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All a bride-to-be could want ... and more
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
Colorful displays designed to put the sparkle in a bride's eyes decorated the River City Mall in Keokuk Sunday at the fourth annual Bridal Fair. The event is sponsored by the Daily Gate City and Big River Rental of Keokuk.
In addition to the 24 vendors who set up their wares and services throughout the mall, an afternoon fashion show by the Colony Shop, Fort Madison, and Bonnie's Bridal and Prom, Macomb, Ill., showed the latest in wedding gowns, mother-of-the-bride selections, attendants' wear and prom dresses.
Women and girls from the Tri-State Area modeled gowns and dresses for weddings and all occasions.
Mike Boley of Top Dogg Productions, Keokuk, emceed the fashion show.
Formal wear for men was supplied by Johnson Schmidt Men's Wear, Keokuk, and Royalty's Men's Wear, Carthage, Ill. The tuxedos were modeled by men from the area.
More than 125 brides-to-be from as far away as Rochester, Minn., registered at the fair. Accompanied by fiancés, friends, mothers and families, they strolled from booth to booth, picking up new ideas and making a few commitments for weddings often more than a year away.
Also, brides attended from the Illinois towns of Plymouth, Loraine, Colchester, Clayton, Mount Sterling, Basco, Hamilton, Warsaw, Nauvoo and Macomb, as well as Iowans from Cedar Falls, Donnellson, Montrose, West Point, Keokuk and Bonaparte and Missouri brides from Kahoka, Wayland, Canton and Columbia.
Meghan Gaylord of Keokuk and her mother, Jan, were among the shoppers. She registered at the lia sophia display, surrounded by the type of sparkling necklaces, earrings and bracelets that enhance the loveliest gowns.
“We're getting all the things together and we're taking everything in today,” Meghan said.
She and Jeremy Leenerts will be married in the spring of 2008.
In the meantime, Gary Johnson of Johnson-Schmidt discussed the merits of a fuchsia vest and fuchsia and ivory striped tie with groom-to-be Bryan Schilling and bride-to-be Jennifer Boudreau, both of Keokuk. Their wedding is June 30.
“We have a lot of the big stuff taken care of,” Boudreau said. “Now we're taking care of the details.”
From chair rental to honeymoons, the Bridal Fair provided vendors and customers the opportunity to talk about the details that make a well-planned wedding go smoothly.
Daily Gate City event organizer Carla Rhodes is satisfied that the best outcome was attained by both groups this year.
“My favorite part is going around and talking to the vendors, to everyone, after the fair is over,” Rhodes said. “Everyone enjoyed it. They liked it better than the other bridal shows in the area. The traffic flows better and the atmosphere is pleasant.”
Many vendors ran out of promotional material this year and had to make flying trips to a copy machine or their business to pick up more giveaways, Rhodes said.
Melinda Steward of Carthage was impressed with the fair's comfortable and pleasant ambiance. She and her sister-in-law-to-be, Natalie Cole, spoke with photographers Patsy and Keara Davis, Hamilton, Ill., one of several photographer services at the fair.
“We went to the Quincy show and the crowd was elbow-to-elbow,” Steward said. “You just wanted to get in and out. We're finding this easier to walk through.”
Dena Naboras, wedding set for June 9, and Audrey Jones, no date set yet, spent quality time with Kirk Savage at the Big River Rental tent. They enjoyed getting different ideas and having some understanding of the services available.
Savage said he made numerous contacts with potential customers and was able to give out quite a bit of information about his services.
Hy-Vee's display was a confectionery marvel of cakes in all shapes, sizes and flavors. Eight kinds of cake were displayed in cupcake towers and as heart-shaped cakes in a cascade, all generously decorated with fresh and frosting red roses. A new-style, square, multi-layered wedding cake sparkled at one corner of the display, while representative foods garnished another part of the booth. Several customers placed cake and catering orders for various venues during the fair.
Across the aisle, Village Cups-n-Cakes of Keosauqua had a good Sunday, also bookings several weddings during the fair, said owner John Stookesberry.
“It's busier than it was last year,” he said. “They do a good job here. It's been a good year.”
One of the cakes on display at Village Cups-n-Cakes featured the name of the bride and groom and the names of the wedding party written in script on the icing.
