Lookin' to get hitched?

A sign at the 2023 Bridal Expo, which was held at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday. Brides and grooms were able to attend the event to get ideas for their special days.
CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD

Sandy Hanson, event planning consultant and owner of Enchanting Gowns and Jamison’s Event Center in Moses Lake, at the 2023 Bridal Expo on Saturday. Hanson said the show is a good way to showcase local businesses.

Joelle de Herrera of Ruby Red Designs curls Megan Jones’ hair as part of Jones’ preparation for the bridal gown show.

Decorator and designer Guillermo Hermosillo in front of a sample table and room set he designed. Hermosillo said he works a lot of weddings and quinceaneras and enjoys the challenge of turning an ordinary room into a special place for a special event.

Jessica Ramynke behind the portable bar her Yakima-based company, Raise Your Glass, uses to provide drinks at events. “We have 12 bartenders that we have access to right now, most of them are family and friends, so we can pick up and go wherever you need us,” she said.

Shot glasses of diluted huckleberry syrup – just one of the beverage options for couples to choose from at the expo.

by CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE
Staff Writer | March 1, 2023 1:30 AM

MOSES LAKE — On the bar in front of Jessica Ramynke sits a number of little, plastic shot glasses of purplish-magenta liquid on ice.

It’s the signature drink and service of Ramynke’s company, Yakima-based Raise Your Glass.

“It’s huckleberry syrup,” Ramynke said. “Either we buy it or I make it my own at home. I go out and pick the huckleberries in the mountains. We take it home and boil it down and make the syrup out of it.”

While it works well all by itself, diluted in a little water, Ramynke said the syrup actually tastes best when served in a cocktail, typically with rum or vodka.

“It even goes good with Pendelton,” she added, referring to the popular western-accented whisky. “And I didn’t think it would.”

Ramynke stood behind a portable bar pouring samples of non-alcoholic huckleberry drinks and handing out samples of her Raise Your Glass’s signature product during this year’s annual Bridal Expo at the Grant County Fairground on Saturday. Even with the weather as cold as it was — temperatures barely topped freezing on Saturday — the Fairgrounds commercial pavilion was full of a lot of young women (and yes, a few young men too) contemplating their futures or actively planning weddings and a lot of local and regional businesses more than willing to help.

“This event is really important because it’s supporting a lot of local businesses,” said Sandy Hanson, owner and event planner with Jamison’s Event Center as well the owner of Enchanting Gowns. “We tried to pull in vendors from Othello, Quincy, Moses Lake, the local area, so that people can see them, find out who they are, and sample their stuff.”

But it isn’t just local businesses that gathered at the Fairgrounds on Saturday. Ramynmke said this year is the first time she and her business partner Janet Daniels have come to the Bridal Expo in Moses Lake because Raise Your Glass is willing to go far afield — as far as Ellenburg and Cle Elum — to help people throw whatever kind of party they are looking to host.

“Now’s about the time people are starting to plan their weddings and things,” she said. “Everybody gets engaged on Valentine’s Day, so now is when everybody starts the planning. It’s the perfect time of year to come out and find your bartender, find your decorator, find your cake person, your caterer.”

Guillermo Hermosillo, decorator and owner of Decoraciones Hermosillo, found a good way to show off his skills — he was asked to create the stage and the backdrop for the expo’s bridal gown show.

“We do weddings, quinceaneras, and anything from centerpieces, main tables, backdrops, drapery, lighting – sparklers. A little bit of everything a client can imagine, that we can do,” he said.

Hermosillo said much of his job involves dressing up a room, making a venue that may not be the nicest place in the world shine for a very special occasion.

“I love being able to take the stress off my clients and more than anything, seeing the final result of what I come up with,” he said.

Megan Jones sat in a salon chair as Joelle de Herrera of Ruby Red Designs curled her hair to model wedding dresses in the afternoon bridal show. De Herrera said doing the bridal show is good exposure for the small, boutique salon in Moses Lake.

“It’s a really easy way to get our name out there, to get into the community and see what’s going on and show what we can do,” she said.

Jones said she is planning a summer wedding, so being a model for the bridal gown show was a natural fit, though Jones noted she won’t be modeling her own gown.

“I’m super excited. It’s my first time (modeling), so I hope I don’t trip,” she said. “I’m getting married in August, so if I can help other brides find their dream dress like I found mine, that’s why I’m here.”

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.

Need some planning help?

Raise Your Glass

Janet Daniels & Jessica Ramynke

raiseyourglasswa.com

509-654-0051 / 509-834-1485

raiseyourglass2020@gmail.com

Jamison’s Event Center

605 E. Nelson Rd., Moses Lake

jamisoneventcenter.com

509-408-2600

info@jamisoneventcenter.com