Long Beach Show Coming Soon!

Our next Bridal Showplace Bridal Show will be at the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach on January 6. This is going to be a brilliant way to kick off 2013, and one that is a definite don’t miss event.

As the largest and longest running bridal show in the Long Beach and South Bay area, you’ll be able to get a lot of your wedding planning worked out at our event. You’ll get to meet over 100 of Southern California’s top wedding professionals, and have a chance to win lots of great door prizes.

The Queen Mary is a great place to visit, and it’s a glamorous setting for our event. While there, you’ll get the chance to watch a fantastic fashion show, take part in ask the expert sessions, and listen to some of the best wedding entertainers around. You’ll also get to taste cake and other wedding food, and even enjoy mini massage and makeover sessions.

To find out more or buy tickets, visit our main site!

2012 Winter Wedding Ideas

Even though we might not have much of a winter here in Southern California, there’s no reason it
can’t make a great wedding theme. Winter weddings can be good fun for the couple and guests
alike.


By transforming your venue into a winter wonderland, you can make it feel like a snowy fairy tale,
even if you’re only a few feet from the beach. There are plenty of ways to give a winter feel, such as
crystal icicles, snow-coated branches, or twinkling lights.

Winter weddings can also take on holiday elements. With all the joy of Christmas added to the joy
of your wedding day, you and your guests will be sure to have a great day. It can also make it easy to
figure out your decorations.

The colors of a winter wedding can vary greatly, so don’t feel like you need to use red and green.
Blue, silver, or gold are all perfect winter wedding colors.

If you want to find out more about planning a perfect winter wedding, come to one of our wedding
shows and talk to our expert vendors!

2013 Wedding Color: Emerald Green

Each year, Pantone announces its color of the year. For 2013, it’s going to be all about Emerald. This green shade is based on the gemstone of the same name, and combines a natural elegance with a stand out vibrancy.

 

The color of the year reflects what the international color authority sees as the biggest upcoming trend. They look at designers, artists, and the entertainment industry to see what the big color trends are going to be. The 2012 wedding color, Tangerine Tango, certainly did show up throughout the year.

For brides, the color of the year can show up in all sorts of ways. Expect to see many designers adding emerald hints to their gowns and bridesmaid dresses. It’ll also show up in bouquets, shoes, and in décor.

 

We think it's a great trend, and Emerald can combine with other trends, such as lace, to give a great classy, vintage style. What do you think of the color? Will it feature in your wedding design?

Come visit top notch wedding professionals who can help you with the current wedding trends at our upcoming bridal shows.  Click here for the calendar.

 

Are Lighted Wedding Gowns the Next Big Thing

We’re always interested in the big bridal trends, and the world’s fashion weeks are great fun to watch to see what designers are coming up with. This week was Shanghai’s Fashion Week and there were a few surprises.

Many of the gowns on show were continuations of the trends that are going to be big for 2013. Lace looks to be very much a part of the bridal trends for the next few years, and color dresses are also going to remain a hot trend.

The real surprise came in Japanese designer Yumi Katsura’s collection, though. Along with the couture designer’s colorful collection of gowns were her three light-covered designs. These dresses each had small lights as part of the dress. Two styles had colored lights over a shoulder, while the full-skirted design was covered in white lights.

What do you think of the new Yumi Katsura design? Is it something that you think will catch on as a great way for the bride to stand out, or do you think it’ll be a passing fad fit only for the runway?

 

2013 Wedding Trend: Color

One great thing about going to a wedding event is the ability to see how current wedding trends are used. With an eye towards 2013’s top trends, we love what we’ve seen so far. One thing that is going to be a big trend for next year is color.

 

 

Here are some of the best ways to use color in your wedding.

• Dresses are getting colorful, with brides opting for something other than the traditional white. Mint and pale pinks are popular with designers, but a lot of brides are also looking at bolder choices. We love the idea of having the bridesmaids in white and the bride in a stand out colorful dress.

• Décor is also getting the rainbow treatment. A lot of couples are going bold with their venue decoration, including really vibrant tablecloths or runners. Flowers are also a great way of bringing color into your reception, and are a trend of their own.

• Food is also going to be a colorful part of 2013 weddings. With foodie weddings being more popular, expect wedding meals to be much better looking than in the past. Catering is getting creative, and the result is artistic touches to wedding meals.

What is your favorite way to see color incorporated into a wedding?

Cutting Down on Wedding Confusion

This week Keira Knightley admitted that she’s confused by the task of planning her wedding to Klaxons keyboardist James Righton. The star of Anna Karenina has been enjoying her engagement, but she told Ellen DeGeneres that an internet search of wedding ideas left her somewhat terrified.

