News

Subscribe

Planning the perfect day

Brides-to-be attend fair to spark ideas, book vendors

  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •
  • Brandon Leonard •
  • Originally published January 11, 2009 at 11:11 p.m., updated January 11, 2009 at 11:11 p.m.

Kelly Johnson worked her way through the aisles of booths on Sunday, tasting chocolate fondu-covered fruit and dinner entrees, talking to vendors and taking note of prices.

The Houston resident needed inspiration for her Nov. 21, 2009 wedding.

"My goal is not to be stressed out," Kelly Johnson said.

"She doesn't want to be a Bridezilla," her sister and maid of honor Andrea Johnson added.

The Johnsons and more than 500 area residents gathered at the Victoria Community Center on Sunday for the Pilot Club's annual bridal fair, browsing the 79 booths, which featured caterers, photographers, wedding planners and more. The highlight of the fair is the fashion show, said Susan Riedesel, president-elect of the Pilot Club of Victoria, the group that organized the event.

"We had more booths this year and more people show up," said Riedesel, adding that some of the fair's proceeds are donated to local charities, Project Lifesaver and the Challenger League. "We're happy, very happy about it, especially with the economy being the way it is."

Opinions about the economy's effect on how much people are spending on a wedding in the Crossroads region varied among the vendors and area residents at Sunday's fair.

Kelly Johnson said the economy had not made an impact on the budget for her wedding.

"We're not cutting back," Kelly Johnson said.

The bride-to-be is saving some money by doing most of the planning. Her mom, Karen Johnson, and Andrea Johnson are helping. Andrea Johnson carried a white, 1-inch, three ring binder and organized the information the trio received from the different vendors in it.

The three were at the fair together on Sunday.

Christina Cook, owner of the wedding planning business The Gathering Company, did not think the economy has had a negative effect on the weddings she organizes.

"I would say they're sticking to their budget," Cook said. "I haven't seen people cutting back."

Laura Ann Pollard and Randy Pollard, who own the photography business L-Ann Imaging and had a booth at Sunday's fair, agreed with Cook.

"Just as many people are getting married," Randy Pollard said. "But I think people are more value-minded. They don't mind spending the money, but they want to get something of quality for it."

Some area residents, however, are spending less on their weddings.

Friends Jennifer Garza, of Hallettsville, and Mindy

Selph, of Victoria, were also visiting the booths looking for prices and ideas on Sunday.

"It's cut my budget in half," Selph said of the economy. "We're doing a lot of it ourselves."

  • Video

    To see more of the bridal fair, go to www.VictoriaAdvocate.com and click on this story.

    Frequently asked wedding questions

    When should you start planning a wedding?

    The ideal time-line to start planning your wedding would be 12 to 18 ...

  • SHOW ALL »

    • Video

    To see more of the bridal fair, go to www.VictoriaAdvocate.com and click on this story.

    Frequently asked wedding questions

    When should you start planning a wedding?

    The ideal time-line to start planning your wedding would be 12 to 18 months before the actual event. Certain things such as church bookings and reception hall reservations are usually made more than a year prior to weddings. So you too should begin your wedding preparations this early so that you can get the choicest halls and other services for your wedding.

    When should you secure vendors for your wedding day?

    Most vendors should be selected eight to 12 months in advance.

    Do I need a wedding planner?

    According to the National Wedding Report, 83% of all brides do not use wedding planners.

    What is some basic wedding planning advice?

    sit down and make a list right away of all the things you will need to do. Then, develop a plan of when each thing will need to be done and who is in charge.



  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • Post a Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •