Even if you are well along in planning your wedding, there is still good reason to head to the Eastern States Exposition this weekend for the 35th annual Springfield Wedding and Bridal Expo.
“There is still value in coming down to our show, even if your wedding is already pretty well planned out. The vibe is amazing. There is music playing, people walking around with gowns and formal wear, and you can get a real feel for the whole bridal process. And you may go home with a pretty big door prize to help you with your wedding,” said Dennis Jenks, owner of Jenks Productions, organizers of the event.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday in the Better Living Center. Tickets are $10, available online at jenksproductions.com, or at the door.
There will be nearly 80 vendors attending the show, focusing on a variety of products and services such as wedding dresses and shoes, bridal veils and hair accessories, bridesmaid and mother of the bride dresses, maid of honor and junior bridesmaid dresses, wedding venues, wedding invitations and cards, wedding cakes, gifts and favors, decorations and centerpieces, flowers and bouquets, bands and DJs, photographers and videographers, jewelers, limousine services and much more.
“You can plan your whole wedding in literally one day at our Springfield Wedding and Bridal Show. We have been pretty consistent for the past 35 years, although we did see a drop off during COVID, but it has been getting better every year since the pandemic,” Jenks said.
He noted that weddings do change based on the economy, and as it has “tightened up,” they are seeing more and more small-scale weddings.
“Some couples have economized by renting a tent and having their wedding outdoors and bringing in food trucks. In fact, we do have food trucks now represented in the show and have even had a fire engine that was turned into a mobile bar. However, we do have a large percentage of wedding and banquet facilities attending the show, including golf courses, who see weddings as good off-season revenue,” Jenks said.
“With all things said, I still think most women desire that traditional wedding and that will never change,” he added.
Peter Gray, right, and Danielle Cusano, of Pete’s Sweets, hand out free cake samples at the 2024 Springfield Wedding & Bridal Expo at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield on Saturday. (Steven E. Nanton photo)Steven E. Nanton
Pete’s Sweets from East Longmeadow is one of several cake vendors at the show looking to make a couple’s wedding day even sweeter. Owner and operator Peter Gray brings his classic baking skills and imagination to the table as a graduate of New England Culinary Institute. He was also a contestant on TLC’s “Next Great Baker,” hosted by Buddy Valastro, better known as the Cake Boss, who has his own baking show on television.
“Realistically, wedding cakes are still white, round, tiered, and with flowers, but we can do whatever the couple wants to personalize the cake and make it their own,” Gray said, citing one couple who wanted to add a decoration of a dog taking a bite out of the cake.
While vanilla and chocolate wedding cakes are still the popular choices, Gray said he makes wedding cakes that are red velvet, carrot, orange, lemon poppy seed, spice, and confetti cake, just to name a few.
“The flavor of your cake can change with the addition of a variety of fillings,” Gray said about his long list of selections such as hazelnut, peanut butter, raspberry jam, and a large variety of buttercreams from strawberry to amaretto and cappuccino to cinnamon and many more. Samples of his cakes will be offered at the show.
While at the show, participants can also sit down, relax, and enjoy a fashion show and live entertainment both days at the show’s main stage, including Caccie’s Bridal Closet, Fred Astaire Dance, Bridal Corner/Ron’s Formal Wear, Nicole Wzorek Designs Gowns & Lingerie, and music by saxophonist Quinn Mitchell.
One lucky couple will also win a grand prize package that includes a tuxedo package, invitations gift certificate, cake certificate, an engagement photo session and more. You can register for the grand prize online or in-person at the show Additional door prizes will be given away at the fashion show stage.
For more information about this weekend’s show, visit jenksproductions.com.
