Here comes the bridal show

Flowers lined the ballroom floor at the Fredericton Convention Centre as the team at Exclusive Events prepared for the 22nd Annual Bridal Show.

This was the second consecutive year that the design company hosted the event. Jennifer Rose started the company in 2009 after planning her brother’s wedding. Organizing the show is a lot of hard work, but Rose says she always looks forward to helping others plan their big day.

“All of my clients are amazing,” she said. “It’s so nice to meet so many different people. Different styles and décor they’re looking for. Just meeting the families mainly, and going through that journey with them.”

Though Rose runs the company herself, she often recruits the help of friends and family. Her father, Wayne Wells, is recently retired and acts as her handyman while her mother Helen helps with the book-work.

Rose’s parents have been married for nearly 40 years. Helen was just shy of 16 when she met Wayne in the woods of Nevers Road in Lincoln, New Brunswick. She was driving a brand new Polaris snowmobile, and Wayne was immediately jealous. They’ve been together ever since.

“I had her,” said Wayne. He was talking about the snowmobile.

The team expected 170 guests on Jan. 27. Upwards of 60 vendors were waiting for them, offering services such as cake design, honeymoon planning, decorating, catering, and venues. Exclusive Events specializes in décor and floral design.

Vendors drew names from a variety of glass bowls containing discounts for their services. The main prize was a honeymoon cruise valued at $2,500.

Rose and team had an extra week to prepare this year after a snowstorm postponed the show. But for some, the stress remained high.

“I’m the one that panics all the time,” said Helen. “But it’s just like, you know, it’ll go. It’ll come together. And it always does. It always comes together flawlessly.”