Our next bridal show is coming up soon, July 20 & 21. Here's a taste of what you will see at one of our Sizzling hot fashion shows. See it on YouTube and while you are there how about rating the clip!

Just back from Montreal and Jamaica. First to attend the Bridal Show Producer's International convention in Montreal and then for some R & R in Jamaica.

It was very exciting to hear about all the latest tips and trends for bridal shows. You definitely have to attend these events because they are all about the bride. One stop shopping where she can find everything she needs for a perfect day.

While laying on the beach in Jamaica I must have seen 10 weddings a day. What an exciting time for you as a couple. Is a destination wedding for you? If you want something intimate for just a few guests or family members, why not. But if you have always dreamed of the big day, in a church, walking down the aisle with a big party afterwards, then stay with the traditional wedding and go to Jamaica after for the honeymoon! I stayed at a Sandals Resort and it was so wonderful. All inclusive is the way to go! Booked my trip through Ultra Honeymoons. http://www.ultrahoneymoons.com

Now that "takes the cake". At the January Bridal Spectacular Harrahs Entertainment had a cake you could not miss in their booth! It was at least 3 feet tall and featured all of their properties. Other incredible cakes were shown by Creations Bakery, Simple Elegance, and Albertson's. There were even wedding cupcakes on display. Today's bride has many options to choose from.

After attending a few weddings myself recently, I wondered if the trend is going toward smaller cakes on display and then having sheet cakes to make sure you have enough for all your guests. While this might be an option that is better on your budget, these smaller cakes don't make as dramatic a presentation for photos ....especially during the cake cutting ceremony. There are other ways to make your cake look larger than it really is too, ask your baker if they can make a dummy layer for effect and to make the cake taller. Please do consider how the cake will look on the cake table and size does count in the over all scheme of things.

Remember the best way to pick a cake is to be able to taste it! When you attend The Bridal Spectacular July 20 & 21 there will be lots of cake to sample and savor.

OK, I've been a little busy lately and have not kept up with my blogs. However, I have a very good excuse.

I'm such a proud mom right now and getting ready to see both my kids graduate! First my talented, son Ty Hansen is graduating from UAT in Tempe, Arizona with a Bachelor in Science Degree with an emphasis in Web Development. Ty is the creator and webmaster of our website and has programmed such innovations as our virtual floor plan and our barcoded on line ticketing system. Ty also runs the ticketing department at the show and has worked there since he was 5!

Next comes my lovely Laura, who has also been working at the show since she was 3; first modeling as a flower girl and now one of the beautiful bridal gown models in the show! She is graduating from CCSN with her Associate of Arts Degree on May 14th and from high school on June 12. What a determined young lady to do both by the age of 18. She is a truly talented artist and recently created our new logo! Laura will be attending NAU in the fall pursuing a degree in Art Education.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to brag a little about my two fabulous children, now young adults, making their parents so proud!

Bridal Fashion Shows....the Bridal Spectacular has the best fashion shows! Professional models and choreography, a tuxedo segment you won't forget with men who can really dance.

Don't miss the next bridal show! Fashion shows are held Friday night at 8:30 pm and Saturday at 11:30 and 3:30. Lighting, staging, fantastic models, hot guys, exciting music and the latest greatest bridal fashions from Tuxedo Junction, After Hours Formalwear, David's Bridal and Brides by Demetrios. See you there! July 20 & 21

Hello wedding professionals and brides-to-be, things are getting really busy here in "the wedding capitol of the world". There are so many new businesses opening to serve the local and destination bride, our phones have been ringing off the wall with new potential exhibitors and advertisers. We are going to dedicate some of our next few blogs to welcoming new wedding professionals to the Bridal Spectacular family. So keep checking back to see whats new.

New Logo for Bridal Spectacular. We are excited to announce our new logo in it's final version. She showed up a few posts back with a square image behind her, but we decided this one fits us so much better.

