A contest sponsored by Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com and backed by Charmin brought a new kind of wedding gown to several brides this holiday season. The gowns were made of toilet paper and designers sought the number one prize for the most creative dress.

There were also winning couples, who got to use the dresses and get married -- in Charmin portable bathrooms set up temporarily for the day. A bow of toilet paper was tied to each stall door.

It was all very clever and cute, but the gals who wore them were, of course, considered "flushing brides." And the wedding took place in the loo. I lost my sense of humor on that note.

What an awful concept, to begin a marriage with the energy of that which is disposable.

We all remember the days of being little girls, clipping long strands of what toilet paper to our heads, pretending to be brides in veils. But this contest took that childhood fantasy too far.

A wedding is meant to be sacred, so yes, the dress does not matter as much as the intentions of the couple. But a toilet paper wedding dress? Would you ever wear one?

Any place can be a temple, even a bathroom, when there is love. But ... was this a celebration of love or another blatant attempt to promote a product on the backs of couples in love? Brides have become the focal point of almost every product imaginable. Obviously, we all need toilet paper (in this country, anyway) but shoul it be the context for a wedding?

And they say Las Vegas is over the top?