BENTONVILLE -- At many wedding expos, guests peruse the wares and services of hundreds of vendors, then leave dazed. Where to begin?
Knowing this, the staff of 21c Museum Hotel designed and hosted a "wedding" -- actually, the Ultimate Wedding Experience -- to showcase a few possibilities imagined and executed by 10 vendors at the modern art gallery, restaurant and hotel in downtown Bentonville on Saturday.
"If you don't know where to begin, this was great to see what was available," said Emily Cotterman, event sales manager for 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville.
The mock wedding ceremony featured a couple who had wed at the location in November. The hotel picked 10 businesses from Northwest Arkansas to do makeup and hair styling, decor, photography, apparel, flowers and entertainment, and they used the "reception" as a platform for the vendors to showcase their services and savvy.
"We were looking for bridal shows in the area to participate in and thought that our space is so unique, how awesome to have something like that here," Cotterman said.
Four decor setups were presented in one location to showcase a few combinations and themes that brides could use within the ultramodern space. In one, bold colors and fabrics, sequin-covered tablecloths, gold vases and blush tones dominated. In another, glass chairs hung from the ceiling and were multiplied by reflections in mirrors and chrome decor. A third took on a winter-inspired motif, with all gray velvet and lamps for centerpieces. The fourth setup used tables decorated in gold tutus, pink sequin runners and ornate pink dishware.
The galleries, restaurant and bar served as excellent entertainment areas for wedding guests, taking the pressure off of the bridal party to rush through the taking of wedding portraits. And the clean, minimal look of 21c easily allows it to be a palette all its own. "Being a contemporary art museum, all of our event spaces are galleries. With artwork, [21c] already has that different style of decor right off the bat, and spaces can be molded into what you want them to be," she said.
After an introduction of vendors, a walk through the displays and a show of bridal gowns, the evening shifted to a mock wedding reception with music by Brock Entertainment, drinks and a dance-off. A seven-tiered wedding cake suspended from the ceiling was the focal point.
It was a night out on the town as much as anything else for more than 100 people.
"We wanted it to not just be for brides and grooms, but whether you're engaged, married, single or dreaming about your wedding day, we just wanted a fun event and gathering," Cotterman said.
It was decidedly "not your average bridal show," said the sales manager, but perhaps a harbinger of bridal shows to come.
High Profile on 04/12/2015