'3-D Pinterest' for brides to be
Photos by LOREN BENOIT/Press Bride-to-be Jessica Niles, of Post Falls, tries on lipstick at the SeneGence booth Thursday night at the Inland Northwest Bridal Show inside The Hagadone Event Center.
From left, Nicole Daley, Rashell Shaffer (bride to be), Kendyll Taylor and Lucas Porto pose for a photo inside the Happy Camper Photobooth Thursday night at the Inland Northwest Bridal show.
From left, Clair Rogers, Savannah Kollasch, Olivia Calza, and Mary Rogers take a break from scanning booths at the Inland Northwest Bridal Show to chat and nibble on desserts. Kollasch came with her friends to the show to spy possible ideas for her September wedding.
By DEVIN HEILMAN
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — Bride-to-be Savannah Kollasch and her group of ladies inspected a table of aromatic and decadent catered foods.
They strolled through the Inland Northwest Bridal Show and sampled different treats while taking in the many possibilities for planning the perfect September wedding.
"I really, really wanted to come because I really had no idea what I wanted to do," said Kollasch, of Moscow. "We were going to come for the ideas as well as to get phone numbers. I'm so glad that I came."
Her good friend and bridesmaid Olivia Calza of Moscow said they enjoyed the venue and the variety of booths to stop by.
"We called it '3-D Pinterest,'" Olivia said brightly. "Coming here for the first time, we're all really impressed by how beautiful it is."
The Hagadone Event Center was aglow with all things wedding Thursday evening as nearly 40 vendors showcased the goods and services available to brides (and grooms) in the Inland Northwest. The spread of offers included everything from make-up and spa treatments to photography, transportation options and cozy loungewear.
"This is pretty intimate, that's what I like about it," said Betty Whitney of Garwood, whose daughter, Megan, is getting married next year. "It's smaller than the one in Spokane, so it's not as hectic and not as commercial."
"This photo booth is really fun," said Megan's sister, Rachel, pointing to the Happy Camper Photo Booth exhibit. "And the variety of food and drink is really good."
Models in gowns and tuxedos intermittently stepped onto a small stage in the center of the Bridal Show to show off the different wedding wear for brides and grooms. Many stopped to admire and comment before moving along to the next booth of interest or tasty morsel to test.
Jaime Johnson, designer and owner of Jaime Johnson Events, served as a consultant and designed the layout of the Bridal Show. She said Pantone's color for 2017 is green, which many brides are finding to be a great accent color, and another trend is brides "moving back to taking care of their guests."
"They're really putting their guests in the forefront," Johnson said. "Yes, they're getting the dress, they're picking all their favorite things, but they really want to know how that impacts their guests and how they're treated and how they experience their day. That is the No. 1 and best trend that I hope will never go away."