The Opelika-Auburn News will hold its annual bridal expo Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at the Marriott Grand National.
"At this point we have well over 30 vendors from the area for brides to talk to about planning their weddings," said Tiffany Walker, advertising project coordinator for the OA News. "We've got photographers, venues for rehearsal dinners and weddings, caterers, salons, bakeries, fitness, jewelers -- everything they can think of that they would need to plan a wedding will be represented."
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the OA News or at the door for $8.
The expo's main event will be the Clothes Rack's fashion show.
"There are two shows," Walker said. "There's one at 1:30 p.m. and one at 3 p.m. They're the same; they're just for the convenience of the brides."
The Auburn University Modeling Board will provide most of the models for the show. The expo is an event the organization looks forward to every year.
"We love it," said Emily Busby, vice president of AUMB and a junior in radio, television and film. "We love the bridal show because we get to dress up in wedding dresses and veils. It's really fun. You get to see all the upcoming brides.
"My favorite part is just acting like a bride in the dresses...It was fun acting like you're dressed up going to your wedding day."
Gayle Anderson, owner of the Clothes Rack and Auburn graduate, said the shows feature tuxedos, bridesmaid dresses, bridal gowns, veils and accessories.
"We mix it up and do different wedding dresses -- short, long, long trains -- We try to show the variety of what we have," Anderson said. "We opened in 1972, and we've been here the longest of any formal wear shop in town. We do any kind of formal wear you can imagine. Anything you would need at a wedding to wear, we do."
There will be thousands of dollars worth of door prizes and gift certificates, including a honeymoon package from MyTravel and a photo package from Flip Flop Foto.
"It's really important that people be there for the fashion show," Walker said. "During the fashion show is when we give away a lot of the prizes."
All proceeds from the event go to the OA News' Newspapers in Education program, which delivers newspapers to 25 schools across the county.
"It's our biggest fundraiser of the year for the program," Walker said. "Ticket sales will basically pay for all the papers that we give to the schools at no charge so they can be utilized as teaching documents. In 2011 we delivered over 530,000 newspapers to these schools."
Over the years, many expo attendees have been Auburn students.
"A lot of our brides and grooms are students," Anderson said. "We definitely depend on our students. They're a big part of our business."
Walker said the expo will have something for brides-to-be of all walks of life.
"We're trying to appeal to everyone," Walker said. "That's why we have such a wide range of vendors. All are welcome. Whatever your budget, I'm sure there will be a vendor there to meet at least one of your needs."
Follow @oanewsbride on Twitter for information leading up to and during the expo.
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