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Philadelphia Couple Wins Grand Prize

Back to 2008 Press Releases

For Immediate Release – March 31st, 2008

Contacts:
Peter Geiger, Philom., Farmers' Almanac Editor • 207-755-2246 pgeiger@farmersalmanac.com
Sandi Duncan, Managing Editor • 908-689-0960 • sduncan@farmersalmanac.com

Lewiston, ME - On Feb. 12, 1983, when a record 21-inch snowfall shut down the Philadelphia Inquirer for the first time since the early 1900s, Marianne and Joseph Trovato’s wedding plans were also put on ice. But the couple’s tale of wedding weather woe has a happy ending. Twenty-five years later, after thousands of readers logged onto and voted for the Worst Wedding Weather entry at  www.farmersalmanac.com, the couple has won the grand prize for the Farmers’ Almanac Worst Wedding Weather Contest.

The Bensalem, PA couple, who, due to the blizzard had to rescheduled their original wedding date, will soon board a Royal Caribbean Cruise to bask in the sun, and renew their vows.

“The weather is so important during a wedding ceremony, that we decided we should try to give the couples that didn’t have the nicest weather a chance at a sunnier second honeymoon,” said Farmers’ Almanac Editor Peter Geiger, Philom., “thus the idea for our Worst Wedding Weather Contest.”

Over the course of about six months, close to 500 contestants entered Farmers’ Almanac’s official Worst Wedding Weather Contest and shared their soggiest, windiest, most hurricane-hampered and hail-ridden wedding weather sob stories. A panel of Farmers’ Almanac judges then chose the 10 best – that is, the 10 worst – entries. These top ten had their stories published on www.farmersalmanac.com/worstweddingweather/  and between Leap Day, Feb. 29, and St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, visitors to the site could vote for the worst wedding weather story.

Though the competition was tight, readers chose the Trovatos as the couple with the most compelling wedding weather experience. To read their story, and the other finalists, visit www.farmersalmanac.com/worstweddingweather/.

First Runner Up
Stacy and Clifford White, a Petersburg, Ind., couple whose wedding reception was crashed by an F4 tornado, earned enough votes to win them a $500 gift certificate from L.L. Bean®  and became the Farmers’ Almanac Worst Wedding Weather Contest First Runner Ups.

Second Runner Up
Christine and Otis Hoffmann, a New Braunfels, Texas, couple whose wedding day was marred by heavy flooding, took third place, or second runner up, and won a  winning a $125 Visa/Debit card.

“In the spirit of American Idol,” reveals Geiger, “we allowed the top ten finalists to hit the trails and get people to vote for them.”  And campaigned they did. Marianne and Joe Trovato were contacted by the Mayor of Bensalem who told them he was going to send an e-mail out to all 200 town employees, asking them to vote for the Trovatos. Two local newspapers and a TV station interviewed the Trovatos, and their local church encouraged votes as well. The Whites and Hoffmanns also gained local press coverage and campaigned long and hard.

“We started with our friends and family,” shares Marianne Trovato, “and then made fliers and campaigned our neighborhood.” When asked what, if any, advice she might have for any February brides-to-be, Marianne suggested brides should “consult the Farmers’ Almanac for its predictions, and then plan accordingly.”

The Farmers’ Almanac is most famous for its accurate long-range weather predictions. Often referred to as a “bride’s best friend,” the Farmers’ Almanac has helped countless brides and grooms pick the best day for their big day for the better part of two centuries.

But sometimes, no matter how much planning and predicting go into a wedding, Mother Nature still sends her regards in not-so-nice ways, and bad weather makes the day even more memorable.

Other finalists included: Jennifer and Dominick Bravata, of Holden, La., whose wedding party was crashed by not just one, but three hurricanes; Christian and Carrie Staehly’s a LaCrescent, Minn. couple, whose wedding day was dampened by a flood; Sarah and John Nicholas, a Chickasha, Okla., whose had not only their wedding day, but also their tropical vow renewal, ruined by heavy rain; Barbara Lynn and Doug Rozenboom, a High Point, N.C., whose wedding day was made chaotic by a visit from Hurricane Fran; Jaclyn and Sean Nally, a Westminster, Mass., couple whose wedding day plans were put on freeze by a freak May snowstorm; Craig and Nancy Jacob, a Spring Lake, Mich., couple whose wedding vacation in paradise felt like an episode of Survivor thanks to Hurricane Iniki; and Nicole and Glen Bruce, a Reeves, La., couple who had the roof of their church ripped off by Hurricane Lili.

About the Farmers' Almanac:
The Farmers' Almanac, which features an orange and green cover, has been published every year since 1818. Available at grocery and bookstores nationwide, it contains useful and interesting articles, as well as long-range weather predictions, gardening advice, recipes and more. Editors Peter Geiger and Sandi Duncan are available for lively and informative interviews, either by phone or in person. Both love to talk about the weather, share useful Almanac trivia and advice, and offer tips on how to "get back to the simple life." Visit on the Web at www.FarmersAlmanac.com.