Brides get goodies, grooms get man cave at bridal show

There's the romantic high of the proposal, the shiny new accessory for the left hand, the thrill of sharing the news with friends and families.

But after that first, all-important question there are about 500,000 others that follow in short order. Where will the ceremony be? What about the reception? What kind of flowers? What about the cake? What color will the bridesmaids' dresses be? Should the cocktail napkins be monogrammed? And on and on ad infinitum.

Twice a year, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Bridal Show offers some help and some fun to engaged couples ready to tackle some of those big questions. The winter show is Sunday at the Statehouse Convention Center, where 200 vendors will set up.

But don't expect the usual row upon row of mind-numbing booths.

"This is not your typical trade show," says Events and Sponsorships Director Tabitha Cunningham. "It is more of a showcase of what the trends are and what vendors are able to do."

The event started as a basic trade show, but over the years businesses began trying to outdo one another when designing their booths. The result now is a giant display of local talent and imagination.

"They're really going to show the capabilities of what they can do and give the brides some ideas of what they want for their wedding," she says. "And, bonus, they get to meet the people behind the designs and hire them for their own weddings."

The event also features lighthearted amusement in the form of contests -- for instance, a dance-off with a DJ package for the winner, and a bridal gown design contest.

There are also giveaways, such as the $5,000 Ultimate Wedding Package.

Brides are invited to take a full entourage with them, if they'd like. But, because the show focus is on the bride herself, brides and grooms will have special stickers to wear.

Cunningham says, "When they walk around we want people to know they're the bride because they get the attention."

Not that one actually needs the bling on the correct finger in order to appreciate the show. Many attendees are women who aren't officially engaged (but expect to be), event planners and people who just enjoy seeing the creative work of local florists and caterers.

"They come because they like the idea of seeing these booths and getting out of the weather," she explains. "There's not a lot going on in January."

Brides willing to pay a bit more can get even more special attention. The Very Important Brides (VIBs) get a goody bag, their own special entrance with concierge service and an early start time at 12:30 p.m. There are only 100 VIB tickets and they sell out quickly.

VIBs also have reserved seating at the Bridal Show's most popular attraction: the fashion show.

The 4:30 p.m. runway fashion show features the latest styles in bridal gowns, tuxedos, flower girl dresses and other wedding clothing options. If a dress catches a bride's eye, she's invited to stick around after the show's over.

"There's only so much you can see on stage," Cunningham says. "We bring all the wedding dresses back out right after the show and they can view them up close and personal."

The show is a vast enterprise, taking over all four halls at the convention center, so Cunningham advises brides to plan accordingly. That means get there early, know the best places to park, buy tickets in advance and plan to be there for a few hours.

Because there's a lot of walking to do and brides will be handed bags and giveaway items, it's best to walk in with a light load and comfortable shoes.

And don't forget the groom. He may not be the type to enjoy hours of flowers and gowns, but if it all gets too much, there's always the "man cave."

"There's football, don't worry," Cunningham says. "We've got him taken care of."

Weekend on 01/15/2015