The Augusta Bridal Show

The Augusta Bridal Show. We arrived three hours early to set up our booth managing to finish just in the nick of time. We were in good company. Martina’s, Partridge Inn, Mary Kay Cosmetics, wedding cake designers, travel agents, and caterers filled the Bell Auditorium in anticipation of attracting future brides. It was rather intimidating being in the company of all those professionals who decorated and designed for a living and the three of us just going by trial and error. We had planned every detail but as luck would have it when we arrived our booth was not quite as big as our plans; so we adjusted. Every venture needs a plan B.
The doors opened and a mass of humanity began to fill the aisles. Future brides and their mothers or their fiancées or their girlfriends perused the offerings of each vendor. As I watched the crowd, something I love to do, it occurred to me that very few people bother to dress for occasions anymore. It was obvious that quite a few of the girls just did not care about appearance. Shirts too tight and too short to cover the protruding belly that hung over waistbands; unwashed, unkempt hair hanging everywhere and people who looked as if they had just gotten out of bed to make the trip. The few that took the time to be properly attired stood out in the crowd. Looking around one could see folks walking down the aisles stuffing food in their mouths; the caterer’s booths were quite popular. Even though it cost $10.00 to get in, no one monitored the vendor entrance. Cowboys from the Futurity wandered through which was fine by me I like guys in tight jeans, but others managed to crash the party too. A few of the citizens who do not have a permanent home, the grocery cart set, came in for the warmth and free food and if I didn’t know better I’d swear that the land of the Chattahoochee bussed some of its mountain residents down to the show.
We spent two hours promoting ourselves although we could tell who was really interested and who just wanted to register for the free over-night stay. Just before the scheduled fashion show the event coordinator visited our booth. Much to our surprise and joy we won best booth of the show. It was exciting especially considering the company we were in. Rhonda even got to go up on stage to accept the award. Shortly following the presentation the fashion show began. Bridal gowns for all seasons by David’s Bridal flowed across the stage. Really cute guys in tuxes accompanied some of the female models. They performed; they danced, they acted, they strutted their stuff and it was all very entertaining. The highlight of the show was the little flower girl and her escort. Finally it was over and the packing up began. It sure came down faster than it went up much to my joy. I was tired and could not wait to get home.