Women, a few men find ideas at wedding expo

While Andy Head was at home watching the Rams game Sunday afternoon, his fiancee, Angie Berkbigler, was out tasting wedding cakes and planning their May 31, 2003, wedding.

"We have a few things booked already, like the church and the music, but we need to get a few ideas for centerpieces and decorations," Berkbigler said.

That's why she, along with a couple hundred other brides-to-be, attended the 2002 Bridal and Prom Expo at the Drury Lodge Sunday.

The hotel's large conference room was filled with white pillars, colorful balloons and several vendors who had come to share wedding ideas with the future brides.

Berkbigler searched the room for dresses, photographers and ideas for invitations with her mother, Bonnie, future mother-in-law Pam Head, and best friend and maid of honor Jessica Grogg.

"This is awesome," Berkbigler said. "I've seen a lot of ideas for invitations and centerpieces."

While the brides-to-be searched the room for the best decorations, models showed the newest dresses on a runway in the middle of the room.

Sarah Hamilton sat with her mother and maid of honor to look at the dresses.

"That's pretty," Hamilton said as one model walked across the stage, "but Jeff doesn't like the one-strap thing."

Hamilton, who will be married in June 2003, said she bought a dress a few months ago, but she doesn't know if it is the right one.

"I found a dress for only $75 and bought it because it was such a good deal," she said. "I'm still looking in case it doesn't work."

Most of the brides attended the expo with their mothers and maids of honor.

Garren Crowell was one of only a handful of men who braved the crowd of brides-to-be to look at everything that makes a perfect wedding. As he stood at the back of the room with his fiancee, Aimee Elledge, he looked around at all of the different decorations, cakes and wedding accessories.

"There is so much to choose from," he said. "I didn't realize how much went into this."

Crowell's mother, Marlane, spent the afternoon searching for ideas with Elledge's mother, Dodi.

"This is a lot of fun," Crowell said. "It's very hard to imagine it all being done in a year, but since I'm not the bride's mom, I don't have to worry as much."

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128