• Prizes and discounts that will make your wedding planning convenient and enjoyable

Star Valley’s third annual Wyoming Wedding Expo takes place this Saturday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gather on 89 in Afton. Brides, grooms, families, friends and folks planning a special event of any kind are invited to attend.  This open house event is open to the public and admission is free.

Hosted by Morales Photo and Film and sponsored by Gather on 89, the annual Wedding Expo continues to grow with 17 local vendors participating this year. Saturday’s vendors include caterers, photographers and videographers, live musicians and DJs, planners, officiants, food trucks, hair and beauty artists, seamstresses, décor rentals, and a creator of instant social media content, which is a new trend in the wedding and event industry. Models from Heart’s Bridal in Idaho Falls will be there modeling pieces from the shop’s wedding collection.

According to photographer Abbey Morales, who has planned and organized the Expo each year, vendors are planning special offers and discounts for folks who attend. “And it’s not just for brides,” Morales said. All members of your wedding party can find something valuable at the expo, and folks who are planning other special events are sure to find something helpful as well.

Special features during the day include a Swag Bag giveaway to the first 25 brides through the door beginning at 11 a.m., and don’t miss the cake dive at 2:30. “We debuted that last year, and it was so fun!” Music will play as pre-registered brides and grooms move around the cake in a game similar to Musical Chairs. When the music stops, each participant can dive a hand into the cake. The bride or groom who finds the hidden ring in the cake will take home a wedding veil valued at $300.

Lunch, prepared by Artisan Chef, will be available for purchase as well.  “Oh, my gosh,” Morales exclaimed. “I still dream about the lunch she made last year. It was so good!”

Upstream Entertainment will offer DJ services throughout the day, and the Salt River String Quartet will present live music for two sets during the event. “They were incredible last year! They provided such a unique ambiance to the event,” said Morales. “You don’t really hear a live quartet in many places, so that was a really nice treat.”

“We encourage the whole family to come and make it a really fun day with the whole wedding party,” said Morales. “Bring your fiancé and your family or you can make it a fun girl’s day. We have a lot of people who attend that aren’t getting married. They just want to come and support local businesses and have a fun time or plan a different event.”

Morales said she can squeeze in another vendor or two, but space is limited, so reach out soon. Space is also limited in the cake dive event, so it would be best to reserve your spot in advance at moralesphotoandfilm.com.

“The Wedding Expo is going to be a really fun and beneficial day for the public to come out,” said Morales. “You can get a lot of wedding planning or event planning done in one day. You can also take advantage of exclusive discounts from local businesses. If you’re not getting married or planning an event, you can still come and support really talented and local vendors and have a fun time. We’ll have a photo booth and you can take some photos with your family. There’s dancing and it’s just amazing with the local string quartet. We always have a blast!”