For anyone planning a Las Vegas wedding, last weekend Bridal Spectacular was the place to be. On Friday night and Saturday, engaged couples at Las Vegas’ largest bridal show experienced modern twists on classic designs for wedding décor, the latest fashions in wedding gowns and menswear, and enlightening conversations with high-quality vendors.
Las Vegas locals, like bride-to-be Jasmine and her groom David, have been expectantly waiting for this bridal show since they purchased their tickets over a month ago. Although their wedding isn’t until June 2011, they couldn’t wait to start the planning process. Local bride Kristin said, “It’s very inspiring,” shortly after arriving with her groom Josh and seeing pre-arranged reception tables, complete with linens, place settings, centerpieces, floral arrangements, place cards, votive candles, and more.
This August, Bridal Spectacular featured Inspiration Avenue. Beginning with a vintage wedding gown exhibit, Inspiration Avenue gave brides an opportunity to gather ideas for decorating their ceremonies and receptions. From festive fall place settings to a winter wonderland walk down the aisle, Inspiration Avenue showcased award-winning designers’ techniques to incorporate the season into a wedding.
With nods to wedding classics, Inspiration Avenue also showed modern brides how to experiment with rich color combinations and unexpected floral arrangements. After viewing a red-and-black display of reception tables, bride-to-be Kasey said, “I really like the set-up. I think that’s really neat to give everybody an idea of the whole feel of what they’re looking for, so they can get more ideas.”
In addition to Inspiration Avenue, Bridal Spectacular provided wedding styles through several fashion shows. Emphasized by the crystals above the catwalk, beautiful women of all body types and ethnicities displayed the latest designs in wedding gowns and bridesmaids’ dresses from David’s Bridal, Bridal Elegant, and Flutrz.
This season, brides have variety. Whether a bride prefers sleek strapless or a full-skirted ball gown, the fashion shows proved there is something stunning for every bride, from petite to plus sizes. Also, new to this year’s Bridal Spectacular, the Saturday afternoon “New York Style” fashion show presented gowns appropriate for destination weddings, from masquerade themes to island queens.
While the brides’ apparel helped girls narrow down their gown choices, the menswear earned the loudest applause from the animated crowd. For grooms looking to define themselves and their wedding party, Jerry’s Tux Shop and Men’s Wearhouse provided a pop of color for fall fashion. With traditional black or white tuxes, pair a vest in turquoise, orange, midnight blue, or lavender. For a less conventional suit color, try dark brown or gray green.
The male models showcased these styles with swagger. Then, after grooving to Usher’s “OMG” on the catwalk, the men from Jerry’s Tux Shop left the crowd shouting, “oh-oh-oh my gosh,” after an impressive choreographed finale.
Naturally, after the fashion shows, brides and grooms continued their wedding planning by visiting vendors. The rows of vendor booths stretched across Cashman Center’s expansive floor, allowing couples to visit the best wedding planning professionals in the Las Vegas valley. Brides and grooms spoke face-to-face with vendor representatives, thereby discovering who best fit the couple’s style and vision for their wedding day.
“There are tons of different people here with great ideas,” said Terri, a Las Vegas bride-to-be, as she admired a Naakiti Floral Design table. “[We love] how nice the people are,” added Tracy, who attended as Terri’s friend and wedding planner.
Brides and grooms deserve to enjoy every moment of their Las Vegas wedding planning. That’s why wedding professionals and Bridal Spectacular staff teamed together to provide this semi-annual bridal show with professional planning tips, lasting fashion trends, and innovative décor.
If you weren’t able to take advantage of the bridal show this season, check our web site for future dates. Bridal Spectacular In the meantime, stay updated on show information and Las Vegas wedding professionals through the Web site and Facebook. Also, during the coming weeks, the Bridal Spectacular blog will showcase wedding vendors interviewed at this weekend’s show and deliver planning tips for your Las Vegas wedding. Check back for recent updates!
Author: Allyson Siwajian
Photographs: Adam Frazier Photography and Allyson Siwajian of Bridal Spectacular