Right in the middle of the 2008 Bridal Showcase, the “Grease” movie lovebirds tied the knot 30 years after appearing in their own high school musical. Attended by four pink ladies and four greaser groomsmen, the catwalk wedding was orchestrated by Georgio’s Bridal of Waco in a show that was part theater, part fashion and pure entertainment.
Presented by the Temple Daily Telegram, the second annual showcase drew more than 300 future brides, grooms, friends and family Sunday afternoon to the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple.
In addition to watching Georgio’s production, which was flanked by a bridal bootcamp demo from Gym X and a fashion show by Coccinella Bridal of Salado, couples browsed booths featuring 44 wedding vendors. Services included bridal shops and tuxedo rentals, caterers and bakers, photographers and disc jockeys, salons, wedding planners, travel agents and even teeth straightening and whitening.
Among the couples shopping vendors were Whitney Kelder of Belton and Chad West of Waco, who plan to wed June 13, 2009. They got engaged July 4 following a connection that West described as “love at first sight.”
“I’ve never been to anything like this before,” said Ms. Kelder, who met West on match.com. “I had only thought of a couple of different (vendors), but knew there were other places and other photographers than what I’d heard of.
“Seeing all this is very helpful. I couldn’t put into words what I wanted. After seeing this, I can say, ‘That’s what I want.’”
Some 45 Georgio’s models in 75 different gowns, tuxedos and attendants’ dresses also provided a measure of clarity to betrothed onlookers, who enjoyed the luxury of seeing the finery modeled without their own dressing room drudgery.
Set to soundtracks from favorite chick-flicks and musicals, most of the rich taffeta or lace bridal gowns were heavily beaded, strapless and in shades of ivory, white or champagne. Ballroom gowns featured billowing skirts and ruching, with a few topped off by birdcage veils complete with feathers.
Bridal gowns in the show, which was planned for six months, ranged from $300-1,400.
An upbeat runway show from Coccinella followed with 10 models and 19 gowns for brides, attendants and brides’ mothers. Half of the bridal gowns offered some shoulder coverage, like a v-neck with a tank back or a short, lace cap sleeve. Two were crowned with a flowing cathedral veil.
Coccinella’s traditional and romantic gowns ranged from $450-1,500.
