University junior Stephanie Munroe’s wedding may still be a year away, but she’s already spent months planning. Like many other brides-to-be, she knows the value of organizing the big day ahead of time, in order to get the best of everything.
She keeps a month-by-month timeline on her wall to monitor her progress. December was dedicated to finding the right church, by seeking out nooks from Bend to Sun River. This month is for zeroing in on a reception hall.
For other couples planning their weddings, there is help available to get a step ahead with the Emerald City Bridal Show, running tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lane County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, located at 796 West 13th Ave.
Admission is $7, with a $1 off coupon available to businesses. Parking is free. KEZI-TV Channel 9, KDUK Radio, The Register-Guard and the Springfield News are sponsoring the event.
Now in its fifth year, the show features more than 90 exhibits from the Eugene area with everything needed for brides and grooms, the wedding, the reception and the honeymoon. Daily fashion shows are set to run at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. tomorrow and at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The show is more than just a cornucopia of flowers and streams of ribbon and lace for the bride.
“We have everything from JC Penney $19.95 to $4,000 items,” said Seph Reese of SREESE Productions, Inc., the company coordinating the event.
Reese said this show is the largest ever put on by his company, and one of the top three in the state of Oregon. Fashions for the mother of the bride, bridesmaids dresses and other wedding party attire, along with styles from custom designers, are all being featured. Cake, flowers, caterers, cosmetics and honeymoon spot information will also be on display.
Connie Ourada, owner-manager of the Bride’s Corner in Valley River Center, said her store is featuring everything from simple, no-train dresses to “Cinderella’s dress” at the show. She said the show is a great
opportunity for potential brides to talk with wedding experts and other brides-to-be rather than just ordering items over the phone.
“The girls talk to the vendors and it gives them a chance to sample things and see what’s out there,” she said.
Ourada said some visitors are also enticed by the raffles at the show, staying late for prize drawings.
Photographer Tom Seward of Aartistic Photography in Eugene will also be on hand at the show with work samples and photo options. He said his company is a standout because of experienced photographers coupled with affordability.
“We tend to cater to brides who want beautiful pictures but don’t have an unlimited budget,” he said.
Because the photographer spends the day with the wedding party, he recommended couples find a photographer who is not only talented and affordable, but also has a personality that meshes well with the couple.
“Happy people do nice work,” he said.
Reese said the show runs in January because many first-time brides receive a diamond engagement ring for Christmas, or are anticipating one for Valentine’s Day, and need as much advance time as possible
to plan.
“You really need a minimum of six months to book the best people out there,” he said.
Munroe agreed that for any size wedding, ample planning time is key.
“Start early, and don’t think you can have a three-month engagement and have the wedding you want,” she said.
Allowing extra advance, she said, makes it easier for everyone involved.
“Enjoy it,” she said. “If you don’t have fun while you’re doing this, it’s going to fly by.”