Bridal Faire offers something for everyone

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Sep 5, 2004 by NINA BONDAROOK Gazette Enterprises

When Erik and Jamie Coahran were married June 25 at the Cliff House in Manitou Springs, it was the culmination of two years of planning that included attending several bridal fairs.

The one they liked best, says Jamie, 20, was the February Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Faire, which attracted 475 registered couples.

"They are very good," she says. "We had been to a couple before that, but it gave us many of the ideas we used for our wedding."

Best of all, she adds, was the $2,000 cash prize she and Erik, 24, won at the show. By visiting the booths of every company exhibiting at the Bridal Faire, they were eligible for the grand prize drawing at the end of the show.

"We spent eight days near Cancun, Mexico on our honeymoon, and it paid for about two-thirds of the trip."

The next Bridal Faire, sponsored by The Gazette, takes place from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 12 at the Phil Long Expo Center.

This year, according to Rudy Vasquez, Gazette marketing and events specialist, there will be even more exhibitors and KKCS-FM 101.9, a local country radio station, will be conducting a live broadcast from the fair between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

"We're going to have about 80 booths displaying everything from wedding cakes to information about mortgage services for couples who are looking for their first homes," Vasquez says. "We are one of the largest bridal shows in the state and every show gets bigger, better and more entertaining."

Admission to the show is free, and Vasquez says it's a family affair -- it's not just for couples.

Cayla Holt, marketing and business director for KKCS, says the station will be sending Sammye, who co-hosts the morning show, to the fair. She will team up with Germain Photography to award a wedding photography prize package worth $1,750 to a local couple.

"KKCS is all about families, so it's natural for us to be there," Holt adds.

Anyone eager to get wedding advice from Sammye, who is a newlywed herself, is welcome to call into her program between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sept. 10, she adds.

A highlight of the Bridal Faire will be informal ongoing modeling of today's latest fashions from David's Bridal and Mister Neats Formalwear.

Shawna Alvarez, assistant manager of David's Bridal, says ivories and whites are the traditional favorites for wedding gowns.

"But the big trend in colors right now for (bridesmaid dresses) are pinks and blacks, bisque (beige) and black, and apple red," Alvarez says.

Colors, she adds, "give couples a way to express themselves, to show their style."

Not every groomsman wants to wear splashes of red to coordinate with bridesmaid gowns, however.

"But we do a lot with Mister Neats, and we're seeing more and more use of colors as accents for men's formalwear."

Strapless gowns are still the most popular in Colorado Springs, she says. "There's really no standard any more. Our goal is to work with our customers to help them find the best look and fit for their situations."

Off-the-rack gowns start locally at about $199 and custom gowns go into the thousands, she says. But smart shoppers can score $99 gowns for end-of-the-season samples and when boutiques are clearing out labels to make way for new designers.

The busiest local wedding season is still May through June. "We have as many as 25 or 30 appointments a day," she says. " But we've been keeping very busy, lately, doing lastminute weddings for soldiers who are heading back to Iraq."

IF YOU GO What: Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Faire When: Noon - 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 12 Where: Phil Long Expo Center, 1515

Auto Loop Mall

Cost: Free