New Exhibitors:

Lia Sophia: Jewelry special enough for the day you say I DO. Searching for an unforgettable piece for yourself or a meaningful gift for your bridesmaids? lia sophia offers fashion jewelry you will love at prices you can afford! Schedule a Show and earn your selections FREE or at great discounts! LIFETIME GUARANTEE!! See her at booth 214. http://www.liasophia.com/sites/pwackershauser

Two to Tangle Dance Co. Brides and Grooms! What could be more romantic than spending a few hours learning how to dance cheek to cheek with each other? Imagine watching the video years from now and still remembering how it felt to be taken into his arms and whisked around the floor. Your first dance as husband and wife is a very important ritual. You’ve taken painstaking measures to ensure everything will be beautiful and memorable...your first dance should reflect that as well. Visit them in booth # 1116 http://www.22tangle.com/

Visit with these and over 170 other professions at the July 20 & 21 event.

How you seat your guests at your wedding reception can make or break the evening. If at all possible, you want to choose a room that allows all the guests to see the head table and dance floor. Some facilities are split into two rooms or an L-shape which will split up your guests and make it hard for them to be part of the party.. Here are some other considerations:

• Bars: Consider having more than one so your guests don't have to push their way through tables to get to them.
• Have a table for singles: Consider putting all your single guests together at one table, they will have much more fun than sitting with families or married couples.
• DJ or Band: Needs to be placed where they can see the dance floor and the head table, and cake table since they will be directing many of festivities.
• Headtable: This can be either a one sided banquet table large enough to seat the whole wedding party or a double sided banquet so their immediate families or mates can sit with them. You can sit up to 24 people at a head table, the more the merrier. The sweetheart table for the bride and groom only will leave you filling isolated from your own party.
• Cake Table: This will be the focal spot for one of your very special events, make sure it stands out and is located in a good spot for photos with a good well lit background.
• Party People: These people will be the ones having the best time and will be happiest near the bar and the dj or entertainment. They don't have to be near you!

Talk to the real experts by attending our next bridal show, July 20 & 21, 2007. You'll find everything you need under one roof.

Planning a Destination Wedding? Las Vegas is the place, we have an abundance of chapels, reception locations and all kinds of unique theme options for your wedding. There are a few basics to keep in mind when planning a destination wedding.

1. Consider hiring a consultant, this can save you lots of time and prevent mistakes when hiring out of "your" state vendors.



2. Attend a bridal show for the area where you want to get married or visit the website for that bridal show.



3. Visit our site, you will find a list of vendors in every category who can help you plan your Las Vegas destination wedding. http://www.bridalspectacular.com You can rely on e-mail and the Internet to stay in contact with your chosen vendors just like you would in your home town.



4. Use credit cards for payment, never cash. This will give you proof of your purchases.



5. When ordering things like decor and flowers, you can e-mail photos of what you like. Just keep in mind flowers that are available in California may not be you best choices in the desert, so keep an open mind and be flexible. Your florist should be aware of the current brides maid color options and be able to suggest complimentary flowers to go with them. It's best to mail them a color sample rather than just tell them green, there can be many different shades of green (celedon, sage, mint, clover....you get what I mean?)



6. Arrive at your destination wedding state early enough to take care of all final details and be relaxed before the big day, treat your self to a spa and unwind....you want to enjoy this most special day with the love of your life.

I just had a wonderful phone call the other day from Ellen Lafair, promotional director of the new Fox 5 television series The Wedding Bells premiering tonight. Ellen had several beautiful brides handing out mints at our recent bridal show, The Bridal Spectacular, promoting this new wedding sit com. Before and after our show they were on tour at many other bridal shows across the country. She called to tell me that our show was by far the most professional and best attended bridal show that they participated in. We work very hard to put on a great bridal show, but its nice to hear from someone who knows how we compare to other bridal events.

