Dresses, venues, food, flowers - no matter the budget, there are essentials every bride and groom would like to have at their wedding.
Expos help bring together those services under one roof, allowing the couple to see the latest in wedding trends and find those essentials to create their dream wedding. The Fall Bridal Spectacular has offered that experience for more than two decades.
The 22nd annual Fall Bridal Spectacular from noon-3 p.m. Aug. 26 at Capitol Plaza Hotel is set to be the largest fall show since its inception in 1996, born under the request of local vendors to the long-running Bridal Spectacular in January.
"I started organizing the January show in 1987 with the radio station that I worked for. At the time, my current radio station general manager said that I would be good at organizing special event shows so he was my inspiration to continue organizing the show when I left the station in 1994 after my first child was born," said Vicki Arcobasso, lead organizer for both the January and Fall Bridal Spectacular events.
She started organizing the January event on her own in 1995.
"I was so blessed because it gave me the opportunity to do what I loved and, at the same time, be involved with all three of my children as they were growing up."
In 2005, the January show outgrew Capitol Plaza Hotel and it moved to Firley YMCA. That same year, the Central Missouri Bridal Association started with the hopes of bringing brides and wedding party members together from Columbia, Jefferson City and Lake of the Ozark, Arcobasso said. This year, the January Bridal Spectacular moved to is new, larger location with 100 vendors at The Linc on Lincoln University's campus.
The Fall Bridal Spectacular has nearly doubled its first vendor total, with 50 attending the upcoming show. Of those 50 vendors, bridal parties and their guests can talk with a variety of Mid-Missouri businesses offering such services as catering, chiropractic, wedding dresses, photography, videography, DJ, bridal registry, florists, wine, event center, facial products, musicians, wedding cakes, china and cookware, tuxedos, makeup, liquor, rental supplies and much more.
"I try to have every category represented so when the bride and her guests come to the show, they can plan their entire wedding that day. She can save hundreds of dollars from show specials," Arcobasso said. "I always encourage brides to book everything they need that day and take advantage of the specials. And, booking early will ensure that the bride has the vendors she prefers before they are booked with another wedding. Over the years, I have gotten letters from vendors telling me how much they enjoy doing the Jefferson City shows due to them being fresh and organized."
While guests meet and greet with a variety of vendors, they can also enjoy a fashion show featuring gowns and dresses from Ana Marie's Bridal during exhibit hours, listen to a string trio and an acoustic guitar and flute duo, and enter a slew of drawings and giveaways from participating vendors.
"We will also be giving away honeymoon accommodations at the end of the show," Arcobasso added.
As Arcobasso has strived to create a "nice, calm environment" for vendors and brides twice a year, she also feels connections to both the brides and businesses who help them and her.
"The smiles that I receive at the end of the day is what makes my job so rewarding. I have grown up with most of my vendors and they have been a huge part of my life even watching my husband and I get married in 1992 and raise my entire family. In January 1997, I was 8 months pregnant at the show. Oh my gosh, I didn't plan that out very well," Arcobasso said, noting she is so thankful to her husband, Mark, and parents, Sharon and Bill Kirchoff, for never missing a show and always being there to help.
"I have even had brides plan their wedding at the show and now they have children old enough to get married. It has been so rewarding in so many ways, and I honestly love everyone that I work with to make the shows happen."
Major sponsors of the Fall Bridal Spectacular are Dillard's, Ana Marie's Bridal, US Rents IT, HER Magazine and KRCG-TV. Tickets for the Fall Bridal Spectacular are $5 per person and can be purchased at the door. Children ages 5 and younger are admitted for free. For more information, call 573-636-4094 or visit www.midmobrides.com.