Hundreds of future brides will gather at Park Crest this month to watch a “fake” bride take a walk down the aisle.
It’s part of The Big Fake Wedding, a bridal show that travels the country with a different approach to showing off its vendors’ work. The show is coming to Park Crest Events, 2030 Little Valley Road, Nov. 3.
Marketing Director Johna Castro said The Big Fake Wedding was created in 2008 by Callie Murray, a wedding photographer looking for a new way to show her work. Rather than sitting at a convention hall booth, she decided to gather a group of wedding service vendors and put together an actual ceremony. Castro said they now host about 30 events a year.
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“They [Big Fake Wedding attendees] are able to really experience the vendors in live action. They’re able to taste the cake and try the flowers and listen to the bands,” Castro said.
About 30 vendors come together to build the 20-minute ceremony and the dance party and reception that follows, including florists, caterers, DJs, musicians and photographers. Vendors for Hoover’s event include Southern Bridesmaids, I Do Linens, Facetime Photobooth, Cakes by Kim, Exchange Vintage, pianist Jenn Brooker, Southern Cotton Photography, TheBirminghamBride.com and Black Sheep Bride.
Each fake wedding has its own theme for the vendors to design around. The theme for the Hoover event is called “Crisp Copenhagen,” focusing on minimalism, light and a color palette based on snow, birch trees and pine needles. Castro compared it to a “walk through Pinterest in real life.” There is time before and after the wedding itself for couples to talk to the different companies in the “Tunnel of Love,” where the vendors set up booths.
“It’s a lot more organic way to really get a real glance at the vendors,” Castro said.
This is the third time The Big Fake Wedding has come to the Birmingham area, but its first outside of downtown. Castro said Park Crest was chosen as a good nontraditional venue that’s close enough to pull interested couples from throughout Birmingham. While the event is a chance for local businesses to show off their talents, Castro said The Big Fake Wedding staff wants to give couples inspiration not only for their wedding ceremony, but for their marriage as a whole.
To that end, the couple chosen for the ceremony is always a local married couple. They do a vow renewal instead of wedding vows, and Castro said it can be an emotional time for the future brides and grooms in the audience to reflect on their commitment.
“A lot of our guests have just said that it’s an experience like no other,” Castro said.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the ceremony begins at 7 p.m. It is followed by a dance party and reception with light food and desserts with a grand exit at 9 p.m. Tickets to The Big Fake Wedding are $25.
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