How many people out there proposed marriage or were proposed to last week on Valentine’s Day?
The Princeton Shopping Center wants to know, because it might have the perfect arrangement for the big day.
The Shopping Center has long been regarded as Princeton’s “downtown north,” with many of the everyday retail uses that used to be present in downtown Princeton, including a hardware store, and general grocery store, just to name a few. It even has the Arts Council of Princeton. Well, temporarily, at least.
During the summer, the Shopping Center opens its courtyard for its summer concerts drawing large crowds filling the vast open space. But for outdoor weddings? That’s more for the green in front of Nassau Inn, right? Perhaps not, say the organizers for the Shopping Center’s latest promotional venture.
So if you’re engaged, and haven’t set a date, how about September 21, 2008?
“We are looking for a bride and groom who are looking to get married that day for real: this is for real,” said Deb Hunter, the self-described “top banana” at Chicklet Books, who is working with Shopping Center management and other retailers to get the initiative off the ground.
It would be a small affair: just the bride, groom, an attendant for each, and about 20 guests. “What we’d like to do is promote what the center can do for your wedding needs — we’re not just Ace Hardware and your pediatrician.
“There are a lot more things we can do for this town, and providing the ingredients for a wedding is one of them,” she said.
Think about it: rings from Princeton Jewelers, invitations from Jordan’s Cards & Gifts, spa treatment at Metropolis Spa & Salon, and catering by Camillo’s Café. Not to mention the variety of stores offering potential gifts. Makes sense, right?
The center will supply a tent for outside, as well as an officiate for the ceremony, if the couple does not provide their own.
The Shopping Center would not throw the reception, though Camillo’s has tentatively agreed to provide light fare for the event, “just to make it really nice,” Ms. Hunter said.
Prospective couples will meet with Ms. Hunter and other Shopping Center representation. “We’re looking for couples that are really excited about this, and really want to get married.
If we find three great couples and have to do three weddings that day, we’ll do three! It’s not exactly a bad worst-case scenario,” Ms. Hunter said.
Interested couples are asked to call Shopping Center management at (609) 921-6234, or e-mail Ms. Hunter at deb@uniqueandnovel.com.