For you bridal related businesses out there its time to start booking your booths at our July 20 & 21st event! It's going to be a hot one! Last summers attendance was 1000 brides and the exhibitors who do the summer show say the brides are serious about their wedding planning! So don't miss out, check out available booth spaces at http://www.bridalspectacular.com/floorplan/floorplan.asp?show=default

Sherman Daley and Jennifer Teer stopped by The Bridal Spectacular office after our recent bridal show to pick up their certificate presented by Debra Hansen. Sherman and Jennifer won the fabulous Fiji trip sponsored by Journey Pacific and The Review Journal. Congrats. Sherman and Jennifer!

What a great turn out for the bridal show last weekend! 1300 brides wandered through the halls and found everything they needed for their wedding. Our grand prize winner of the Fiji Trip provided by Journey Pacific and wedding package was Jennifer Teer getting married in May of 07. Jennifer and her fiance also won a set of wedding bands courtesy of Aaron Lelah Jewelers, a Wedding Ceremony package courtesy of Emerald at Queensridge, a wedding gown certificate from Tres Jolie Bridal, a $1,000 floral package from Floral Art Florist and a $1,000 Travel allowance from The Spectacular Wedding Planner. The lucky bride and groom will be staying at the Castaway Island Resort and the Outrigger on the Lagoon in Fiji.

On Friday night we gave away a complete living room set to Bynne Larson courtesy of RC Willey.

Thanks to our show grand prize media sponsors, The Las Vegas Review Journal, Mix 94.1 and KLUC!

There were hundreds of other prizes also given to many more brides. Fun was had by all. Our next bridal show is planned for July 20 & 21. Don't miss it!

Only 2 weeks till the Bridal Spectacular bridal show in Las Vegas. Have you registered yet? You can pre-register and purchase your tickets on-line for $9.00 Tickets at the door are $12.00. Remember the groom gets in free on Friday nights.

When you arrive at the show, make sure you turn in your registration form to receive a free shopping bag full of wedding planning information. We also have Modern Bride magazines for 500 brides!

So pick up your tickets today! http://www.bridalspectacular.com

This weeks wedding tip: Did you know you can get water-soluble confetti now for tossing at the bride and groom as they exit the church or reception? Find it here at http://www.ecoparti.com

Tell someone about the Las Vegas Bridal Spectacular. Only 3 weeks until bridal show time! Are you seeing the billboards all over town? Tickets are now on sale and we are so excited about this coming show! There is no better way to plan a wedding than by attending a bridal event where you will find hundreds of exhibitors ready to help you with everything you need: Cakes, catering, photography, videography, wedding apparel, invitations, flowers, entertainment, reception locations, chapels, hotels, honeymoons and so much more! Then for after the wedding you will find many of the services you and your husband will be needing, first home, financial services and insurance. We have an incredible fashion show planned for you with all the latest bridal and tuxedo fashions. So buy your tickets today. They will be sent to you by e-mail within minutes of placing your order.

Got questions, call 702-368-0088. Got comments? Ad them to our blog!

Christmas is a fabulous time to have a wedding, the themes that go along with Christmas make it so easy to decorate with red roses or poinsettias, candy canes and holly or create a winter wonderland with icicles, snow and lots of glitter. If your wedding is planned for next Christmas, wait until the after Christmas sales and purchase all your decorating items at very low discount prices. Your bridesmaids can wear red or green or you can mix and match if you have a large wedding party. There are many beautiful wedding gowns to choose from with accents of red in either embroidered details or ribbons. Muffs, fur stowels, or long velvet capes also make an excellent winter accessory.

Need help finding creative ideas? Make sure you attend the next bridal show in your area. The Bridal Spectacular is scheduled at Cashman Center on January 26 & 27. Tickets are now available online at http://www.bridalspectacular.com

Bridal shows are the best way to plan your wedding and the largest bridal show in Nevada is coming up January 26 & 27 at Cashman Center 850 N Las Vegas Blvd. You won't want to miss it, we guarantee that everything you need to plan the perfect wedding will be there! Over 180 wedding professionals will be present and an incredible fashion show of all the latest wedding apparel will be featured. If you get engaged at Christmas, you will want this to be your first step in planning your dream day.

