by Samantha Edmondson
The Bridal Extravaganza will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Student Center Ballrooms. The fashion show will start at 3 p.m. Admission is $3 at the door.
Linda Vineyard has prevented numerous wedding disasters.
One of her co-workers was ready to walk down the aisle beside her father when the bottom of her bridal bouquet fell to the church floor. Tears welled up in the bride's eyes, but Vineyard took charge and fixed the floral arrangement before the first note of the wedding march was played.
During her nine years as a wedding coordinator, Vineyard has perfected every detail in organizing a couple's special union. This weekend, she will bring her expertise as a member of the planning committee for the Bridal Extravaganza from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Student Center Ballrooms.
Vineyard's business, Weddings Etc., is one of 28 vendors at the annual event. According to Susan Coriasco, assistant director of the Student Center, this is a record number of businesses involved, despite other annual and less lacy celebrations planned for the day.
Coriasco, who helped start the event 11 years ago, said when the Super Bowl date was pushed back as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, there were concerns about attendance at the bridal show. The event coordinators are considering having a big screen TV set up in the Old Main room of the Student Center for football fans to follow the game. However, she said outside factors always play into the success of the day.
"Sometimes, it has been a beautiful day, and that hurts us just as much," Coriasco said. "I am hoping for a rainy, gloomy day, so people will get out of their house and come here."
Even though the event features mainly Carbondale businesses, people from as far away as Paducah and Cape Giradeau travel to the Student Center to plan their weddings. While a couple of other specialty shops offer event organization services, the Bridal Extravaganza vendors include photographers, caterers, DJs, reception centers, gift registries and a Mary Kay representative.
During the show's four-hour span, brides-to-be can shop around the different booths and make appointments with each business to make arrangements for their special day.
"If their personalities don't mesh, they can go over to the next booth without having to go down the yellow pages," Coriasco said. "A lot of their choices are in one spot."
The fashion show is one segment that attracts not only future brides and grooms, but anyone interested in the latest trends in dresses and tuxedos. Zwick's Bridal, Mr. Tuxedo & Bridal and newcomer Katherine's Bridal & Formal Wear will be displaying about 75 dresses and tuxedos, according to Vineyard.
Teresa Hubbs, manager of Mr. Tuxedo & Bridal, said strapless wedding dresses and a variety of A-line and full-skirted gowns will be modeled. Also, Hubbs said long coats with Euro-band ties and high cut vests are the latest trend for the grooms. She said the event gives couples a chance to go see most of what is available in one location.
"They can look at the dresses on someone else and say, 'That dress, that is what I want,'" Hubbs said.
After a potential bride eyes the wedding dress she likes, she can look on a special program that lists every dress and tuxedo modeled and the store where it is located.
Vineyard said a lot of women go straight to the bridal shops after they get engaged so they can look for their dress. However, she said they ask the bridal consultants at the stores what to do next. This event encompasses a good selection of all the wedding related businesses at one place.
"Some girls say, 'I planned my whole wedding at the bridal show,'" Coriasco said. "It's not that they actually did, but they got all the pieces for their wedding here."
Reporter Samantha Edmondson can be reached at sedmondson@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
