Regional merchants will come together next weekend to allow brides, grooms and their family and friends to gather in one place and see all they will need for their special events.
The Piedmont Bridal Show will take place at Richmond Community College’s Cole Auditorium, where merchants and retailers from Richmond County and surrounding counties will display their products and will be available to answer questions. Brides and their bridesmaids will be able to consult cosmetic professionals, men will be able browse through tuxedos and all guests will get to enjoy the music of musicians for hire, including a harpist and a jazz band.
Sharon Nichols has organized the show, and she said although she has 32 exhibitors lined up from across the Sandhills, she has space for more.
Exhibitors will include cake bakers, photographers, florists, caterers, travel agents, embroiderers, event planners, bridal registries, dancing lessons, ceremony and reception location representatives, invitation professionals, lighting and decor designers, and even real estate agents.
Admission to this event is free, and it will take place Feb. 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. Cole Auditorium is located at 1042 E. Hamlet Ave. in Hamlet.
“This will be an elegant, lovely event, and people should come regardless of when their wedding is,” said Nichols. “This will be a lovely shopping experience. There will be prizes given away to the brides.”
You can be entered into the prize drawings twice if you pre-register at www.piedmontbridalshow.com.
Nichols said the goal of the show is to gather local merchants together for an event that will bring the client to a place in Richmond County to see what is available. According to Nichols, many people who plan weddings often think they need to leave town to find everything they will need, although that isn’t the case.
One of the biggest tasks of a wedding is finding the perfect dress. But brides from Richmond County don’t have to go to Raleigh or Charlotte to be fitted. They can head to the Bridal Nook, owned by Kristi Wilson. She will have a booth at the bridal show where ladies can see some of her dresses, shoes, look at jewelry and other items. She said she aims to make the process of selecting a dress personal.
“When ladies come into my store, they aren’t just a face,” said Wilson. “It’s personal, and if they are from Richmond County, there is usually a connection made. I even have girls from Southern Pines come down to my store.”
They won’t have to leave town soon, either, because Wilson has opened a second Bridal Nook by the Walmart in Southern Pines.
“We’ve tried to maintain a focus on the local economy,” said Joey Bennett, Cole Auditorium director.
According to both Bennett and Nichols, exhibitors will come to Richmond County from Moore County, as well as Laurinburg and South Carolina.
“We have tried to cover all possible services and the ones that are coming are excellent providers,” said Nichols. “This will be a fun afternoon and if you know anyone who is getting married, tell them to come.”
Nichols said this event is also great for anyone looking for prom dresses, or other accommodations and accessories for formal events such as 50th anniversaries.
If you are an exhibitor and wish to reserve a spot at the show, contact Nichols at piedmontbridals@mnlsn.com.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@civitasmedia.com.
NOTE: The original article had an error that has been corrected. This article is the correct version. We apologize for these mistakes.
Post a Comment
