So you got engaged on Valentine’s Day and want to start planning for your big day, but don’t know where to start.
Chelsea Obsniuk says the Big Deal Wedding Expo will answer all your questions at the Assiniboia Downs on Feb. 27-28.
“We are expecting a few people will have been recently engaged and maybe got their tickets as part of their surprise for Valentine’s Day,” said Obsniuk, the expo’s media liaison.
Almost 100 exhibitors will part of the expo, which will be displayed over three levels at the Downs.
“We have everything from wedding planners, decorators, florists, venues, food and beverage service, cakes, dresses, tuxedos, jewelry, ordained ministers — you name it, it’s going to be there,” Obsniuk said.
A grooms’ lounge, set up by Loungeworks, is “going to be a stylish sports lounge” in the venue’s gaming area, Obsniuk said, adding Events by Emma will decorate the brides’ lounge where Harp Oasis will perform.
The Big City All Star Band will also provide entertainment all weekend.
The expo has been designed to be stress-free from top to bottom, including free parking at the Downs, Obsniuk said.
“The theme for our show is a relaxed atmosphere,” she said. “We’re fully licenced, so you can go to the bar and sip your drink while you’re walking around.
“You will be able to talk to exhibitors one-on-one and have more of an intimate approach.”
It’s never too early to start planning a wedding, Obsniuk said, adding some of the more popular venues can be booked well in advance.
“I know there are some places who have a waiting list and they are already booking into 2017,” she said. “Another option is a lot of places are booked for Saturday weddings, but there will be availability for Friday evening weddings.
“The more time you have to plan the better, but that’s not to say you can’t plan an amazing wedding in three to six months.”
The low Canadian dollar may impact those considering a destination wedding, but not as much as one may assume, Obsniuk said.
“Destination weddings are pretty cost effective for the bride and groom,” she said. “If they are bringing a large party of guests to a resort they usually get a lot of breaks in their expenses as far as room rentals or upgrades.”
The expo will feature fashion shows by Swish Model Management. There will also be prizes, including hourly cash giveaways, a trip for two to anywhere Sunwing Airlines flies, a trip for two to Las Vegas from Charleswood Travel, and a pair of diamond wedding bands from Bijou Fine Jewellery.
All brides will get gift bag while supplies last, Obsniuk said.
The Big Deal Wedding Expo is already planning its next show at Assiniboia Downs in the fall.
“We have a waiting list of vendors and our September show is going to be expanding, so we’ll have more exhibitors in the next show,” Obsniuk said.
FREE TICKETS
Promoter Shelley Ostrove has given me 10 tickets for the Big Deal Wedding Expo to give away. I will give two each to the first five people who email me the correct answer to this question:
In Adam Sandler’s movie The Wedding Singer, the woman who portrayed Linda — his girlfriend who left Robbie Hart (Sandler) standing at the altar — went to Grant Park High School in Winnipeg. What is her name?
[“source-winnipegsun”]