Other vendors at the show were Cosmo Entertainment, Donnellson; Something Special, Warsaw; Royal Prestige, Des Moines; Gemini Travel, Keokuk; Lorilei Klein, Carthage; AAA Travel, Keokuk; Felgar Photography, Warsaw; Taste of Home, Dallas City, Ill.; Jackson Photography, Macomb; Photos by Flambo, Warsaw; Sandra Shipman, Dallas City; Country Insurance, Warsaw; and Top Notch Tans and Videos, Keokuk.
In addition to the 24 vendors who set up their wares and services throughout the mall, an afternoon fashion show by the Colony Shop, Fort Madison, and Bonnie's Bridal and Prom, Macomb, Ill., showed the latest in wedding gowns, mother-of-the-bride selections, attendants' wear and prom dresses.
Women and girls from the Tri-State Area modeled gowns and dresses for weddings and all occasions.
Mike Boley of Top Dogg Productions, Keokuk, emceed the fashion show.
Formal wear for men was supplied by Johnson Schmidt Men's Wear, Keokuk, and Royalty's Men's Wear, Carthage, Ill. The tuxedos were modeled by men from the area.
More than 125 brides-to-be from as far away as Rochester, Minn., registered at the fair. Accompanied by fiancés, friends, mothers and families, they strolled from booth to booth, picking up new ideas and making a few commitments for weddings often more than a year away.
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Meghan Gaylord of Keokuk and her mother, Jan, were among the shoppers. She registered at the lia sophia display, surrounded by the type of sparkling necklaces, earrings and bracelets that enhance the loveliest gowns.
“We're getting all the things together and we're taking everything in today,” Meghan said.
She and Jeremy Leenerts will be married in the spring of 2008.
In the meantime, Gary Johnson of Johnson-Schmidt discussed the merits of a fuchsia vest and fuchsia and ivory striped tie with groom-to-be Bryan Schilling and bride-to-be Jennifer Boudreau, both of Keokuk. Their wedding is June 30.
“We have a lot of the big stuff taken care of,” Boudreau said. “Now we're taking care of the details.”
From chair rental to honeymoons, the Bridal Fair provided vendors and customers the opportunity to talk about the details that make a well-planned wedding go smoothly.
Daily Gate City event organizer Carla Rhodes is satisfied that the best outcome was attained by both groups this year.
“My favorite part is going around and talking to the vendors, to everyone, after the fair is over,” Rhodes said. “Everyone enjoyed it. They liked it better than the other bridal shows in the area. The traffic flows better and the atmosphere is pleasant.”
Many vendors ran out of promotional material this year and had to make flying trips to a copy machine or their business to pick up more giveaways, Rhodes said.
Melinda Steward of Carthage was impressed with the fair's comfortable and pleasant ambiance. She and her sister-in-law-to-be, Natalie Cole, spoke with photographers Patsy and Keara Davis, Hamilton, Ill., one of several photographer services at the fair.
“We went to the Quincy show and the crowd was elbow-to-elbow,” Steward said. “You just wanted to get in and out. We're finding this easier to walk through.”
Dena Naboras, wedding set for June 9, and Audrey Jones, no date set yet, spent quality time with Kirk Savage at the Big River Rental tent. They enjoyed getting different ideas and having some understanding of the services available.
Savage said he made numerous contacts with potential customers and was able to give out quite a bit of information about his services.
Hy-Vee's display was a confectionery marvel of cakes in all shapes, sizes and flavors. Eight kinds of cake were displayed in cupcake towers and as heart-shaped cakes in a cascade, all generously decorated with fresh and frosting red roses. A new-style, square, multi-layered wedding cake sparkled at one corner of the display, while representative foods garnished another part of the booth. Several customers placed cake and catering orders for various venues during the fair.
Across the aisle, Village Cups-n-Cakes of Keosauqua had a good Sunday, also bookings several weddings during the fair, said owner John Stookesberry.
“It's busier than it was last year,” he said. “They do a good job here. It's been a good year.”
One of the cakes on display at Village Cups-n-Cakes featured the name of the bride and groom and the names of the wedding party written in script on the icing.
Other vendors at the show were Cosmo Entertainment, Donnellson; Something Special, Warsaw; Royal Prestige, Des Moines; Gemini Travel, Keokuk; Lorilei Klein, Carthage; AAA Travel, Keokuk; Felgar Photography, Warsaw; Taste of Home, Dallas City, Ill.; Jackson Photography, Macomb; Photos by Flambo, Warsaw; Sandra Shipman, Dallas City; Country Insurance, Warsaw; and Top Notch Tans and Videos, Keokuk.
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