Expo: A Cornucopia of Bridal Baubles

An old-fashioned wedding isn’t what it used to be.

As did her mother, a modern-day bride must select the perfect veil, bouquet, cake and photographer--not to mention the perfect groom.

But she also must pick a videotape service, and decide whether she wants three camera operators for $1,200 or just one for $650. Should she wear a lace gown or a dress made from cotton T-shirts? And how about a little liposuction before that honeymoon in Tahiti?

Thousands of brides-to-be walked down the aisles of the Disneyland Hotel convention hall last weekend, surveying their infinite options at the Fall ’88 Bridal Expo. Presented biannually in Anaheim for the past three years, the exhibit featured 220 matrimonial merchants peddling every imaginable detail big and small--from limousines to after-dinner mints.

“When it comes to weddings, tradition is back in style and style is back in tradition,” said Chris Evans, who with his wife Becky organizes bridal expositions throughout the country.

More than 10,000 fiancees, fiances, mothers and best friends attended the two-day event, which buzzed with the excitement of a rehearsal dinner.

Caterers lured prospective customers to their booths with samples of their multitiered cakes, while businesses selling inedible wares collected addresses for contest drawings--and, incidentally, for mailing lists.

“This isn’t the way to run an exhibit,” Evans said with a laugh, as he strolled by what may have been the only booth that was not surrounded by sightseers. Its occupant watched television while his half-hearted display of black-and-white balloons was passed over for more romantic decorations.

In contrast, most salespeople bubbled with enthusiasm, filling the tote bags of happy wanderers with brochures and gifts. Merchants seemed determined to get their money’s worth out of the event, which cost them $700 per booth.

“I need to book at least six customers for it to be profitable to come in to the expo,” said Genevieve Barrow of Tiffany’s Catering in Garden Grove. Her fancy spread of colorful fruit slices won her first place and a trip to Hawaii last year in the Bridal Expo’s competition for “best booth.”

Deanna Thibert of Garden Grove-based Invitations by Deanna said participation at the expo brings in about 50 customers per show. “It’s been very profitable for us,” she said.

The Bridal Expo is useful for networking with other business operators as well as attracting customers, said Ruby Hanan of Designs by Sylvia, a Tarzana store that sells wedding paraphernalia. “We’ve made a lot of contacts with bridal consultants who can recommend us to their clients,” she explained.

Brides-to-be, with new diamond rings sparkling proudly from their left hands, came to the expo to browse, usually with a buddy or relative in tow. “I just got engaged last week, so I haven’t made any arrangements for anything,” said Garden Grove resident Linda Sandor, 26. “We heard about this expo, and thought it would be a good place to start.”

“We’re feeling a little overwhelmed,” said her mother, Bridgette Sandor. “And I’m getting scared, calculating in my mind the costs and thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is going to be expensive.’ ”

The average Southern California wedding, Evans said, runs $12,000 to $18,000. However, Maria Gibbs, 22, of Fullerton, hopes to keep hers under $5,000.

“I’m not getting married until next June,” Gibbs said. “But if you wait to do things until the last minute, your wedding might not turn out the way you want it.”

Among the more unusual offerings at the exposition was a wedding dress pieced together from a few men’s T-shirts. Priced at $225, it tallied hundreds of dollars less than the traditional lace gowns at the event.

“It’s for the bride who wants something a little different,” said designer Michelle Morand of Chelle’s for Me bridal shop, located in Lakewood.

Another exhibit touted a weight-reduction scheme. “When it’s time for the wedding, the girls would rather have to take in their dress seams than have to let them out,” said Richard Smith of Uni-Vite MircoDiet in Brea.

“A doctor who performs liposuction usually participates at the expos here in Anaheim, but he’s on vacation right now,” Evans said. “He got five or six clients out of the expo last spring.”

Meanwhile, harpist and vocalist Kathy Kavanaugh of Laguna Niguel drew a crowd as she sang the contemporary favorite, “A Wedding Song.”

“Are you available on June 24?” an impressed mother queried. “I’m already booked for two weddings that day,” the musician answered after glancing through her busy date book.

Indeed, brides should plan ahead.