Brides peruse wedding ideas at annual Elmira expo
8:01 PM, Feb. 20, 2011 |
Written by
Jeff Murray
Star Gazette
jdmurray@gannett.com
Stephanie DeWalt, of Mansfield, isn't getting married until 2014.
But DeWalt doesn't want to wait until the last minute to prepare for her wedding.
DeWalt and her sister Tanya -- who is planning her own 2012 nuptials -- were among hundreds of people who took part in Sunday's annual bridal expo at the Clemens Center in Elmira.
The sisters don't want to leave anything to chance.
"We've been doing these for years, so starting early is an understatement," said Stephanie DeWalt, 20. "I want an outside wedding, but I'm worried about the weather ."
Just about everything prospective brides and grooms could need for their weddings -- from flowers to photographers to cakes to music -- was on display during Sunday's expo, which is sponsored by the Special Event Network.
"We have 36 vendors, which is about average. We have over 200 brides. Every year it goes up a little bit," expo organizer Sonya Harvey said.
"It gives brides a large selection of products and services for their wedding. That's why we do it. We get more and more grooms each time. It's nice to see grooms taking an interest in planning for their wedding."
One of the more eye-catching items on display Sunday was a camouflage tuxedo offered by Bonjulie's Main Street Bride and Tuxedo Bar in Horseheads.
"We have quite a demand for it here. Guys seem to gravitate toward it," said Bonjulie's bridal consultant Michelle Cook.
"Also, (tuxedo) colors are big -- charcoal gray, chocolate brown. Colors are making a really big comeback."
Tanya DeWalt, 18, who said she's almost made a career of attending bridal shows, said she wants everything to fall into place for her August 2012 wedding.
"I attend every show. There's always something new," she said. "We want to know it's just right, knowing it will be perfect."
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