30th Annual Wedding Party Show January 9 and 10

If you are engaged or about to become engaged, you won't want to miss the 30th annual Wedding Party Show next weekend, January 9 and 10, at Boise Centre on the Grove. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 at the door. Over 100 merchants will be on hand to help with all your wedding planning needs.

Gift certificates valued at $1,000 will be given away after each fashion show. Shows are at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Ten gift certificates, each valued at $100, can be redeemed with participating merchants, helping significantly reduce the costs of your wedding.

The show started thirty years ago when two local business women, one the owner of a bridal salon and the other the co-owner of a rental center, decided that Boise needed a wedding show. They pitched the idea to other business owners and the show was born. Initially it was held in the ballroom of a local hotel with about 30 merchants participating. At that time, the Treasure Valley population was around 100,000 and the show offered a new way for merchants to showcase their services to a targeted audience.

I first attended the show in 1990 when it was still being held at a hotel with about 45 participating merchants. There was little structure and the show clearly had the feel of a trade show that had just evolved, rather than being planned, with merchants using card tables set up around the room.

How times have changed! In the mid 1990s, after the opening of Boise Centre on the Grove, the show moved there. The Treasure Valley was growing and more merchants involved in special events were entering the market, making the need for more space and greater structure necessary. True to its origin, the show is still produced as a joint effort of the particpating merchants. To facilitate decision making, a board of directors was chosen and meetings of all participating merchants are held several times during the year. Booth spaces are assigned and tables, chairs, and linens are provided, giving the show a classy, uniform look.

This will be the 12th Wedding Party Show in which I have participated. Twelve years ago, about 70 merchants were involved, representing most of the special events businesses in the area. Today, the show fills the main conference room and the lobby at Boise Centre on the Grove. So many merchants want to participate that there is not enough space to accommodate them all. Until Boise has a larger venue, this will be a continuing problem.

So, grab your honey, your mom or your friends and join us for the Treasure Valley's oldest and largest wedding show. Come see the latest trends and fashions, sample cakes and catering and take advantage of show specials. You will be able to find everything you need to plan the wedding of your dreams. See you there.

January 10 update - 817 brides registered during the two days. Many, many of them are getting married June 26th. It seemed that every other person I talked with had chosen that date. Those who weren't getting married then seemed to be focusing on September. It is going to be a great year!

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