By submitting an application, applicants agree to all terms and conditions listed below in order to be accepted as a contestant.

2. Both the Bride and the Groom must be of legal age to be married in the state of South Carolina.

3. Must conform and abide by all South Carolina state laws in reference to marriage and getting married.

4. Both the Bride and Groom must be legal citizens of the United States of America.

5. Winning Bride and Groom must agree to and be present for a wedding rehearsal date of Friday, September 6, 2013 and the wedding date of Saturday, September 7, 2013.

6. Maximum total time in service for the Bride OR Groom is 12 years.

7. Bride cannot have given birth or be giving birth within 7 months of the wedding ceremony, (September 7, 2013).
   

8. Veteran(s) must be able to legally wear their military uniform (i.e. Active Duty, Guard, Reserve or Retired service member).

9. Military member must be in uniform during the ceremony.  If female is the military member and wishes to wear a bridal gown she must agree to a separate photo session in her uniform with groom in his wedding attire.  If Bride and Groom are both military they must each wear their uniform for portraits the day after their ceremony.

10. Must wear class of uniform commensurate with a formal wedding ceremony.
    

11. Guard and Reserve members must have been active duty within 36 months of the wedding date - September 7, 2013.

12. Must provide proof of military service if you are one of the top five (5) finalists.

13. The winning couple must agree to sign a model release of all images and video captured for marketing/fundraising purposes.

14. Must be willing to forfeit all previous and/or active agreements, contracts, retainers and/or monies, related to your wedding and/or plans for your wedding.

15. Must agree to use only the vendors who sponsor or are designated by this contest and its Directors.  No wedding professionals, vendors or service providers other than the designated/approved by the Operation Happily Ever After (OHEA) Directors will be allowed to work, perform, provide services and/or product(s) to OHEA event without expressed written agreement by OHEA.

16. Operation Happily Ever After Directors reserve the right to change wedding professionals and/or event location(s) as needed for the success of the events.

17. Operation Happily Ever After, its members, volunteers, board members, sponsors, employees is/are not responsible or liable and assumes no liability for any injuries occurring prior to, during, after or in association with Operation Happily Ever After events.

18. Winnings are non-transferable and are non-negotiable.  There is no cash value and no substitutions or exchanges are allowed.

19. If winning couple has to change, postpone or cancel wedding event or any part thereof, for any reason, contestants agree to forfeit ALL winnings and/or benefits of contest and events.

20. Operation Happily Ever After directors reserve the right to choose a replacement contest winner if the current winner becomes ineligible for any reason.

21. Applicants are required to send the following items to OHEA prior to being accepted as registered contestants.  A photo of themselves together and a minimum 100-word essay about themselves that will be posted on an OHEA profile page on-line.  Also applicants must send in a signed copy of these rules showing that you have read them.  Rules may be printed, signed, scanned into computer and emailed.  NOTE:  All three items must be submitted at the same time.

22. Winning couple must agree to update Operation Happily Ever After Facebook page concerning wedding planning milestones.

23. Wedding is for up to 50 people including Bride, Groom and their wedding party.

24. Winning couple must agree to use all gifts given if possible i.e., Groomsmen, Best Man and Father of Bride must wear donated tuxedo from Schrader's Cleaners and Tuxedo unless they are in military uniform.  If Groom is not military he will also be required to  wear a tuxedo from Schrader's.

25. Winning couple must agree to have a traditional wedding ceremony with traditional wedding music.  Couple may have a sand ceremony or a special reading at their request.  Music at the reception will be the couple's choice.

26. Horse drawn carriage ride is for the Bride and Groom ONLY after the wedding. A maximum of two people will be allowed to ride in the carriage.

27. Limousine to and from wedding rehearsal dinner will be for Bride and Groom only.

28. Couple may NOT create an additional Facebook page or event page of any kind using the Operation Happily Ever After name and/or logo.

29. After the ceremony, the Bride and Groom must be willing to express on video and/or in writing “What This Day has Meant to You”.

30. IMPORTANT:  NO other videography, photography or audio recording to include cameras, cell phones, etc., will be allowed without the expressed written permission of OHEA Directors during the wedding rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding preparations, wedding or reception.  It is the responsibility of the Bride and Groom "to be" to notify all family members, wedding party and guests of this rule.  Violators of this rule will be escorted from the event and the winning couple risk losing the photography portion of the prize package.
    

31. Proper attire must be worn for the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception for everyone in attendance.  No shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, tank-tops or jeans.

32. Absolutely no alcohol of any kind will be consumed at or during the wedding ceremony.

33. No outside alcohol of any kind will be brought into the rehearsal dinner or reception unless served or purchased at the event location.

34. Transportation to and from the event is the responsibility of the winning couple and their respective guests/attendees.

35. Fireworks of any kind will not be permitted at any of the Operation Happily Ever After events.

36. Operation Happily Ever After and its sponsors, vendors, employees, service providers or volunteers are not responsible for any loss, damage or injury caused by or related to any OHEA event or contest.

37. In case of the possibility of inclement weather and/or natural disasters, Operation Happily Ever After reserves the right to postpone, cancel and/or change the location and/or date/time of event.

38. Bride and Groom may have to forfeit horse drawn carriage ride and any other outdoor activities in case of inclement weather.

39. In case of a hurricane, all events will be changed to another date.

40. No donations or votes resulting in monies of any kind from any source will be refunded.  All donations/voting transactions are FINAL.

Important Additional stipulations:

1. The winning couple will forfeit all rooms, room nights, hair styling, etc., not used specifically for the wedding party ONLY.  If Bride & Groom, wedding party, family members etc., arrive prior to the specified check-in date or depart after the specified check-out date they will incur and be responsible for a fee at regular room-night rates as published by the resort.  They must also expect to change rooms if they arrive early or leave late, as complimentary nights are specific to room type indicated.
2. Hairstyling and make-up is for the Bride and wedding party only (up to a total of 5 ladies).  This does not include Mothers of the Bride and Groom, however, additional arrangements can be made for the mothers at their own expense.   Additional arrangements must be made with the hairstylist/make-up artist no later than 2 weeks prior to the wedding ceremony.
3. Winning Bride and Groom will be responsible for contacting the Horry County Probate Court and obtaining a South Carolina marriage license and paying applicable fee.
4. Winning Bride will be responsible for any alterations that need to be made to her gown including any applicable fees.
5. It is understood for the purposes of these rules that any references made to OHEA and/or Operation Happily Ever After are referring specifically to its Directors.
6. Events organized by Operation Happily Ever After and rules will not be altered in any way except at the discretion of the Directors.   Any deviations from the these rules and additional stipulations may result in disqualification of the applicant and possible forfeiture of all winnings.
7. It is understood that all prizes offered/listed/mentioned in this contest are donated without payment and/or compensation by companies and/or individuals.  As such, some companies and/or individuals may for whatever reason withdraw, cancel and/or not provide in whole or in part, the donation that he, she, or they have promised.  OHEA, its directors, sponsors, vendors, employees, service providers or volunteers are not responsible for any loss of said prizes and/or donations in any way or form.

These rules and regulations are subject to change without notice at the discretion of the Directors.