 

Every bride has shared Keira’s worry at one point or another, and is probably also familiar with her experience of being asked when and where the big day is going to be. Whether you’re a celebrity bride or not, wedding planning is a big job. One great way to get a lot of planning done in a short time is to attend a bridal show.

By going to a bridal show, you have access to all types of wedding vendors. It can also help you think about all the things you’ll need, making sure you don’t forget a big part of the day. Many brides enjoy the bridal show experience, since it’s a fun day out and it lets you talk to potential vendors face to face. Check back here for information about wedding planning and bridal shows, and let us help you with any questions you have.

 

How To Choose A Wedding Cake

The wedding cake is a big part of your wedding day, and something that everyone looks forward to seeing and tasting.

Cake by Porto's Bakery

 

If you’ve never been a part of choosing a wedding cake, here are some tips to make it easier.

• Look at plenty of photos. If you have an idea about what cakes you like, it’ll help narrow down your choices, both in terms of cakes and bakers.

• Decide on your cake style. Knowing whether you want stacked tiers, separate tiers, a tower of cupcakes or something completely different will also help you narrow things down.

• Consider the flavor. Go with cake types that you and your fiancé like. Taste plenty of samples, too. You can have one flavor, or have each tier a different flavor.

• Know your budget and stick to it. The more elaborate a cake, the more expensive it will be, of course. However, there are plenty of great cake styles that won’t break your budget.

• Figure out the size. If you’re having a small wedding, you won’t need a huge cake, and vice versa.

No matter what your budget or taste, you’ll find the cake that’s right for you. One great way to get started is to meet some of the vendors at our wedding events.  Click here for our show schedule.

How to Get Organized For Your Wedding

If you’ve started to plan your wedding, you’ve probably discovered just how much goes into putting together such a milestone event. One of the best ways to keep your stress low is to come up with a list of everything that needs to be arranged for the day.

 

A wedding planner will be able to take the lead on all or most of the work. However, if you’re doing it yourself, you’ll need to think about every part of the wedding, from where guests can stay to what music will be played.

Why not order the Southern California Wedding Workbook and stay organized from day one?

 

One way of getting a lot done in a short amount of time is to meet wedding vendors at one of our bridal shows.  Click here for a list of upcoming shows.

Our Next Wedding Show - November 4, 2012

We’re delighted to announce our next bridal show in Pasadena, California on November 4.  Because the response from our vendors has been so great, we’re really excited about welcoming all of your happy couples and blushing brides-to-be through our doors!

 

We think our shows are a cut above the rest because they are so interactive.  Do you want to taste some wedding cake samples?  Try a makeover?  Or have a few photographs taken?  No problem!  We believe that keeping you entertained and offering you lots of great experiences with our exhibitors are the key to giving our brides exactly what they’re looking for.

For inspiration for your wedding outfits, you can check out our fashion show, where we’ll cover ideas for you, the bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom.  You can also get free advice at our Ask The Expert seminars to get hints and tips to make your wedding day perfect.

 

 

The guys won’t be bored either as we have a separate section for the grooms at every event.

We make it as easy as possible to come and join us.  You can book tickets online at the amazing price of $4 each or just turn up on the day.  We’ll be waiting to welcome you at the Hilton Hotel.  

How to Entertain a Diverse Wedding Crowd

When it comes to entertaining your wedding guests, there’s a tricky balance to achieve because of the wide age range.  It’s quite a feat to keep the children and the seniors equally entertained.

Here are a few tips that will help you pull it off:

 

For the young guests

• Consider having a separate table for the children and decorate it brightly.  Use paper tablecloths and let them draw on them with colored pencils or crayons.
• Alternatively, hang bags of little toys and games on the backs of their chairs so that they’ll be kept occupied.
• If you’re having an outdoors reception and a few of your guests are particularly obliging, you could organize a treasure hunt.
• You could section off a part of the reception area for face painting or a balloon artist – so long as it’s not something that is particularly loud.

For the older guests

• When you’re compiling your playlist, insert some classics from the 1950s and 60s.  If you choose well, everyone will love the songs.
• Set aside some comfortable seating for elderly guests to use when they want to have a chat, and make sure you spend a little time talking to them rather than constantly dancing with your more active guests.
• Having an entertainments night rather than a full night of dancing is a great idea.  You could have spots for a casino, magician or professional dancers to mix things up.

Our bridal shows bring together several innovative vendors who can solve your entertainment problems.  Please check out our 2013 dates by clicking here.