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Bridal Extravaganza at Marietta College

Mid-Ohio Valley brides and grooms-to-be will have plenty of opportunity to find local service providers to help with their wedding planning at the “From the Engagement to the Honeymoon” Bridal Extravaganza 2013, scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m Sunday.

The 37th annual event will showcase the wares and services of 64 area vendors, all gathered under one roof at the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center at Marietta College.

“The purpose is..(to have) everything that a bride needs to plan her wedding, from the engagement to her honeymoon,” said Marcia Stewart, event and wedding coordinator and owner of Ash-Hanson Flowers and Wedding Innovations in Marietta. “It’s like one-stop shopping. Many (brides and grooms) have been able to secure their professionals in one afternoon at Bridal Extravaganza.”

Finding local businesses to assist with the all-special wedding day can also make for less anxiety when the “I dos” are about to begin.

“For any circumstance that arises you have a local business person to take care of everything,” said Cheryl Lang, owner of A Unique Flower & Gift Shop in Marietta.

“If something happens to the tuxedo or gown, you can call the vendor and they’re right there,” Stewart said.

Vendors also do their best to show the latest trends in wedding colors and styles, even distributing educational materials.

“Elegance, glamor and glitz” are on trend for 2013 brides, said Stewart.

“Even our country has turned to country chic,” she added.

Elegant flowers include peonies, hydrangeas, lilies and roses.

The importance of glitz can also be seen in floral accents.

“We have little diamond accents, rhinestones, butterflies with bling, and hearts with bling to go in the center of the flowers,” Lang said.

Vendors, including caterers, cake bakers, entertainers, florists, health and wellness centers and more, will be from nearby towns including Cambridge, Parkersburg and St. Marys.

Bridal Extravaganza is a way to get good exposure for a wedding-themed business.

“We get to see lots and lots of brides and future brides. It really gets your name out there,” Lang said.

The event can also make attendees aware of just what a local business can do when it comes to weddings.

“Because we have a small restaurant, some people don’t even know Austyn’s does catering and big wedding receptions,” said Phi Chen, owner and chef at Austyn’s in Marietta.

“We’ve been doing catering for 12 years, catering for 50 to 500 people,” he added.

Austyn’s will offer several “signature dishes” for tasting on the day of the bridal event.

Those who have tasted wedding cakes from B&G Cakes in Walker, W.Va. at past Bridal Extravaganza events have raved over owner/decorator Brenda Carothers’ cakes and icing, she said.

Carothers’ cakes are moist, never frozen and her icing recipe “doesn’t leave that Crisco-ee film in the roof of your mouth,” said Carothers. “When you bite into it, it doesn’t overwhelm you with sweetness.”

For her trendy clients at Bridal Extravaganza, Carothers will be showcasing a three-tier cake, with each layer iced in a different pastel shade.

“Colored icing is popular this year: pastels and dark shades of purple, green and burnt orange,” she said.

Three fashion shows will be held during Bridal Extravaganza, at 2, 3 and 4 p.m.

“Every show is different,” said Stewart.

“One will be princess dresses from Disney, one more casual and one more elegant,” she added.

Hair stylists and makeup artists will be doing hair and makeup during the event and for the fashion shows.

“This is so the bride can see new styles and hairdos,” Stewart said.

Door prizes provided by each of the event’s 64 vendors will be given away after each fashion show. Prizes can be gift certificates, or be good for free merchandise and gifts.

A grand prize drawing for $500 in “Bridal Extravaganza Bucks” will be held after the 4 p.m. fashion show.

“It’s good for $500 to use at any show vendor,” said Stewart.

More than 1,000 people attended the 2012 event, according to Stewart.

“I think the attendance will be a little better this year. The weather is looking good,” she added.

For more information, contact 376-2679 or www.mariettabridalshow.com.

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