Oregon Wedding Showcase: ‘It’s like a fairyland’

Eugene, Ore. – This weekend, the Lane Event Center will be transformed into a bride’s paradise. 

“By the time the showcase is ready the entire place will be dripping in lace, tulle, pearls, and cake flowers,” said Judy Van Valkenberg, the show producer at Oregon Wedding Showcase. “It’s like a fairyland.” 

The Oregon Wedding Showcase will be held at the Lane Event Center’s Gleason Atrium and Performance Hall on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18 and 19. The showcase gives hundreds of future brides, wedding enthusiasts and community members a chance to connect with vendors and be inspired.

Along with daily fashion shows of the latest bridal trends, there will be over 90 vendors, including DJs, caterers, bridal shops, cake bakers, photographers, honeymoon travel and venue owners at the showcase. 

Many of the exhibitors have been coming to the bridal show for years. Others, like Mark Tunstill, are new to the world of weddings. 

“This is our first bridal show, and I’m hoping to find a whole bunch of brides who want to get married out in the country,” said Tunstill, the general manager of Mallard Creek Golf Course and RV Resort.

This is the show’s 14th year in Eugene, and is the area’s largest bridal exhibition. 

Newly engaged Meagan Fraser, a senior at the University of Oregon, is looking forward to the event as she prepares for her upcoming wedding.  

“I’m excited to see all the wedding vendors in one place,” Fraser said. “It will make it easy to figure out what exactly I’m looking for.” 

Tickets are $7 in advance online or $9 at the door. The show runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.