Expo courts anxious brides-to-be

photo by Sylvia Castellanos

Roseanne Comer of Harvard Photography displayed some of her wedding albums and wedding deals at the Bridal Mega Show on Sunday at the Pomona Fairplex.

by Valerie Rojas
Staff Writer

With their shoelaces laced tightly and expectations high, over 800 prospective brides stormed the Pomona Fairplex Sunday.

Mega Productions hosted their fourth bridal expo of the year, giving numerous brides-to-be the opportunity to meet and question over 60 vendors who offered expertise in areas of photography, videography, limousine rental and wedding cakes.

A woman's wedding day is not something that can be thrown together in a matter of days or even weeks.

From the time when a girl attaches a pillowcase to her head and waltzes around her room, to just minutes before the actual event, a girl is planning her wedding.

And with the help of Mega Productions, getting ready for what is deemed "the most memorable day in a girl's life," just may be a smidge easier.

"We provide basically everything you'll need from DJs to cakes," said Connie Burns, a spokeswoman for Mega Productions.

This expo was complete with booths set up by various companies, including David's Bridal of Ontario, Pacific Harps, King and Queens Limo Service and Pomona Travel Agency.

The brides-to-be began arriving at 11 a.m.

A registration booth greeted them, offering discount coupons and bridal registry guides, priced at over $35, which were given away free to the first 1,200 attendees. Door prizes were awarded throughout the day.

As the brides walked the fairgrounds, friendly vendors awaited their questions, offering expertise on how to make their future wedding perfect.

Charity Bemis and Leanna Green, friends who are each planning fall weddings, found the expo to be extremely helpful and fun.

Although the expo offered wedding cakes and photographers, two of the main things they were searching for, Bemis and Green suggested including more vendors at future shows.

"It could have been bigger," said Green, who is planning her wedding for late September. "I would have liked them to have included information on places to host weddings and more catering services."

Prospective brides mean business when they attend these events, said Bob Puente, Mega Productions staff member.

Brides-to-be average at least three expos before making decisions, Puente said.

Mega Productions attempts to provide what brides need and bring something to them that they have not seen before, he said.

This year the "Cinderella Carriage" was on display. This horse-drawn carriage is beautiful, and provides the complete fairy tale effect that many women want for their wedding.

The vendors attending these events are usually veterans of the bridal expo business. However, a few starting businesses use these expos to get their foot in the door and see if there is room in the world of weddings for their services, such as a disposable camera booth on display.

Aside from the host of vendors, two choreographed bridal shows were given.

David's Bridal, Gary's Tuxes and Joy Harris were the three designers whose clothing were presented by 12 adults and three children.

"The audience just loved the kids," Puente said. "One little girl, she just came out with this attitude. She owned that audience."

Mega Productions will be hosting eight more bridal expos in Southern California, into late October.

For more information, call (626) 961-6522, or visit www.bridalmegashow.com.