Amy Laskye, owner of stationery provider Ink & Paper, is one of nearly 45 vendors who will be present at the Galena Bridal Fair on Feb. 18.

Meet Top Wedding Vendors at the Galena Bridal Fair

Dozens of wedding vendors will be at the Galena Bridal Fair on Feb. 18. Get a sneak peak of what the fun-filled event has in store.

Amy Laskye, owner of stationery provider Ink & Paper, is one of nearly 45 vendors who will be present at the Galena Bridal Fair on Feb. 18.
Amy Laskye, owner of stationery provider Ink & Paper, is one of nearly 45 vendors who will be present at the Galena Bridal Fair on Feb. 18.

This February, brides-to-be may want to grab their grooms and girlfriends and head to Galena for a fun-filled day or weekend of wedding planning.

The Galena Bridal Fair, now in its seventh year, provides an opportunity to meet face-to-face with top wedding vendors from around Galena and Dubuque, Iowa.

What exactly can visitors expect? Brides can take advantage of the casual, comfortable atmosphere and chat with wedding professionals about the multitude of services and options they offer.

Visitors can meet up to 45 vendors encompassing stationery and wedding attire professionals, caterers, wedding planners, cake designers, florists, photographers and entertainers. Salon and beauty professionals as well as ceremony and reception venues will be available.

“It’s a comfortable atmosphere and all of the businesses are very eager to meet with brides to share what they have to offer,” says Amy Laskye, event coordinator and owner of Ink & Paper, a custom stationery and gift store in nearby Stockton.

These vendors are ready to help brides dream up unique wedding themes, and they’re armed with many showcase examples of their work.

As an added perk, attendees with a sweet tooth may even be able to snag a sample or two of wedding cake. Other freebies will be given away throughout the day.

The services showcased at Galena Bridal Fair encompass a variety of price ranges. Whether a bride is planning a simple shindig or a more elaborate and glamorous affair, there will be options for all brides in attendance.

Unlike some fairs, this one does not feature a runway show. Laskye believes this is a positive attribute, because the lack of a show enables brides-to-be to feel more relaxed and less crunched for time.

“They won’t have to rush around to speak with vendors and can easily meet with many different business platforms and talk to several people in a short amount of time,” Laskye says. “Everyone who attends receives the same contact time and treatment.”

Ultimately, Laskye hopes the fair can help brides to become more involved in the wedding planning process, to gain access to high-caliber wedding professionals, and to explore what Galena has to offer for a wedding.

“We are trying to make this more of a tourist destination,” Laskye says. “If guests are in the early stages of planning, they can talk to multiple people in a short amount of time. They can also enjoy Galena and explore the many options that are available for their weddings. It’s such a wonderful place full of history, and it’s conveniently near Madison, Chicago and the Quad Cities.”

Laskye wants potential attendees to remember that quality vendors are available at the fair to help with any and every aspect of a wedding.

“In this seventh year of the event, we are going to be bigger and better,” she adds. “We are a family, and all the vendors work very well together. It’s what sets us apart. Weddings go easier when the vendors know each other – you get a better experience.”

The Galena Bridal Fair happens Saturday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Galena Convention Center. There’s a $5 entry fee on the day of the event, but brides who preregister online get in free. The first 100 brides to register will receive a goodie bag filled with products and vendor information. All brides who attend will also be entered into a door prize drawing.

For more information, visit galenabridalfair.com.