She attended 10 bridal shows, had two engagement rings, two wedding dresses, two weddings and two honeymoon packages all bought and paid for, but that didn't stop her from fleeing from the scene as the date neared both times.
With all that experience, runaway bride Jessica Brown knows what a bride needs to see and do at a bridal show.
Brown, The Citizen's digital and event specialist, has organized the Sweetheart Bridal Show on Sunday at the Civic Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a one-stop shop for brides-to-be.
"So I do know what I am talking about," said Brown. "I know how costly weddings are, I know how much effort goes into them, how many different people you need to talk to and that's one of the reasons I was excited about taking on the Sweetheart Bridal show because there's so many different pieces of the puzzle that you need to put together and it can be really frustrating when you have to go to one place and then the next place is out of town and then one place isn't open on Mondays and lots of things can fall through the cracks, too."
And there's nothing more frustrating than not being able to get what you want for your special day, said Brown.
"And that's what's nice about this bridal show - we literally have everything you need right there," said Brown.
With more than 55 booths, colour-coded into areas of interest, the Sweetheart Bridal Show will offer brides all the answers.
By the end of the fun and prize-filled event, brides will walk away with a definite plan for their special day.
Representatives at the Sweetheart Bridal Show include bridal shops that not only offer wedding gowns but clothing for mothers of the bride, bridesmaids and items for all wedding occasions. There will be cake makers, wedding and reception locales, health, beauty and fitness options.
"Absolutely everything to make your wedding perfect," said Brown. "Everything at the Sweetheart Bridal Show is very clear and directed and we are offering each bride a wedding planning guide. Each guide has a list of everything you need to have booked from the beginning of the process to the end and all of the sections at the show are colour coded with a sign above each of the vendors to keep the bride on track."
There is more than $10,000 in prizes up for grabs and a full day of events is scheduled.
An early bird prize will be drawn at 10:30 a.m. for a two-night stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge that includes breakfast. The prize is worth $1,200.
Part of the fun includes a newspaper wedding dress making contest where several teams will take to the stage to create the dress of their paper dreams for a chance to win a Hills Health Ranch getaway for two. And no bridal show would be complete without the fashion show featuring all the latest in bridal wear, which takes place at 1 p.m.
Other prizes include a custom wedding band set worth $3,000 by Ken's Goldsmithing, and special draws geared for not only the brides but the mothers of the bride, bridesmaids and even the grooms that will attend the show.
For more information visit the Sweetheart Bridal Show Facebook page. Tickets are available at Image in White Wedding Gallery, Ken's Goldsmithing in Pine Centre, Gallery Bridal Boutique, the Prince George Citizen office as well as online at pgc.cc/20fWUpM.
