Brides-to-be might have found their Prince Charming, but there are so many other ingredients needed to make a dream wedding. From the perfect dress to the right style of caterer and a great photographer to capture the once in a lifetime moment, preparing for a wedding can be a lot of work.
The Welcome Wagon’s Foothills Bridal Showcase is looking to help foothills brides and grooms prepare for their big day and will feature local wedding-related businesses, prizes and a fashion show.
Volunteer models will show off wedding dresses, tuxedos and fashions for bridesmaids, mother-of-the-brides and honeymoon attire. The Welcome Wagon hosts two bridal showcases a year, but this year the fashion show will feature a new element. Models will show off four vintage wedding dresses from local women who wore them in 50s, 60s and 70s.
Event co-ordinator Adele Mundell said the fashion show will give today’s brides the chance to see what dresses used to look like.
“They were like $50 and $100 for their wedding dress and a veil and the shoes… Look at now, (brides pay) like $3,000,” she said.
Besides cost, Mundell said styles have changed a lot too.
“They’re totally different,” she said.
The dresses in the past had a more mature style and were made of simple fabrics, whereas today’s dresses are more about glamour and showing off more of the bride’s body, she explained. Ball gown and corset-style dresses weren’t popular then, but rather many brides donned empire-waist style dresses, Mundell explained.
Hair and makeup styles have evolved too and Mundell said she hopes to incorporate the era’s style into the next fashion show. She also hopes to collect more vintage wedding dresses to showcase at the events and encourages anyone who has one to contact her.
Mundell said the showcase can help brides prepare for their big day and brides from all over the foothills, including Nanton and Vulcan, typically attend the event. She added it gives them the opportunity to check out displays, chat with businesses and get ideas for their wedding.
“From caterers to photographers, dresses, tuxes, favours, invitations – just to get ideas and to talk to the businesses here,” she said.
The bridal showcases usually include nearly 40 vendors mainly from the foothills because the group wants to promote local business, Mundell explained.
“We have so much here to offer in our communities in the foothills instead of going to Calgary,” she said.
The showcase is free for brides and a guest and the first 65 brides will receive a gift bag and their names will be entered to win a two-night stay in Banff. There will be other door prizes available, including a grand door prize for a dinner for eight people valued at $1,000 at a High River restaurant.
Mundell said organizing two bridal showcases per year is like planning two weddings a year because the same services are involved and she wants to ensure brides have access to all the different services available.
“I enjoy what I do and I like to help people,” she said.
The Foothills Bridal Showcase runs March 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Foothills Centennial Centre in Okotoks. Brides won’t be turned away at the door, but can register with Mundell by calling 403-938-2532 or Linda at 403-370-5386. Visit welcomewagon.ca for more information.
