Thank you to all of the participants in the Historic Romance Photo Contest. We received a lot of wonderful entries and we loved reading all of your stories and looking through photos and memorabilia. It was difficult to narrow it down, but we have decided the winners and several honorable mentions. These stories and some others will be included in a new book A History of Romance at the Hotel del Coronado, which is currently scheduled to be released in 2011.
GRAND PRIZE - Shirley P. of San Diego, CA
Shirley submitted the story of her grandparents, May and Harrold Scott, the first couple to be married at the Hotel del Coronado in 1887. Shirley also generously donated several original photos, a postcard and a 1938 newspaper article detailing the Scott's wedding and their golden anniversary.
1ST PRIZE - Ron & Charlotte W. of Carlsbad, CA
Ron and Charlotte submitted the story of their 1968 honeymoon at The Del along with several photos of the couple during their honeymoon and hotel memorabilia.
2ND PRIZE - Stan A. of Coronado, CA
Stan submitted the story of how he lived at The Del during World War II in 1944, and then and later brought his wife here for their delayed 1949 honeymoon. Stan also shared several wonderful photos of his time at The Del.
TIED FOR 3RD PRIZE - Rosemary D. from Lakeside, CA
Rosemary submitted her story of how she and her husband got engaged at The Del during a moonlit stroll along the beach, the same night that their friends got engaged. The two couples didn't have official engagement rings, so instead they used the rings from two cigars as substitutes.
TIED FOR 3RD PRIZE - Henry S. from San Marcos, CA
Henry submitted the story of how he met his wife during a servicemen's dance in The Del's Circus Room in April 1943. They were engaged in July and married in August. Henry also shared some great photos of him and his wife at The Del.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (listed alphabetically)
Kieth B. from Eagle Point, OR - submitted his and his wife's 1973 birthday celebration
David C. - submitted his grandparents' 1907 honeymoon
Brigid C. from Coronado, CA - submitted her grandparents' 1944 visit
Suzan H. from San Diego, CA - submitted her parents' story of growing up and falling in love in Coronado in the 1930s & '40s
Ruth H. from Carlsbad, CA - submitted her parents' 1931 honeymoon
Lucy J. from San Diego, CA - submitted her and her husband's 1972 wedding night
Bill & Linda M. from from Escondido, CA - submitted their 1968 honeymoon
Gregory S. from Phoenix, AZ - submitted the story of his great-grandparents and their 1893 honeymoon
Recap of the contest:
The Del is searching for vintage photos from 1970 and earlier that feature people with the resort prominently visible in the background. Hotel memorabilia – such as vintage brochures, room receipts, postcards or correspondence on Del stationery – will also be eligible for contest prizes. Great romantic Del stories (without any photos or memorabilia) are also welcome.
Some of the contest submissions will also be included in a new book, A History of Romance at the Hotel del Coronado, the fifth in a series of history books published by the resort.
Click here to review the offical contest details and rules again.