**Side note** So You’re EnGAYged posted a VERY helpful list of tips for surviving a bridal expo. I encourage you to take a look if you’re planning on using one of these as a wedding resource.
A couple weeks ago, Kaitlin and her entourage all went to a Bridal Expo in downtown L.A.
Julie picked me up on her way down (along with Jenae, and Katie/Daniel/Andrew’s cousin Amanda who recently moved to Long Beach)… and we met there Katie and her other 4 bridesmaids.
9 of us in all. 8 support staff for 1 bride.
First of all …. this was the first bridal show I had ever been to. Even when I was engaged, I was just too busy and didn’t make the time to go …. Second of all, this bridal show was the kind that you could (easily) get free tickets, so it wasn’t all that ‘exclusive’
That said, listen to this:
The VERY first booth that we saw at this bridal show was for breast implants – sponsored by a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. True story.
NOT ONLY THAT – their little freebie giveaways to help people remember their company? Boob-shaped stress balls.
Awesome.
The bridal show was a bit chaotic and overwhelming. Especially the first couple rooms (small hotel conference rooms). I was a bit surprised at the variety of booths there …. everything from money clips (groomsmen gifts) and honeymoon travel to wedding dresses and florists. Everything you could think of for a wedding and somethings you hadn’t yet thought of. …
This bakery (below) was the best that we tried … the cake was moist and rich and perfect …. reminded me a bit of pound cake. And I can’t remember what company this is! Katie, if you know, leave a comment …. Cake Studio, maybe?
They had 5 or 6 different flavors and encouraged everyone to try one of each.
Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese frosting, Chocolate cake with raspberry frosting, Chocolate cake with cappuccino frosting, Cheesecake-cake with strawberry frosting … sooo good.
(what’s with the dude in the background?)
Pink and orange centerpieces (Katie may be changing her mind on her color scheme)
I really love these pearl details in the flowers. … My guess is just floral pins stuck in the middle … right? I think it adds a nice extra touch without being too gaudy …
Also ran into a photographer I follow – Braedon Photography (this is not him in the picture below, but rather one of his past grooms he roped into helping). I introduced myself, and Braedon gave Katie the compliment of ‘best entourage’ at the expo (I mean, she had 8 of us!). …
I encourage you to check out his site – and specifically the video in his ‘About’ section.
Totally sweet, nice and approachable. …. and unbelievably talented…. a background in fashion+photojournalism? Everything you should want in your wedding photographer … Hands down the best photographer exhibiting there. …
Katie spent a lot of time filling out forms … even WITH making pre-printed labels with her info and giving pages of them to some of the girls …
Before you ask, we had all just picked up our boob-shaped stressballs … and Katie was …. using them in ways other than what was intended …
We somehow heard that there was another room and more exhibitors up on the 26th floor of the hotel … and this is what we found … lots of cake, goodies, sugar, even roast beef
She found a florist (below) that she really loves and booked an appt with him on the spot. I think Katie is really picturing these tall arrangements on some of her tables (maybe interspersed with smaller arrangements?) … Very classy.
Oh my goodness – we ate SO MUCH FOOD …
Yea, and after all those sweets … we went to lunch at Qdoba.
I got a taco salad – minus the shell, add fajita veggies … it was fantastic! I definitely need to get that again …
(Amanda)
Lunch was just across the street from the hotel and near where a movie was being filmed. We were *told* it was Brad Pitt movie, and that they were on the 4th or so day of shooting. We DID see some papparazzi, they had fake rain and extras everywhere … no way to tell what film it was (all I know for sure is I saw ‘Paramount Pictures’ on one of the trucks).
This is a film set employee trying to tell the pretty girls something without giving too much away …
So fun!
Wedding planning is the best … Being married is better, of course, but I think Katie is having a lot of fun planning her wedding …
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