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Whataburger — the fast food crown jewel of Texas — is upping its giveaway game for Texans in 2020. Six lucky Texas couples have the opportunity to win a wedding at a Whataburger on Valentine’s Day at locations across Texas.
The ultimate Whatawedding is all-inclusive with orange and white wedding essentials and a $5,000 cash prize that one winning couple will receive to apply toward their honeymoon. Though this contest might create many happy memories, Whataburger giveaways haven’t always been a dream come true.
Whataburger gave away a “Replicar” Bentley Phaeton
In the summer of ’77, North Texans were tempted with what sounded like a giveaway of a lifetime. Customers did not even have to purchase one of the thriving business’s “real, honest-to-goodness-quality you can taste” meals to have a chance at winning a “Replicar” Bentley Phaeton.
Advertisements for the participating Whataburger locations boasted that the giveaway was part of the “Good Old Days Celebration" in the summer of ’77.
On Aug. 19, 1977, Mike Rutherford of Richardson was announced Whataburger’s winner of the 1930 roadster replica. The car had been advertised as “an almost exact duplicate of the road racing champion of the 1930s.”
Upon receiving his prize, Rutherford found the car was in less than top condition. The vehicle was in dire need of repairs rendering it “a piece of junk.”
Requesting damages from Whataburger, a jury concluded that he was entitled to restitution for the cost of the vehicle repairs and attorney fees.
Whataburger continues to roll out burgers and fries but has yet to offer up a “replicar” of any kind since the debacle of the “Good Old Days Celebration" of ’77. Whataburger has since given away safer and less expensive items over the years such as food products for customer appreciation, logo clothing items and occasional sports tickets.
For Valentine’s Day 2020, Whataburger is giving a nod to its loyal fan base in the Lone Star State by giving away entire weddings to several lucky couples. The Whatawedding extravaganza falls on the heels of the sale of the company’s stock to Chicago last year.
Customers who entered the giveaway contest wrote a short essay about their love story and why they want to get married at Whataburger.
“Nothing says love at first bite like wedding bells at Whataburger, and we can’t wait to celebrate a couple of love stories with some of our very own Whataburger super-fans!" — Whataburger
The competition has closed, but Whataburger will announce the winning Whatalovebirds on Valentine’s Day 2020.
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