Bigger, Better and Reloaded: Wedding Show Back for 14th Year

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With the two most popular engagement days behind us, future brides and their families are hard at work trying to find the right fit for their weddings. 

Whether it be the perfect DJ, the ideal caterer or the wedding dress of your dreams, the newly-amped up Chehalis Wedding Show has everything you need.

The show, which was formerly known as the Chehalis Bridal Show, is expected to be bigger and better than ever, bringing in more vendors and options to everyone included in a wedding.

The location of the event, which is in its 14th year, has changed from the Hotel Washington to The Loft, located in downtown Chehalis, a bigger venue that has ample space and electrical abilities.

Stephanie Cline, owner of The Loft, expects a large turnout and said many of her upcoming brides scheduled at The Loft are excited for the opportunity.

“I’ve had great feedback so far, and the brides are excited to see some of the local vendors,” she said.

The change in location was part of a rebranding effort taken on by Live 95/KITI radio stations, the facilitator of the event, which is contracted through the city of Chehalis. 

“We really wanted something a little bit different than what has been done in the past,” Lisa Neal, broadcast sales representative for Live 95/KITI radio stations, said. 

“We rebranded it and want to encompass the whole wedding party, not just the bride,” she said.

Typically, the event includes 20 to 25 vendors, but the goal this year is to involve over 30 vendors, a number the radio station is already getting close to. With a majority of the vendors coming straight out of Lewis County, the show will provide plenty of opportunities for residents to learn more about the available services in the area.

“We are shooting for about 75 percent (of the vendors) from Lewis County,” Neal said, stating the collective focus of the show is to spread the word about the central location of Lewis County. “We have great venues and we also have really good providers here that can just do everything.”

The goal is to market the county as a wedding destination for Southwest Washington and even Western Washington. 

In a roundabout way, the show focuses on the local economy and hopes to boost sales in the area. 



“I think that we have so much to offer, so that was kind of what we were looking to do is really bring attention the fact … that we have a thriving community, we have beautiful venues, we have professional service providers and having it here is going to be way less expensive than going to Seattle, Portland, or even Olympia for that matter,” Neal said. 

The wedding show was moved back from its traditional date in January to try to target some of the engagements that happened on Christmas and Valentine’s Day, the two most popular dates for wedding proposals. 

Other changes include the incorporation of the Miss Lewis County contestants who will be modeling some of the dresses on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Live models will also be working their way through The Loft, showing off tuxedos and dresses throughout the event. 

Miss Lewis County 2014, Jodee Hickman, and Mrs. Lewis County, Stacey Stoney, will be in attendance at the “Sneak Peak Party” on Friday evening, providing a meet and greet opportunity.

The Friday night event offers vendors an opportunity to network, and also gives interested brides and participants the chance to schedule appointments for hair and makeup sessions the following day. 

A new option to preregister for the event is also offered on the event’s website, and all those who sign up early will have the opportunity to wave the entry fee, securing free entrance with up to four people.

Prizes will be handed out at the event, and a free wedding gown, donated by Sewsie’s Diva Palace in Chehalis, will be up for grabs.

Owner of Sewsie’s, Susan Ingram, said she has been involved in the event since the beginning and has donated a dress every year. She said the wedding show benefits the public because it allows shops to show what services they have available.

“As a local business I can show the public what I can offer the community, which is just as much as David’s Bridal can,” Ingram said, noting her store also does alterations. 

A free tux rental is up for grabs for the grooms in attendance, donated by Bartel’s, and all attendees can enter to win a beach getaway weekend from Live 95/KITI. 

All of the changes that have taken place focus on creating a more elegant scene for the wedding show, one where brides, grooms, wedding party members, families and friends can all come to discover the best services offered in the area. 

“It’s just going to be a fun, new show. That’s what we are going for,” Neal said.