Dothan Bridal Extravaganza makes trip down aisle easier

After just one sample of the three-layer cake at a bakery vendor at the Dothan Bridal Extravaganza, Amy Tippit and her fiancé had found their wedding cake.

Tippit and her fiancé, Adam Madrid, traveled from Newnan, Ga., to attend the Bridal Extravaganza, hosted by the Dothan Eagle , Sunday at the Dothan Civic Center. The couple came away with several ideas for their upcoming wedding, and at least two places they’ll likely take their business.

“I think we’re probably going to get someone’s cake here,” she said.

Tippit said they’ll likely purchase their wedding cake from The Flour Sack Bakery, located in Wicksburg on Bay Springs Road near Dothan.

“It was good, you could actually taste it,” Tippit said. “Not only was it beautiful, but it tasted good too.”

Tippit also called the cake vendor a good option after finding the owner very personable.

The couple plans to wed in October at the Blue Lake United Methodist Church Camp in Andalusia.

“It’s remote, which lends itself to be very beautiful,” Tippit said. “But it can also be difficult to find vendors.”

Tippit said they have to find some of the typical wedding vendors like a florist or food service who are willing to travel.

“It’s nice to come to something like this where you can actually experience it,” Tippit said. “I’m a very visual person. Online you can only see one side of things, and it feels very real here.”

Madrid, who carried a pen and notepad as they walked around the civic center, said they also likely found a DJ to use for their wedding.

“I did come prepared,” Madrid said.

Dothan Eagle marketing manager Stephanie Madden said the Bridal Extravaganza had over 40 vendors offering people a variety wedding planning options from florists, to caterers to venues like Landmark Park.

“I think it’s great to showcase our local businesses,” Madden said. “It works out great for brides because it’s a one-stop shop. They can do everything right here from your invitations to your honeymoon.”

The event also included a fashion show, several door prizes and a honeymoon give-away by one of the event’s sponsors, AAA Travel. Madden said the sponsors for this year’s bridal event, in addition to AAA Travel, were the House of Flowers and the Dothan Civic Center. The event also included a variety of door-prizes.

“We had a great turnout,” Madden said of the event in its 20 th year. “We had even more people than last year.”

Libby Krietemeyer, of Dothan, found the bridal extravaganza very convenient and helpful as she plans for two weddings during 2016, one of her son and another for her daughter.

“It’s so nice to have all this information all under one roof,” Krietemeyer said. “They have some special prices and deals too.”

Krietemeyer attended the extravaganza with her daughter, Kimberly Krietemeyer, of Atlanta, who plans to get married in her home town of Dothan in December.

“From pre-wedding prep to photography everything is here,” Kimberly Krietemeyer said.

Libby Krietemeyer also attended the bridal event with her soon to be daughter-law, Samantha Loff, who is planning to wed her son, Stephen Krietemeyer, in March.

Libby Krietemeyer found the extravaganza much better than shopping for wedding ideas online.

“Here you can put your hands on things so it’s really good,” Libby Krietemeyer said.