September 16, 2009

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CONTACT:                   Elizabeth Wray

                                     Elizabeth Wray Design Inc./630.232-1975 or 630.772.1975

Sept. 20 Geneva Wedding Walk Creates Convenience, Ease, for Brides & Grooms

            Anticipating your perfect wedding is exhilarating. Getting to that dream day, however, can mean a lot of work and stress, unless you are working with the right people.

            The 2009 Geneva Wedding Walk, set for Sunday, Sept. 20, provides those people all in one place, to lessen the stress and heighten the excitement.

            The event is sponsored by Geneva Bride, together with Classic Party Rentals, plus Geneva Commons and the city of Geneva. Geneva Bride is a group of dedicated Geneva-area wedding boutiques committed to making a wedding everything the bride and groom imagine. Members include wedding planners, florists, decor designers, caterers, owners of unique venues and boutique dress shops, photographers, jewelers, salons, rental companies, hotels and providers of custom invitations, cakes and treats, and financial planning services, travel companies and more. There are multiples of nearly every kind of business, for a wealth of choices.

            Admission is $25 for a bride and two guests, and includes a wedding planner, goodie bags, three wedding magazines, plus favors and handouts from vendors. Brides also will have the chance to win a honeymoon in Aruba or Cancun. To be eligible for the honeymoon trips, brides must stop at each vendor and have their tickets stamped.

            “The Chicago area is a top destination for weddings,” said Elizabeth Wray, owner of Elizabeth Wray Design and co-chair of the event. “That makes it very difficult for a bride and groom to sort through the many options available to them. Geneva Bride brings together more than 40 experienced vendors, under a spectacular tent, all well-versed in what it takes to make the day everything everyone involved wants it to be. It eliminates some of the confusion and a lot of the stress.”

            Registration for the Wedding Walk will be form 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attendees will then visit participating stores in the mall, and have their tickets checked. From 2 to 5 p.m., participants will visit in the Wedding Walk tent with the remaining participating vendors, receive giveaways and goodies, and watch continuing fashion shows.

            The Geneva Wedding Walk sets itself apart from other expos, where vendors commonly are culled from a wide geographic area. “Who wants to have a florist in the southern suburbs and a photographer from the North Shore?” Elizabeth Wray asked.

 “This is one-stop shopping. A bride can have a dress fitting, then visit her wedding cake baker and wedding reception venue, all in the same afternoon.”

            “We are showcasing Geneva and the unparalleled services Geneva has to offer brides, grooms and their friends and families,” said co-chair Anton Engelmann. “Even if the wedding itself isn’t here, it’s so convenient to have a number of your vendors -- distinctive, established vendors -- in one place. Brides love it. Mothers of brides appreciate it as well.”

            Participating stores within the Geneva Commons outdoor lifestyle mall include Harry & David, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma and annabella salonspa.

            Geneva Bride grew out of the first Geneva Wedding Walk, held in January 2008 in downtown Geneva. That event attracted brides from throughout the Chicago area and beyond, and was so well-received it has become a semi-annual event.

            Geneva Commons is on Randall Road in Geneva, between Williamsburg Avenue and Bricher Road.

            Visit www.genevabride.com to register and see the participating boutiques and venues. Space is limited for the Geneva Wedding Walk event.

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Photo: Laura Beery of St. Charles will be one of the models at the Sunday Sept. 20 Geneva Wedding Walk. Photo by Tom Nicol Photography.