Wedding on a platter:

Bridal Fair ’10 takes the centre stage

Ruwini Jayawardana

Shanthi Outschoorn

Wedding attire, demonstrations, cakes, flower arrangements, cosmetics, hair styles and many more items linked with one of the fastest booming industries in the country, the wedding market, will be brought under one roof with ‘The Bridal Fair ’10’.

Taking over the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC) from July 9 to 11, the 15th Bridal Fair sets stage for a budding beauticians to unleash their talent displaying modern and innovative features and brides and grooms-to-be to gather some tips on planning their big day.

Put together by Pico Events, The Bridal Fair goes beyond the traditional bridal shows, offering visitors a cost effective and comprehensive offer in which one-on-one contacts with the best and most experienced in the industry is possible.

This concept which was first experimented by the Pico team caught on like fire and many similar events made it to the scene. However, many failed to meet up to the expectations of the public and ‘The Bridal Fair’ retained its individuality and is one of the most sought after events in the wedding industry calendar.

“The Bridal Fair is a celebration of life. The wedding opens doors to a new world for a young couple in which they have to meet the challenges in life together,” Pico Events Executive Director Shanthi Outschoorn said.

She said the purpose is to bring all the main features of the bridal to one venue so that the couples and those who are interested in bridal dressing and fashion industry would find it a powerhouse of knowledge.

Novel décor and services such as potential designations for couples and families to visit during their leisure time, latest fashion fads, astrologers who predict your fortune and wedding packages at bargain prices are also on offer. Around 15 large scale fashion shows and demonstrations will also take to the stage.

“Every mother dreams of seeing their daughters marrying in the best possible manner and every girl dreams to look her best at her wedding. Mothers and daughters would be able to gather some ideas on how to plan the wedding and the attire at an affordable price. You will be able to see a range of competitive products and decide as to what suits your looks and goes easy on your purse. The event is not limited to women alone because there will be a plenty of items which will captivate the interest of grooms-to-be too,” Outschoorn said.

She also added that there is no set trend in the bridal fashion scene as it is a fast changing and reforming industry. What could be the in-thing today could be outdated in the following months. It is essential for those employed in the sector as well as young couples who wish to tie the knot to be in touch with the newest trends. She noted that they should have some knowledge to tell the beauticians what kind of look they wish to go for.

Some of the designs that were displayed last year

This year the team had taken a further step by taking the show out of Colombo.

The Bridal Fair ’10 will go to Negombo Town Hall on July 14.

“There has been a lot of demand for the event from other areas of the country. The move to Negombo is a mark of tribute to our exhibitors. Participation for sponsors and exhibitors is free,” she said.

The Bridal Fair ’10 highlights

* Astrologers

* Bankers and insurers

* Beauticians

* Bridal designers

* Bridalwear and accessories

*Cosmetics

* Cake decorators

* Caterera/ Banquet halls

* Dress makers

* Exercise and gym equipment

* Florists

* Hair and skin care products

* Hair dressers

* Holiday and honeymoon destinations

* Hotels

* Men’s tailors

* Gift items

* Nutritional foods

* Photographers

* Printers

* Wedding planners

* Transport