This past Sunday a friend of mine and I attended the Augusta Georgia Bridal Expo that was held downtown. For the most part I have my venders taken care of, but I wanted to go because I am very excited about being able to do bride things for the next couple of months that I will still be engaged! The expo was very exciting and extremely crowded, it was still helpful and we got to try a lot of different foods!

  We got there pretty early because we wanted to avoid the crowd and having to wait in line. It started at 12:30 and we got there at 11:45. To be frank I actually thought it started at 12… that is mainly why we were there THAT EARLY. OOPS! The doors finally open and we pile in on either side of the lobby waiting patiently for last minute venders to finish setting up. I felt even more elated when they handed me a “I AM GETTING MARRIED” sticker. I don’t know why, but when I get recognition for being a BRIDE or someone is excited around me about weddings, it just puts me over the moon because it feels more real! Bethany and I are the second group in and we get a handy dandy pink bag to help keep our hands free with all of the goodies we were ready to collect. We start moving swiftly to the venders because at this time it was not too crowded.

  The first stop was a Suit/ Tux shop that handed us a pamphlet and we looked over a few Jackets, then we were off. On our right side was the Hilton Hotel and one of the two med spas. We skipped over the Bed, Bath, and Beyond registry because I have decided not to register for gifts. (We already have everything we need, so we are not looking for household items, we prefer monetary gifts) We then decide to enter to WIN a set of pot wear, which we don’t need, but hey it’s free so why not. The next stop a health / fitness guru. A new store that was giving out free consultations, FREE is what got me and after spending some time in the hospital I need to get my health on track so I thought this was a good option. We then turn the corner of the first section and Elegant Bridals and a Cake vender was set up. I already have my Wedding dress, therefore I did not need this, but I did see one of my favorite dresses that I tried on there, dressed on a mannequin and I also saw the stylist that helped me at the shop. The cake vender was A Piece of Cake. This was very helpful because I actually still need a Cake for the Wedding. That is one of the last Venders on Brandon and I’s list. The lady let us each try a piece of vanilla and chocolate cake, which were delicious by the way. It is weird because I am more of a chocolate person, but I was leaning more towards the vanilla cake. She gave me a run down of prices and a coupon to utilize. I must say I am really excited to visit the actual shop and look at more options.

  The next vender in line was another Hotel where we again entered to win something free. This time it was a two night free stay! we then ventured on over to the other MEDSPA where I entered to win a free package worth $500. We saw a couple of Venue options that were really nice, but waayyy out of my price range or I just did not want to get married on a farm or in a hotel. This is where it began to get pretty crowded, but we still mozzied along. At the end of the second row on the right a Real-estate vender was present, at this table I guessed how many rings were in a jar to WIN another free item and I also beat a 12 year old at a giant Kinect Four game. ( I was not trying to WIN) Scurrying on over to the third and final section of vender tables we are met with another bridal shop, this one I never attended. There was also another venue that I thought was a florist because of all of the flower arrangements set up in their area. Walk past those and we stopped at the Men’s Wearhouse table that handed me another large tote bag and again I entered to win some more free goodies! On the other side of the Men’s corner was David’s Bridal. I did not stop there because we all already know that I have my wedding dress and did not need their services. Their set up wasn’t as pretty as Elegant Bridals, but they did have a couple of bridesmaid dresses displayed on a clothing rack. When I tell you that we should have started on this side of the vender list, WE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE! At this point the crowd was enormous and the tables were much more interactive on this side than on the other. I mean that as in, they had a photo booth and photographer vender set up that had brought the equipment with them and allowed the small groups to go in and take photos with props and then get a copy of the strips to see the quality and the effects. We were also handed a pamphlet with all of the services and prices listed from this same vender. It was pretty cool and I never considered having a photo booth, but the price line is not that bad and the photo strips are a good wedding favor, especially since I have yet to come up with one.

  The next stop was like a train line that was set up for a caterer / hotel service that had a very nice selection of finger foods to try for a reception or maybe a cocktail hour menu. They served two different flavors of Chicken salad, an assortment of crackers, a bowl of THICK pretzels, and seafood medley. (this I did not try because I am not really a seafood kind of person) We sat down in some folded chairs at the end of the table and struggled to manage our bags as well as our assorted plates of food and cups of “WEDDING JUICE” as it was labeled. Finishing up this we moved onto the last vender on the right side of us, which also happened to be another hotel that was serving finger chicken sandwiches that were regular and buffalo (I don’t know why, but for the past 2 weeks I have been craving anything buffalo!) and a strawberry flavored drink. Unfortunately the buffalo sandwich that I tried was not that good. I think maybe it was a little stale and the texture was a bit sandy because it had been sitting out all morning. I am not really sure, but I did not finish it. On the other hand, the strawberry drink was very tasty! The very last table was set up across from the Hotel and looked very extravagant! They had a whole table set up with merchandise and a sheet to sign up on and a huge colorful wheel to spin and potentially win a free honeymoon, I also think maybe a bachelorette get together was being offered because that is the first thing the lady asked me after spinning the wheel. BUUUTTTT… she through a wrench in the plan when she looked at me kind of funny and asked if I was over the age of 25. Obviously I am not, this caused her to tell me that unfortunately they could not help us because to sign up for their services you must at least be 25 years of age. Which sucked tremendously because I would have loved to WIN some kind of trip!

  After this we doubled around the isles and scoped out a little more and made sure we did not miss anything. (there are some venders that were repetitive or we did nothing at their table, therefore I did not mention it in the post) One thing that I walked circles around in search for was a “BRIDE” sticker, I had the other one but I kept seeing people with the specific Bride sticker and I was not leaving until I got one. We finally found them at the other entrance, I there told the lady that I wanted one and she gave me two because I was so excited about it. Good thing too because my impatient self started to take the first sticker off and pretty much ripped it in half lol. After this Bethany and I went back around to our entrance and took a couple photos in front of the expo’s backdrop and headed out of the theater into the main lobby area. The Expo had a Wedding gown fashion show an hour from that time, but neither one of us wanted to stay for it because again I already bought a dress and we had other things we wanted to do that day. They were also giving away a free Honeymoon package and a Wedding dress, but I already have both soooo no need. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and glad that I went. You (hopefully) only get to be engaged once and I want to experience as much as I can as a FIANCE’! I am enjoying every minute of becoming a BRIDE and love learning and experiencing everything that comes with it. Even though I am not acknowledged or over the moon ecstatic everyday of the engagement I get to enjoy a few things that cater only to being ENGAGED. I will never forget this journey!

  If you are engaged or whenever you do, please treat yourself and enjoy the process of Wedding Planning and all of the benefits that come with it! You will not regret it! Thanks for letting me tell you about my first wedding related city event! Much Love!