Expo Center hosts Bridal Extravaganza

January 5, 2014 at 12:07a.m.

NILES

With a black-and-white theme based on the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals of the 1930s, the fashion trend at this weekend’s 2014 Bridal Extravaganza at Eastwood Expo Center is centered on tradition.

“Vintage is in,” said HOT 101’s Kelly Stevens as she and radio-broadcast partner A.C. McCullough hosted a bridal fashion show Saturday that reflected the adage of everything old being new again.

“It’s all about elegance,” she said to a predominately female crowd of about 200.

The fashion show, which will be repeated today, is the centerpiece of the extravaganza, now in its 10th year. “It’s bigger this year than in the past, and it’s been growing gradually every year,” said Christa Blasko, Eastwood Mall marketing director. Blasko said the event usually attracts about 2,500 by the end of the two-day show.

Sarah Noble of Cortland and Tahnee Jones of Austintown are among the future brides the 70 show vendors hope to attract. Noble, whose wedding is scheduled for June 2015, said she is looking for floral displays and a photographer. Jones is on a tighter schedule. She became engaged last month and has scheduled her wedding ceremony for August.

“I’m looking for just about everything, but the venue is my first priority,” she said. “I’m also trying to win free stuff.”

Jones has no shortage of venue choices — everything from banquet centers to hotels to Rustic Venues, a scenic farm near New Castle, Pa.

“This is a popular show, and that’s why we come here,” said Rick Wimer, owner of the farm.

Kera Kelley of Hubbard, who will say “I do” in September 2015, said she wanted to look at gowns and get some other ideas for her ceremony. “I’m really not sure, and that’s why I came here,” she said — a comment similar to those made by other future brides.

The focus on the traditional appears to be reflected in the choices offered by the vendors.

“We’re seeing far more straps than strapless and more beads on the bridal gowns,” said Saundra Farr, owner of Stephanie Leigh Bridal in Girard. “Some things just come back again.”

One vendor who occasionally was mistaken for the entertainment is Kirk Kupensky of Youngstown, a harpist long active in the area music scene. He played his harp throughout the afternoon not only to entertain but to attract wedding business.

“People like the elegance and the rarity of it,” Kupensky said. “That’s when they realize they have to have [the harp] during their wedding ceremony.

Blasko said she did not think that competition from sports will hurt attendance at the extravaganza.

“We realize football is going on right now, but we hope brides and grooms will check out what we have,” she said.

The show resumes at 11 a.m. today and concludes at 4 p.m.