The Great Wedding Ring Giveaway
Are you in need of a beautiful, bridal, wedding ring? Perhaps you want to invite the girl of your dreams to join you for a lifetime of adventure, but lack the funds to secure a diamond and gold band. Or perhaps, maybe you’ve lost your ring over the years and never replaced it. Or maybe the love of your life deserves and desires an upgrade. If so, you are in the right place as I am GIVING AWAY my wedding ring along with a two night stay in Minden, Louisiana at The Villas at Spanish Court as well as a $500 travel stipend and an outdoor photo session with nationally renowed photographer, Hector Manuel Sanchez (@hectormsanchezphoto).
My heart is a believer in grace and all things redemption. I believe old houses, people and even a wedding ring deserves a new beginning and a second chance. It’s time to part with mine, and allow a new, redemptive journey to unfold.
But, first, if we are exchanging pleasantries for the first time, it’s important you understand a bit about me. Hi! I’m Sara. I am writing to you at this very moment because my heart was shattered into a million pieces and I ended up divorced. It’s not a label I wanted to carry, yet I wear it as a badge of honor and as a symbol of the abundant overflow of mercy. I married my college sweetheart in 1997 at the ripe age of twenty.
All of my hopes and dreams came to a screeching halt in 2009 when my now ex-husband revealed some news that brought me to my knees. I was devastated. Broken beyond repair. Overcome with shame. Resolved I would never be happy again.
But then…. once the dust of the divorce (2011) settled, I realized the INCREDIBLE opportunity I had been given-the opportunity for a DO OVER. Not many people get that chance. And it became clear I wanted a different life. I wanted to write my own destiny. And that is exactly what I’m doing. Please refer to my socials @simplysouthercottage, blog posts and also posts on simplysara.com (my old blog) for more of the back story. But the short version is that I found the FIRE movement, retired early from my W2 job, renovated an old cottage, became a full time real estate investor, content creator, and educational consultant, and my design work has been featured in local, regional and national press as well as on HGTV and most recently on Magnolia Network, In With the Old: Minden’s Mysterious Yellow House….all because I got divorced and took control of my life. Redemption at its finest.
And now, back to why you are here. I’ve held onto my wedding ring for too long (nearly 13 years now post divorce) and have wrestled with what to do with it. Should I sell it? Melt it down into a new piece of jewelry? But ultimately I decided to give it away, bless another couple and allow it to also take on a redemption story all its own.
About the ring
Recently appraised, cleaned and repaired by Gray’s Jewelry in Minden, Louisiana, the value of my ring is $3500. It consists of a 1/2 ct. marquise cut diamond solitaire (engagement ring), surround by a .15 ct diamond guard set in 14 kt. yellow gold. The duo of rings can be resized to fit the winner. (Value $3500)
About the prize package
In addition to receiving my ring, the winner will be gifted a two night stay at The Villas at Spanish Court in Minden, Louisiana. This premier short term stay property has been featured in Cottages and Bungalows Magazine, American Farmhouse Style Magazine, The Washington Post, and much more. Built in 1931, abandoned in the 1980s, and fully renovated in 2022, The Villas have captured the heart of national and international travelers alike. Oozing in southern hospitality and charm, the winner will relish in the peaceful solitude of this property. (Value $500)
For travel to Minden, the winner will also be awarded $500 cash to assist with travel expenses. (Value $500)
The winner will also receive an outdoor photo session with Hector Manuel Sanchez (whose work has been featured in top shelf publications like Southern Living, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens and more) to commemorate this special occasion. (Value $3500)
Total package value: $8000
How to submit an entry
The window to submit entries has closed. The finalists will be announced on or before March 1, 2024.
Rules/Fine Print
- Open to all US Residents over the age of 18.
- Entrants must be following @simplysoutherncottage on IG or FB or TT. At least one of the three.
- Submissions MUST BE RECEIVED by Feb. 14th, 2024 at 11:59pm. On or before March 1st, Sara will post the three selected finalists on her blog. Voting will then be open for the general public to choose the winner. Voting will be open through March 15th, and the winner will be announced and notified on or before March 30th. There will be no photographs submitted during the contest period and finalists’ names will be obscured to give everyone the fairest possible chance to win the great giveaway. All entrants agree to have their story told on this blog, social media, any media outlet or by mouth.
- Chosen winner must agree to have first names only, their story and a photo shared on simplysoutherncottage.com and across all @simplysoutherncottage social platforms with no additional compensation. Social handles will gladly be tagged and photo credit given if desired.
- Winner solely responsible for any related taxes or liabilities.
Beautiful, just beautiful.
Best gift you could give some young deserving couple. I may sign up for my Dtr; she got a fake diamond for $2K; and fake platinum metal and she’s having some hand issues. I keep saying it’s related to a metal allergy. I was very proud of she and her husband to be practical, but wonder…if it’s harming her. She developed Dupuytren’s in her left hand (Viking Disease/claw hand). I’ve asked her to remove her ring and maybe get some relief but it’s too pretty. Dupuytren’s normally affects 60 year old males with diabetes or Alcoholism.
Have followed you for several years and very relatable on your style and love of all things Southern. Would love the getaway to one of your renovated villas having cared for my elderly parents the last several years and losing both older brother and father within 6 months while trying to work full-time. Always find solace in southern styled homes and things from the past. Love your version of this while being newly made. You’ve overcome a large obstacle and proven how fierce women from the South can be. Best wishes for continued success! Hope I’m the lucky recipient!
This is such a wonderful giveaway! Such generosity is almost unheard of in these chaotic times. There are so many people needing a once in a lifetime gift to pick up their spirits and remind them how much love there still is in this world. Even if I don’t win this giveaway, I am definitely putting Minden on my bucket list.
This is amazing !! Wish I would have seen it in time to enter my daughter she has been through the ringer and back was engaged was adopting a child ( cause she can’t have any of her own ) when the night before the baby was to be born he backed out and of course she choose my grandson her child over her fiancé went three years and found the love of her life who has recently asked us to have her hand in marriage ( by the way this man has been a friend and stuck by her side for three years and treats her son as his own . I wish I could afford to make their wishes come true and it will in Gods timing !! Sorry about the long post but had to share our blessing there is a lot more to this story and about them both. I am in awww of your story and pray that you get blessed 10 fold … our God is awesome , amazing and truly wonderful he crates blessings everyday out of nothing .