Would You Wear Liz Taylor's Wedding Gown?

If you feel like wearing a celebrity wedding gown, now's your chance. Of course, you'll need a budget of at least $47,000, and possibly up to $78,000. That's the guide price for this week's auction of Elizabeth Taylor's first wedding dress.

The dress is satin with beaded pearl details and a built-in corset. It was designed at MGM by Helen Rose, and took two months for 15 of the studio's employees to create. The gown -- and the wedding -- was an iconic piece of old Hollywood, even though the marriage didn't last 9 months.

The gown is said to be so detailed that it's never been accurately recreated, so it really is a one of a kind style. You will need a very small waist, as it was an accentuated part of the 18-year-old Taylor's petite figure.

Even if wearing the actual dress doesn't appeal to you, we love the inspiration many brides get from the wedding. It's a great basis for planning a 1950s Hollywood themed wedding, and is a perfect example of all the glitz and glamour the era had to offer.

If you're planning your own fabulous wedding in Southern California, a great way to start is to come to one of our bridal shows. You'll be able to meet and book many of the area's best wedding vendors!

Upcoming Bridal Showplace Shows:

July 28 - Hyatt Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach

Aug. 11 - The Queen Mary, Long Beach

Sept. 8 - LA Marriott, Burbank

Sept. 22 - Marriott, Long Beach

Oct. 6 - Knott's Resort Hotel, Buena Park

Nov. 3 - Hilton Hotel, Pasadena

www.bridalshowplace.net

Wedding Vendor Spotlight: Balloon Thymes

No wedding is complete without decorations, and hiring a wedding decor specialist is a great way to reduce your wedding day stress and get the look of your dreams. Great decor can transform your venue, turning it from an empty room to the perfect wedding space.

Balloon Thymes is a full-service decorating and event planning service based in Pasadena. While they work on a variety of events, their real specialization is weddings. They love making weddings look fantastic.

They focus on the personal touches, and work with you to create the wedding you want, and with the style you want. Balloon Thymes aim to make your wedding day memorable from start to finish.

To find out more about Balloon Thymes, get in touch with them through our exhibitor listings, where you can also find plenty of other great Southern California wedding vendors. You can also find out more about them through their company website, where you can also view a portfolio of their work.

Planning a Black Tie Wedding

If you're planning a Southern California wedding, you might be thinking about a vintage theme, DIY theme, or any other big trend. Of course, you could also be thinking that this is the perfect time to have a glamorous black tie event!

To bring the fabulous formality of the Oscars to your wedding day, you'll need to treat it like any other theme. However, you'll also want to make sure that any of your wedding vendors are comfortable and experienced with a high-end style.

Unlike many other themes, black tie will require your guests to dress in a specific way. With your guests in formal attire, keeping everything else in theme is even more important. You won't want your guests -- or yourself -- to feel like you're overdressed for the occasion at any point.

A great way to meet some of Southern California's best wedding vendors is to come to a Bridal Showplace show. To find out about upcoming shows, or about our exhibitors, visit our site today!

Why Summer Weddings Are Hot

Summer is an amazing time to be in Southern California, and it might just be the season that our area is most known for. But if you're planning a wedding for summer, the season is extra special.

A summer wedding is a great choice for a lot of reasons. It's almost guaranteed you'll have sun for your wedding day, and you'll be able to have an outdoor wedding. This does come with its own set of challenges, though.

You'll need to think ahead about how you and your guests will stay cool and comfortable. This includes providing a shaded area and plenty of water. Infused water can be a beautiful way to give your guests hydration with great flavor. Cooling stations can also be a good addition, and one that your out-of-town guests will especially appreciate.

Another consideration for the summer is the extra tourism in the area. As you plan your summer wedding, make sure your guests will be able to find accommodation at the height of vacation season. You can also use this to your advantage, though, by giving your guests a taste of all Southern California has to offer as part of your wedding weekend.

Whatever you do for your summer wedding, finding great vendors is crucial. When you visit one of our upcoming bridal shows, you'll be able to meet all the vendors you'll need and have a great fun doing it!