The upcoming 31st annual Springfield Wedding & Bridal Expo will help a troubled wedding industry get back on track and help budding brides plan their dream wedding.
The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday at the Better Living Center on the Eastern States Exposition site in West Springfield and features over 150 vendors, businesses, designers and planners.
Visitors attending the bridal event will find glamorous dresses, elegant evening wear, fashion shows, live music and entertainment, ice sculptures, colorful floral designs, and food samples from local caterers and banquet facilities.
“Last year’s show was in January before the COVID-19 spread and many future brides had to change their wedding plans, which also affected many of our salespeople who lost business as planned for the year,” said Wesley Jenks. Vice President of Jenks Productions, organizer of the event.
“I think there has been a lot of catching up to do with couples looking to plan their weddings again and companies wanting to be part of their plans,” he added of this year’s show.
“If you haven’t even made a plan for your upcoming wedding, you can leave the show with your planned full day. Our show is comprehensive and the vendors sell everything you need from booking a venue to evening wear, including tuxedos and wedding gowns, as well as music, photo booths, limousine and horse-drawn carriage transportation, and even lessons in learning to dance, “said Jenks.
There will also be additional suppliers of wedding shoes, bridal veils and hair accessories, as well as bridesmaid and mother of the bride dresses, invitations, wedding cakes, gifts and favors, decorations and centerpieces, flowers, and photographers and videographers.
“I think one of the biggest differences couples will find on the show this year is that they also receive training on what they can and can’t do in the face of COVID and various state rules,” Jenks said.
With some restrictions now easing and “more and more weddings being booked,” Jenks said the show will offer options for those planning to get married this year but no dates are available for their favorite venue.
“One of the nice things about our show is that we will have facilities at the show, some of which are new, with dates that are still open and want to get their names out there,” said Jenks.
Also, one lucky person will receive a grand prize package that includes a 125 Bridal & Tuxedo wedding dress, boudoir photo packages from Shadley Studios, a tuxedo package for the groom and four more from the Modern Formal Mobile Showroom, and a flower gift certificate from Mark Henry’s Florist and a capture station with Totally Hitched by SSUP’s guest book.
Jenks said they are adhering to state indoor capacity restrictions by selling tickets in time slots.
The morning lessons on both days are from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and the afternoon lessons from 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $ 10 and can be purchased online or at the door.
Visit jenksproductions.com for more information.