Bridal show returns to Moses Lake
\Something for everybody at annual event
MOSES LAKE — This weekend is a good place to check out the nuptial scene — even if you're a bride still in search of a groom.
The 2007 Greater Moses Lake Bridal Show returns for its ninth year Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big Bend Community College's ATEC Building.
Columbia Basin Herald Assistant Advertising Director Jaye Newberg said the event is a gathering of people directly and indirectly involved in wedding and marriage business. The Columbia Basin Herald is sponsoring the event. The show features 30 exhibitors.
"Everything from specifics, where as you would find your honeymoon ideas, florist ideas or photographers will be there, to non-specifics, like mortgage people who could help with financing a first home," Newberg said. "Different aspects of the whole situation."
A Making Memories: Brides Against Breast Cancer fashion show models dresses available. The national show showcases 500 gowns donated by designers.
"The gowns that normally would go for perhaps $1,200 and up will be available, I believe there will be gowns there starting as low as $150, depending on what you can find," Newberg said.
Proceeds from the show go to help women fighting terminal breast cancer, to give them the opportunity for one last memorable time with their families.
"It helps because weddings can be so terribly expensive," Newberg said. "It's a good time to come, find a good dress at a reasonable price. It helps out everybody all the way around."
The fashion show begins at about 2 p.m., but dresses are available all day long, she added.
"Many, many dresses and many, many sizes," Newberg said. "There should be something for everybody."
There is no cost to attend the event.
Newberg believes the show proves it's possible to have a good wedding in the area and support area businesses.
"It showcases what's available within our community," she said. "It would be a shame to think if you wanted to get married, you'd have to go outside the area — you could only find a dress in Seattle or Spokane or it wouldn't be possible to work with local people. Weddings are big business, and keeping them local has got to help everybody's business continue."
Last year's event drew in about 300 prospective brides, Newberg said, noting it's difficult to predict how many will attend this year.
"It doesn't matter if you're not getting married this year," she said. "Even if you have young girls coming up through the ranks, it's not bad to know what's out there and available. Because it's no cost, it's no stress. Nobody's going to be, in any way, holding you to anything. It's nice to just come, cruise through and see what's available for future reference."