TODAY’S BRIDE
BRIDALSHOWS

NORTHEAST OHIO’S BIGGEST & BEST BRIDAL SHOWS
A SEASON IN REVIEW: OCTOBER 2006 / JANUARY 2007

For 18 years, Today’s Bride Shows have helped to bring you – Northeast Ohio’s engaged couples – face-to-face with the area’s leading wedding professionals. As another wedding season begins, Today's Bride is dedicated to provide its attendees with the best products and services our growing list of participating bridal companies have to offer.

Last season, over 4800 brides-to-be registered to attend one of our four Today’s Bride Shows, where they met with over 300 local and national bridal merchants. Accompanied by fiances, moms, future mother-in-laws, and friends, they learned nearly everything there is to know about planning a wedding. Without question, these shows are Northeast Ohio's biggest and best bridal planning events - more than 15,000 guests attended in all.

These one-day events brought to life ideas, trends, and important advice found in the pages of Today' s Bride Magazine. If you were personally unable to attend any one of these fabulous trade shows, here is a recap of each event think of it as a preview of our upcoming bridal shows beginning this October! (See bridal show section for dates and times.)

October Shows:

October 8, 2006 & October 15, 2006

Akron/Cuyahoga Falls - Sheraton Suites

Cleveland/Independence - Embassy Suites

The October shows arrived at the perfect time for engaged couples to get their wedding plans well under way or finished up before the hectic holidays approached. With over 70 wedding exhibitors each weekend, brides-to-be had the rare opportunity to discuss their wedding ideas and get great advice on how to plan weddings that fit their own personal styles. Attendees saw unforgettable fashion shows featuring an array of beautiful wedding & bridesmaids gowns, mother-of attire, tuxedos, bouquets, and children's formals. The area's finest vendors were showcased and available to answer questions: photographers, disc jockeys, florists, bridal salons, tuxedo companies, bakeries, decorators, deejays, limousine companies and so many more! Nearly everyone with a sweet tooth took advantage of the free wedding cake samples provided by several local bakeries as well as delicious flowing chocolate fountains throughout the venues.

Exclusive to the October Today’s Bride Bridal Shows, three lucky brides-to-be fulfilled childhood dreams as they were randomly chosen from the audience to be the featured " makeover bride" for the day. These brides were whisked away behind the scenes while the fashion show took place to have their hair styled & makeup professionally applied by top-notch beauty experts at Jack Arra’s Hair Salon (Cleveland show) and Carol Martin, Inc (Akron show). Then each bride got to pick out and wear a wedding gown of her choice from Henri’s Cloud Nine bridal salon. But the fun wasn’t over yet. The big surprise came when each bride was escorted on stage during the fashion show’s finale. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!

We couldn’t leave the future grooms out of all the action. Three lucky grooms-to-be and their fiancées were brought on stage to play the Today’s Bride " Battle of the Grooms" contest - a fun challenge to test the fiance's ability to recognize simple, everyday kitchen and bath accessories and their uses - - proving they would be helpful not only in the planning process, but in married life as well!

January Shows:

January 7, 2007 & January 14, 2007

Akron - John S. Knight Convention Center & Cleveland - I-X Center

The best keeps getting bigger and better! Thousands of brides came out in the brisk winter air to attend the year’s largest and most elaborate bridal shows in NE Ohio. Today’s Bride Bridal Shows became the most talked about planning events thanks to the overwhelming publicity received from several network television companies. Kenny Crumpton of Fox 8 News hosted a private bridal fashion preview show for TV viewers in addition to interviewing several wedding professionals. Bridal gowns, wedding cakes, floral bouquets and reception hall ideas were all showcased. NBC’s Good Company showcased even more bridal fashions and Today's Bride was there to offer timely advice on choosing the perfect bridal gown, mother-of gown, and flower girl attire. WKYC Channel 3 even appeared at the fashion show dress rehearsal to give their viewers a little preview of the big event, and talk to participating vendors about the very latest in wedding trends.

Each weekend, representatives from more than 120 wedding businesses were on hand to unveil the newest & the latest styles and trends - everything from invitations to limousines, photographers to financial services.

On stage, brides and their guests got close up views of the latest in wedding attire during the lively New York style fashion shows. To everyone’s delight, the famous American Commodore Tuxedo dancers made a personal appearance to prove that men can dance in a tuxedo and never skip a beat. As if the dancing wasn’t energizing enough, local bakeries were on hand to let guests taste test the creative confections of trendy wedding cakes and dip fresh fruit into ornate fountains flowing with decadent chocolate. Then, attendees voted on their favorite cake design from the talented, local bakeries that displayed over 50 cakes in the " Cake Design Showroom" . The winning Akron cake was created by West Side Bakery, while the top vote getter from the Cleveland show was designed by the White Flower Cake Shoppe.

Reception halls and rental companies didn't want to feel left out. Nearly two dozen showcased their dazzling reception table presentations in the " Gallery of Ideas" for guests to vote on their favorite designs and concepts. These companies creative juices shined through with the latest table sizes, ornate centerpieces, chair covers, linens, china, and unique favors. Miller's Party Rental was the winner at the Akron show with their 'Winter Wonderland' themed table. Frank and Pauly’s Banquet and Conference Center claimed first place at the Cleveland show with their lime green, polka dot linen covered table. Brides were left with endless possibilities and inspirations, helping them decide on the details for their own receptions.

With all this wedding planning to do, free chair massages were available to help relax our guests courtesy of Body by Carolyn.

As with every Today’s Bride Bridal Show, thousands of dollars in prizes were awarded including a FREE 4 day / 3 night vacation to Sandals – an all-inclusive resort for couples only. Today’s Bride thanks many sponsors for their support that contributed to the continuing success of these large bridal shows Henri’s Cloud Nine, Miller's Party Rental, Scene Magazine, Cleveland.com, and Sandals Resorts - Unlimited Vacations & Cruises.