Richmond's annual wedding show goes virtual this Sunday

Richmond’s annual Wedding Affair show will take place this year, albeit not at its usually packed and bustling River Rock Casino home.

Instead, the 13th annual show will be taking place virtually this Sunday in participants’ homes and in vendors’ studios, kitchens and places of work.

Laura Takasaki, of Richmond-based show hosts Imagine That Events, said she wanted to still put something on to help out struggling vendors and brides and grooms-to-be who have been left wondering what their big day may look like next year.

“The show was cancelled last year, for obvious reasons, but have pivoted to doing a whole host of online events, so we though let’s try it out and see what happens,” Takasaki told the Richmond News, adding that her company has been organizing online corporate events, Christmas parties and even award shows.

“We have pre-recorded the fashion show, which will keep people entertained while they’re online.

“It was actually easier to pre-record, as it gives us more time for other aspects of the show.”

Takasaki said the 25 or so vendors will be ready and waiting on Sunday to dive into live video chats with the show participants.

“We are using an online platform where their screen will look like a map of the wedding show,” she explained.

“You will see logos of the vendors and you can click on that logo and you will go into a live video chat with that vendor.

“If it’s a photographer they may be in their studio, a caterer doing it from her kitchen…It’s more about connecting people face to face.”

Takasaki said people will obviously miss walking around, meeting people, drinking wine and tasting food.

“But we will still have your grand prize which is $5,000 worth of wedding décor, hotel stay, cake and photography,” she added.

“It’s tough to get people excited about going online, as we’re all doing so much of that these days.

“Many of our previous vendors have sadly shut down so we wanted to help vendors as much as possible. We kept the costs very low for them, we’re just covering our own costs really.

“I think (2022) is going to be an incredible season and I think people are going to have to get prepared as early as possible.”

For more information on the show, go to https://aweddingaffair.ca/