Hundreds of brides-to-be congregated at the Carl Perking Civic Center on Sunday, Jan. 8 for the 27th annual Jackson Bridal Show, the largest event of its kind in West Tennessee.
Dozens of vendors set up shop to offer services, including floral arrangements, catering, officiating, dress and suit fittings, hair and makeup tips, preparing for a destination wedding, and every aspect that goes into planning the big day.
It also featured a runway of 11 models who showcased an array of wedding gowns to fit the need of any bride, hosted by My Best Friend Jenna — a bridal and formalwear boutique.
A few vendors shared their secrets on making your wedding day go smoothly as one of the most memorable days of your life.
Studio 107: Space for primping on big day
For a bride’s spray tanning and make-up glam needs, Studio 107 owner Tiffany Vollmer’s 30 years of experience as a make-up artist propelled her into the wedding sphere.
She moved to Jackson in March of 2022 and committed herself to her passion by signing a five-year lease at the studio where she currently operates.
“For me to have it be cost-effective to come to you, because a lot of people call me from Milan and Lexington, I didn’t have a brick-and-mortar place until now,” Vollmer added.
Additionally, she plans to use the large, exposed indoor brick wall at her location as a co-operation for local artists and photographers who seek to use it as a site for headshots or creating their art. The lighting and location of her business offers the opportunity for Vollmer to execute her best work for brides to be.
“It’s just a cool space, and there’s nothing like it,” Vollmer said. “I’ve done this for so long that last year in Nashville I can not tell you how many times I went to hotels to get girls ready, and I had horrible lighting, not enough plug-ins, and one bathroom for ten girls. Now they can get ready here and move freely, and it be the coolest space they’ve ever been in.”
Above and Beyond Flowers & More – 28 years of experience
Terrance Spearman has been in the service of accommodating brides for all their floral needs, tuxedo rentals, and event planning for the last 28 years. Over the years, Spearman estimates he’s been involved in the planning of 117 weddings.
“Do I like what I’m doing? No. I love it,” Spearman said.
He adds that the most fulfilling part of being in the wedding industry is seeing the satisfaction on clients’ faces.
“When someone allows you to be a part of their special occasion, that means something to me and I take that personally,” he added. “Then to see them fulfilled and satisfied, it’s priceless.”
Elegant Events & Rentals, accommodating any event
A rental company that has no limits to the type of event that they can put on, Elegant Events & Rentals is run by Gayle Hudson.
The Henderson-based business offers everything from wedding planning to hosting large-party dinners.
“We do tents for outside events, we do big-scale draping and lighting, and we do everything else,” Hudson said. “I’m a one-stop shop, and you could do your whole event with me. Catering, dishes, all of your decorations, linens, tables, and chairs.”
Having only commenced her journey into event planning one year ago, she combined her background in both accounting and interior design to seamlessly execute her event-planning visions.
“I had always had jobs that were either this one or that one, and someone said ‘you have to choose,’ and I said “why do I have to choose?’” Hudson said. “So this lets me do both because putting together an estimate and helping someone plan within a budget, that’s my accounting side, and then I get to go and put it up, and that’s my creative side.”
Her sister-in-law had informed her about an event planner in Henderson who was selling all of their rental inventory, to which her husband encouraged her by noting “if that’s not the perfect business for you, what is?”
“To make their day magical, you get to walk away with that,” Hudson said. “There’s so much in this world that pulls us down and then when you get to see somebody just open up and glow when they see what you created for them, that’s wonderful to me and gives me purpose to get up the next day and do it again.”
