THUNDER BAY – With a festive atmosphere and around 70 exhibitors, the 18th annual Thunder Bay Wedding Show drew hundreds of couples, along with friends and family, to check out a wide array of local wedding options. The event took place at the Victoria Inn on Sunday.
The show’s producer, Andre Fitzgerald, says it aims to give couples a first-hand look at options for all their wedding needs.
“When they come to the show, we want them to be able to sample the foods, touch the dresses, hear the music, meet face-to-face and consult, and find out who’s going to be their best possible fit.”
Fitzgerald has been organizing the event since its inception. He says it’s grown tremendously since starting with around 20 exhibitors in 2002.
The show includes contests like the “last couple standing” competition, where the winning pair could take home a wedding package worth $7,000, as well as a fashion show that displayed new and traditional wedding styles.
Fitzgerald says since he started the show, he’s seen many couples look to mix things up, moving away from traditional and formal weddings. He also noted a trend toward outdoor weddings in recent years.
“We’re seeing a trend definitely toward more niche happenings,” he explains. “For instance, you’re not seeing the wedding cake necessarily anymore – you’re seeing the doughnut wall, or pizza and poutine being served later in the evening.”
Theresa Ciccone, owner and operator of Bellissimo Wedding Décor and Theresa’s Italian Foods, has been coming to the show for 11 years. She has also seen the trend toward outdoor weddings, particularly tent weddings, she says.
She says the changing nature of the business is part of the fun, and she relishes the chance to share new concepts at the show.
“I’ve been doing it forever, and I love doing it,” she says. “We talk to everybody, we mingle, and we exchange ideas.”
