WILDWOOD — Couples planning to walk down the aisle can spend an afternoon shopping for nearly everything they need for the big day — and some may even wind up diving headfirst into a giant wedding cake.
The Fall Wedding Expo returns to the Wildwoods Convention Center on Sunday, Oct. 25, bringing dozens of wedding professionals together for a four-hour planning event overlooking the beach and Boardwalk.
The expo, presented by Plan It Expo, runs from noon to 4 p.m.
Couples will be able to meet face-to-face with wedding professionals representing venues, photography, flowers, beauty, entertainment, catering, planning and other parts of the wedding industry.
The official Wildwoods event calendar also lists live entertainment, creative displays, show specials and door prizes as part of the afternoon.
But perhaps the most unusual attraction doesn't involve planning a seating chart or choosing flowers.
It involves a very large cake.
The Cake Dive returns
Plan It Expo's signature Famous Cake Dive will return to Wildwood, with selected brides and grooms diving into a giant wedding cake in search of hidden prizes.
According to the organizer, prizes potentially include everything from jewelry to honeymoon getaways.
The messy competition has become one of Plan It Expo's signature attractions, adding some entertainment to an event otherwise designed to help couples make decisions about venues, vendors and services.
Along with the Cake Dive, attendees can sample wedding cake and food from participating area providers and enter other giveaways and raffles.
Plan It Expo also says participating vendors will offer expo-only promotions and other special opportunities during the show.
Wedding planning under one roof
The idea behind the expo is to allow couples to accomplish in one afternoon what could otherwise require numerous appointments with individual vendors.
“Couples can walk in with ideas and questions, then leave with real connections, new inspiration and meaningful progress toward their wedding day,” Plan It Expo President Joseph Andretta said.
The company's current schedule includes wedding shows throughout New Jersey, including Atlantic City, Wildwood, Cherry Hill, Vineland and other locations.
The Wildwoods Convention Center itself is no stranger to weddings.
The oceanfront facility, located directly on the Boardwalk, markets reception and event spaces capable of accommodating weddings ranging from approximately 50 to 1,000 guests. The overall convention facility encompasses about 260,000 square feet and can accommodate much larger convention and exhibition crowds.
That makes the expo somewhat unusual: couples can shop for photographers, florists, entertainment and other wedding services inside a building that is itself a potential wedding venue.
New sponsor making Wildwood debut
This year's Fall Wedding Expo will also include a debut appearance from new Plan It Expo sponsor O Secco Prosecco, according to the organizer.
The company is expected to introduce couples to its wedding-related offerings during the event.
Plan It Expo says it has been producing wedding shows for more than three decades. The company says it has produced more than 1,800 shows across eight states and connected nearly 1 million engaged couples with wedding professionals during that time.
Those figures are supplied by Plan It Expo.
What couples need to know
The Wildwoods Fall Wedding Expo is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk in Wildwood.
Tickets and advance registration are available through Plan It Expo. The event is also listed on the official Wildwoods tourism calendar.
Wedding Expo tickets and information
For couples still trying to assemble the pieces of their wedding, the afternoon promises plenty of conventional planning opportunities.
And for a few adventurous brides and grooms, it may also require a change of clothes.
