The upcoming 31st annual Springfield Wedding & Bridal Expo will help an ailing wedding industry to get back on track and offer brides-to-be help in planning their dream wedding.
The event will be held on Saturday and Sunday in the Better Living Center on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield and features over 150 vendors, companies, designers and planners.
Visitors stepping into the everything bridal event will find glamorous gowns, elegant formal wear, fashion shows, live music and entertainment, ice sculptures, colorful floral designs, and food samples from caterers and banquet facilities in the region.
“Last year’s show was in January before COVID-19 became widespread and many brides-to-be had to change their wedding plans, which also impacted many of our vendors who lost business they had planned on for the year,” said Wesley Jenks, vice president of Jenks Productions, organizer of the event.
“I think there has been a lot of pent up demand from couples who want to get back to planning their weddings and from businesses who want to be a part of their plans,” he added about this year’s show.
“If you haven’t even made one plan for your upcoming wedding yet, you can leave the show with your whole special day planned. Our show is all encompassing and vendors will be selling everything you need from booking a venue to formal wear including tuxedos and wedding gowns, as well as music, photo booths, transportation from limousines to horse and carriage, and even classes to learn how to dance,” Jenks said.
There will also be
additional vendors for wedding shoes, bridal veils and hair accessories, as well as dresses for bridesmaids and mother of the bride, invitations, wedding cakes, gifts and favors, decorations and centerpieces, flowers, and photographers and videographers.
“I think one of the biggest difference couples coming to the show this year will find is that they will also be getting an education of what they can and can’t do given COVID and various state rules,” Jenks said.
As some restrictions are now loosening up and “more and more weddings are being booked,” Jenks said the show will offer options to those who want to get married this year, but find their favorite venue doesn’t have any dates available.
“One of the nice things about our show is that we will have facilities at the show, some of them new, who still have dates open and who want to get their names out there,” Jenks said.
Also, one lucky person will walk away with a Grand Prize package that includes a wedding gown from 125 Bridal & Tuxedo, boudoir photo packages from Shadley Studios, tuxedo package for groom and four others from Modern Formal Mobile Showroom, floral gift certificate from Mark Henry Florist, and a capture station with guest book from Totally Hitched by SSUP.
Jenks said they are adhering to state indoor capacity restrictions by selling tickets in time slots.
Morning sessions both days are from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and afternoon sessions are from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available online or at the door.