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If you go

What: Marietta Bridal Extravaganza 2010.

Where: Dyson Baudo Recreation Center, Marietta College.

When: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; registration begins at 12:30; fashion shows at 2, 3 and 4 p.m.; drawings after the 4 p.m. runway show, including $500 in Bridal Extravaganza bucks.

Local vendors specializing in everything from jewelry and attire to flowers, music and cakes.

Cost: $5

For more information:

376-2679 or www.mariettabridalshow.com .

'Tis the season for girls in white dresses, ribbons, bows and bottles of bubbly.

The holidays are just about over but for those planning a wedding, there is no better time to get started than right now.

Prospective brides, grooms, friends and family are cordially invited to the annual Marietta Bridal Extravaganza to see what area vendors have to offer in the way of wedding wares.

"We offer everything that's needed from the engagement to the honeymoon," said Marcia Stewart, event coordinator.

"Our purpose is to educate, to show brides that they can shop locally," she said. "The importance is service. A lot of times, you can't find that in bigger cities."

There will be 55 vendors on hand at the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center on the Marietta College campus Sunday, offering everything from flowers to honeymoon getaways. In fact, planners of any type of event are invited to come and see what the area has to offer.

According to Stewart, 55 is a record number of participants and this year the economy will be at the forefront.

"Everyone is tuned into the economy and making things work within the (bride's) budget," she said.

Marietta College alumnus Ann Foraker has worked with Stewart in a professional capacity as assistant director of alumni relations at the college. It seemed only logical that Foraker would contact Stewart to work with her in planning her own nuptials, set for May.

"Working with Marcia has been great. She is so well-organized," Foraker said. "There are a lot of things you can do yourself, of course, but when it comes to the day, you don't want to have all the added stress."

The New Lexington, Ohio, native, who has been engaged since March, will attend the show with her mother. Even though she has most every decision made, she will attend to see if there is anything new and different she would like to incorporate into her plans.

"I'm not going to look too hard, though. I don't want to change my mind. It can be overwhelming with all the decisions," she said.

Williamstown resident Tia Davis has been engaged to her high school sweetheart, Drew Townsend, since Christmas of 2008 and is planning to wed in June, 2012, upon completion of her college degree.

While she might have a little time yet to make decisions, Davis said she has been thinking of her wedding since she was little.

"I think every little girl dreams of the big wedding," she said.

Keeping with the sentiment, Davis plans to have a "little girl's tea party for grown-ups" theme and hopes to find some inspiration at Sunday's event.

"I'll be looking at the dresses, cakes and flowers to get some ideas," she said.

Davis and Foraker both cite the convenience of using local vendors as a major reason for attending the event. Bakers, florists, musicians, caterers, jewelers and more will be on hand.

"I haven't looked out of town at all," said Davis. "It's just so convenient to have your vendors here."