When you purchase your ticket you will be able to register for a chance to win a Honeymoon Trip to Fiji courtesy of Journey Pacific. This trip will include a 4 night stay at Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji and a 3 night stay at Castaway Island Resort. It also includes a one-way helicopter transfer between resorts and your meals. **restrictions apply and dates are subject to availability. Airfare & airport taxes not included. Want to hear more about Fiji honeymoon trips? Contact Colette at Journey Pacific at 800-704-7094 http://www.journeypacific.com

There are many reasons to bring your groom with you to the Bridal Spectacular....but one of them would be to help you, the bride to be, pick out the style of tuxedos he likes. You'll be able to see the latest styles in our fashion show sponsored by http://www.tuxedojunction-lv.com/Tuxedo Junction and After Hours Formalwear. The male models are "hot" and always a favorite segment for the audience. Of course, you will also find a great selection of tuxedos displayed throughout the hall at the various formal wear vendors.

The groom gets in free on Friday night which is our date night! The two of you will have a fun romantic evening together as you plan the wedding of your dreams.

Cover Photo Contest: Sorry, I'm a little behind blogging this week. We've been busy at Bridal Spectacular choosing the new covers for the 2007 Spectacular Wedding Planners. We had fabulous entries from 6 photographers. The January 07 cover selection winner is DS Photography http://www.digitalstudiosphoto.com/, The July 07 cover winner is A R Ortiz http://www.ortizimage.com. We also selected photos from J & J Photography http://www.jandjphotos.com/, Alicia Lynch Photography http://www.alicialynch.com/, Altf.com photographyhttp://www.altf.com/ , Lorenzfoto.com http://www.lorenzfoto.com, DS Photography and AR Ortiz to be used as feature title pages in the January issue. Congratulations and thanks to all the photographers who participated in this selection process. Be looking for the January issue to see these fabulous new photos. Brides if you don't have our current FREE wedding planner, visit the free wedding planner page on our site to request yours! Our current cover photo bride is Brittany Rulis and the photographer is Trent Black. http://www.trentblackphoto.com/

Table Scapes....Let the season inspire your wedding reception decor. Whether it's fall, winter, spring or summer, the colors that those seasons inspire can also create a spectacular table display. Of course, the colors you choose should also complement the apparel worn in the wedding. The operative word being complement! Just because your bridesmaids are wearing peach, does not mean you have to have peach table decor. Lime Green would be a great color choice to set off the peach. Enjoy these photos from the last Bridal Spectacular. Photo of tablescape from Bears Best Country Club

We invite your comments to our blog, brides let us know what you would like to see at our next bridal show. We can best serve you by finding out what your priorities are when attending a bridal fair.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when attending a bridal show.

1. Make sure you register either on line or at the door. On line will save you time at the door! Registering makes it possible to win prizes and allows you to receive special offers and discounts from participating exhibitors. If you are concerned about giving out your e-mail address, create a new one for during your wedding planning stages that you can eliminate later when the wedding is over.
2. Bring pre-addressed labels to enter contests at various booths. If you don't have any, make your own on the computer, just make sure you include your wedding date.
3. Bring your check book or credit card to take advantage of special "show only" offers.
4. Plan on spending at least 4 to 5 hours to see everything including the fashion show.
5. Bring your fiance for at least one trip, then come back and shop alone or with your mother or helpful friend. Attending twice helps you really take in all the information you will need to make wise decisions!
6. Wear comfortable shoes, you'll be doing lots of walking. But think of all the time you will save in the long run if you had to run all over town to meet 180 wedding professionals.

OK I'm waiting to hear from you!