2008 Woodie Awards
Newport says "I Do" to Wedding Show in Rosecliff Mansion
Christina Dilieto
Issue date: 2/16/06 Section: Entertainment
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Half an hour later 550 or more brides-to-be will arrive with their fiancés. "We wanted to attend Rosecliff because it is unique and it is one of the most premiere spots to get married," said Kathleen Hellquist,advertising and marketing specialist from The Newport Daily News, who remained stationed at a small booth in the left corner of the first noticeable room. "We hand out magazines to everyone that comes in," said Hellquist as she organized a pile of Newport Daily Life magazines on an elegant chestnut table.
The Newport Premiere Bridal Show brought vendors and young brides and grooms-to-be together on Saturday. The couples received experienced and professional help in making their wedding decisions. They were also granted the opportunity to spend the entire day in one of Newport's most beautiful mansions.
Hellquist, as a graduate from Salve Regina University in Newport, commented, "We know
a lot of brides and grooms attend because this is a good opportunity for people to visit the mansion at the low cost of $10 all day, and that wouldn't be the case any other day."
The vendors, on the other hand, paid $950 for the day but hoped to gain a profit by making sales.
Each vendor had a great opportunity to show off their wedding services and products to a large group of interested customers. The show really gave them a chance to shine and a chance to offer their best products. All of the vendors offered free pamphlets, business cards and other informative booklets so brides-to-be were able to
take the information home with them and pass it on to other friends or family.
The Newport Daily Magazine benefits the most from the event. This show is one of the nine shows sponsored by the company where they receive the $950 fee paid by all 43 vendors for space. They get to put in a lot of promoting including a raffle and a free
year subscription to the magazine.
The Newport Daily News ,which like Newport Daily Magazine, is owned by The Sherrman Publishing Company and took part in some of the promoting, along with the broadcasting company ABC 6 which was just named the new
media sponsor for Newport Life Magazine.
Newport Daily Life, with help from the other partnered establishments, planned
the show. They focused on the New England area and aimed to give the guests an elegant, fashionable and informative expedition. They hold their shows in Oct.,
Jan. and Feb. because these are considered the "off months" for weddings.
According to Rourke, the guests can "negotiate a better rate with vendors" at this time. On Saturday they were doing so in a sophisticated and formal atmosphere.
The couples entered the main show rooms on a red carpet and were handed a glass of champagne. The two large rooms were lined with booths conveniently forming a walk way that would later become a run-way for a fashion show. Men and women dressed up in tuxedos passed out hors d'oeuvres and mini-cakes. Voices talking over the background of violin music that echoed through the old mansion halls.
The smell of roses and orchids filled the air mixed with the sweet smell of perfume.
The announcement of David's Bridal Company was the signal that The Second Annual
Newport Premiere Bridal Show had officially begun.
The guests would be in constant contact with a vendor or exhibitionist for the next five hours.
It is not a surprise that some of the brides and grooms-to-be were overwhelmed when they found themselves surrounded by every bridal service New England has to offer.
Amy Jackson from Simsbury ,Conn. and her fiancé Mike Martin from Newport, R.I. were in awe at all the options that were available. "Well, there are so many things to
choose from I feel like if there was anything we forgot, like small details for our wedding, we will find them here, and we won't be able to miss them."
Jackson and Martin said they were not looking for anything in particular but were hoping to stumble across something special to add to their reception next May. It is without a doubt that other couples who attended on Saturday found everything they needed and more for their upcoming weddings.