‘Fair Wedding’ host helms Rialto Bridal Expo
By Annie Alleman For Sun-Times Media January 20, 2012 11:16AM
David Tutera is the host of the Jan. 22 Bridal Expo at the Rialto Square Theatre. | File Photo
Bridal Expo
♦ Jan. 22
♦ 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet
♦ Tickets, $15-$47
♦ (815) 726-6600
Rialtosquare.com
Updated: January 20, 2012 11:16AM
A popular reality TV host is coming to Joliet to help brides-to-be before their big day.
The Bridal Expo returns to the Rialto Square Theatre Jan. 22, with host David Tutera of the show “My Fair Wedding” on WeTV.
“This is our 20th year hosting Bridal Expo at the Rialto,” said director of marketing Annette Parker. “This is a great event. This is one of the largest bridal expos in the Will County area. We have over 50 vendors and they range from photographer, caterers, invitations, gowns, tuxedos, DJs — you name it. It’s all here. You could literally plan your entire wedding by coming to the expo.”
The Bridal Expo is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tutera takes the stage at 3:30 p.m.
Vendors range from caterers and DJs to bakers and videographers and everything in between. All of the vendors offer discounts to brides who contract their services onsite that day, she said.
“There’s a spectacular amount of information for people getting married,” she said.
In the past, they would always have a fashion show tied into the expo so people could the latest fashions.
“This year, we are bringing in David Tutera. He’s a wedding expert and party planner to the stars,” Parker said. “He sits down with people who come to him with an idea.”
On “My Fair Wedding,” Tutera swoops in just before the big day, manages all the chaos and takes the party from ordinary to extraordinary. “My Fair Wedding” is one of WeTV’s highest-rated and most popular shows on its lineup.
Tutera has been featured on “Oprah,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” CNN, “The View,” “Rachael Ray,” “The Talk” and “Wendy Williams.”
Instead of the Rialto’s traditional fashion show, Tutera is going to do a Q-and-A onstage with the audience on how to make a wedding fabulous.
“We’re really excited about that because he is so well-known in the bridal industry,” she said. You can buy a ticket for $15 to the expo only, or a combo ticket that will get you into see David Tutera.
This year they are not doing the Man Cave.
“It’s our 20th anniversary so we wanted to do something different,” she said. “Also, one lucky bride is going to have a consult with David one-on-one. That will be cool for whoever wins that (raffle). It’s like a show. You buy your ticket and get a seat; there’s different price ranges to see David Tutera. Or if you have no interest in him and just want to come to the Expo, we’re allowing people to do that as well.”
