Future brides and grooms from Central Missouri and beyond took advantage of one-stop shopping for their wedding planning at the 32nd annual Bridal Spectacular Sunday at The Linc in Jefferson City.
The annual event featured about 90 vendors that offered dresses, tuxedos, cakes, catering, reception venues, bands, DJ services, photography, honeymoon packages and more.
This is the second such event Brianna Wolfe, of New Bloomfield, had attended, and said she was impressed with the selection.
She previously attended a bridal event in St. Charles with her fiancée, Brandon Carlson. "He wasn't that into it," she said, so this time she brought three of her friends.
"It's easier with girls," she said of wedding shopping and planning. She said she was looking for dresses, reception venues and local deals.
The deals are something that's a selling point for organizer Vicki Arcobasso. She stresses to future brides/grooms: "Come ready to book, because you will save time and money."
Vendors, she said, offer specials at the annual event that they don't offer during other times of the year.
Arcobasso hoped to have 300 brides at the event Sunday.
"My goal is for them to leave feeling comfortable that they have booked everything they need for their wedding," she said.
The event began at noon, but brides lined up early for an 11 a.m. red carpet event that included red wine and red velvet cupcakes.
Arcobasso said attendance was brisk, and several vendors agreed they were able to interact with many potential customers.
Kelsey Tucker, who plans to get married in June 2020, said the event was "definitely bigger than I expected," with lots of good catering and venue options.
Emily Kindle came from Sedalia to start planning her July wedding. While sampling RJ's Real Italian Ice, she said the event was helpful in making some decisions.
"And the Italian ice is really great," she said. "I highly recommend it."