MARK MY WORD: ADVERTISING MAY BE WEDDING WAVE OF THE FUTURE

You have to hand it to Tom Anderson and Sabrina Root.

The Philadelphia couple recently paid for their $34,000 wedding by selling advertising space at the ceremony and reception.

In our marketing-is-everything society, we shouldn't be surprised that even marital bliss is for sale.

Everything from the wedding rings to a week at a penthouse in Cancun, Mexico, were donated.

Anderson got 24 companies to sponsor the nuptials in exchange for billboard advertising. Actually, he only had to put the sponsors' names on everything from the invitations to the thank-you cards.

Anderson, a 24-year-old bartender, coughed up his own money for his wife's $1,400 engagement ring. Root, a 33-year-old hairstylist, paid $1,600 for her dress.

They probably could have gotten those items donated, too.

The groom got the idea of corporate sponsorships while working in a struggling animation studio that often had to barter for services.

It's not every day that advertisers are toasted by a bride and groom.

Most couples are too busy picking out china patterns to think about Madison Avenue, but clearly it's nice not to be stuck in debt before the reception is over.

Anderson and Root may have changed weddings forever, making them every bit as marketable as sporting events.

All in all, it's not a bad idea. Imagine how many more blenders you'll get if the food and drinks are provided for free by corporate America.

With two daughters, Joni and I have to think ahead.

Maybe we'll be able to afford the weddings after all. Of course, Becca, 7, and Bailey, 3, are light-years removed from such events, but as financial experts who want your money will tell you, planning is everything.

We don't have to stop with weddings.

Parents particularly could benefit from shrewd marketing.

Why should we have to bear the burden of all those back-to-school expenses from shoes to glue.

We could plaster company logos all over our kids' clothes and backpacks.

No longer will we have to shell out hard-earned money for birthday parties. Corporate sponsors could foot the bill, buying everything from cake to Barbie dolls.

With any luck, we could get our cars donated by some generous firm in exchange for bumper-to-bumper advertising.

We could even get our homes bought and paid for with corporate sponsorships. Of course, our houses would look like billboards. Still, that seems a small price to pay for a nice house.

Personally, I'd like to find some corporate sponsors for our summer vacations. If Mickey Mouse would sponsor us, we could visit DisneyWorld every year.

Next year, Joni and I are planning to take a 20th anniversary trip.

With a few corporate sponsors and perhaps some government grants, we could really enjoy ourselves.

~Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.