The bridal industry is reporting trends of plunging necklines, softly-tied bows and off-the-shoulder styles for the upcoming spring and summer wedding season. All eyes will be on brides wearing traditional white and ivory, but also some sporting romantic rose-colored gowns; some including toppers – such as boleros and capelets.

 

All of those fashion-forward styles – and all facets of the wedding industry – from cake and catering to flowers and honeymoons - more will be featured at Meadowbrook Mall during the Bridal Extravaganza 201, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19.

 

“We’re very excited about this year’s bridal event,” said Meadowbrook Mall Marketing Director Robin Urquhart. “We’re adding new vendors every day and we’ve added a second bridal fashion show to the day’s lineup. Brides will definitely find a wide variety of bridal professionals ready to help them plan their special day.”

 

For the first time, the bridal extravaganza will feature bridal and prom fashion shows hosted by both Oliverio’s Bridal & Prom Boutique and House of Fashions.

“House of Fashions” actually approached the mall about putting on the additional show,” Urquhart said, “and, of course, we loved the idea of being able to show our brides as many gown options as possible.”

 

House of Fashions of Charles Pointe will present its style show 11:30 a .m. at Sears Court. Oliverio’s Bridal & Prom’s show will follow at 2 p.m. at the same location. Emceeing both shows will be Gretchen Ross of WBOY.

 

Throughout the mall, from 11 a.m. through 2 p.m., bridal professionals will host booths and make themselves available to assist brides-to-be. Included, Urquhart said, will be a few newcomers to the show: Bridal Registry, Inc. of Monroe, New York and Plain & Simple Wedding of Bridgeport.

 

The first 100 brides to gather Feb. 19 and register for the extravaganza at the WDTV5 Event Center will receive free swag bags. All registered brides will have the chance to win thousands of dollars in door prizes, including the grand prize:  Two round-trip airline tickets out of Pittsburgh to either Cancun or Punta Cana. Courtesy of Clarksburg Travel Service, the grand prize drawings will follow the fashion shows at Sears Court.

 

Brides can also enter to win a bridal shower – valued at up to $300 – from Bridgeport Conference Center; a one-night stay at Hilton Garden Inn (Clarksburg or Morgantown), a one-night stay and dinner for two at Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa; a Wisp adventure package including one night of lodging and a Wisp winter adventure combo, High Five pass and two mountain coaster passes. Brides must be present to win all door prizes.

 

The 2017 Meadowbrook Mall Bridal Extravaganza is presented by Tuscan Sun Spa & Salon and the Highgate Carriage House.  It is free and open to the public.

 

“These vendors will offer brides everything they need to plan their wedding in just one day,” Urquhart said.

 

The bridal fair is very well attended annually.

 

“Honestly, our vendors tell us that Meadowbrook Mall bridal shows are one of – if  not the best – attended by brides, which is wonderful to hear,” Urquhart said. “We normally get between 150 and 250 brides, depending on weather.

 

In addition to the quality vendors, the generous door prizes are also a draw for area brides-to-be, she added.