The first same-sex wedding expo to be staged at Pennsylvania’s Convention Center will kick off later this month.
The Same-Sex Marriage Equality Wedding Expo, presented by the American Bridal Show Company, will be held noon-4 p.m. Jan. 25 at Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.
More than 80 vendors will be in attendance at this free event, which will feature a grand-prize honeymoon giveaway. One lucky couple will win six nights of luxurious beachfront accommodation at a Mexican city of their choice: Mazatlan, Acapulco, Puerto Peñasco, Cancun or Nuevo Vallarta.
“We wanted to give couples the absolute largest selection for their wedding,” said Lisa Drozd of the American Bridal Show Company. “The Convention Center is centrally located and a great launching point for couples to explore the city on a Sunday afternoon.”
The American Bridal Show Company has hosted more than 80 bridal shows a year since 1993. The company began holding same-sex expos several years ago, with the goal of bringing out the best and biggest selection of quality wedding professionals for every wedding style, taste and budget.
“We have been doing bridal shows for 22 years,” Drozd said. “So when same-sex marriage became legal here in Pennsylvania, our goal was to really have a marriage-equality wedding expo that had every single great wedding option available, really comprehensive.”
The event will also feature a Celebrate Marriage Equality weekend in Philly with many expo participants offering specials and promotions all weekend long to couples attending the event.
“We really built the expo around celebrating Philly as a great place for same-sex weddings,” Drozd said. “Taking the best of the best and showcasing what Philly has to offer. Many of our participating vendors will be giving out specials and promotions so our attendees can see what a great city this is.”
Reserving tickets in advance is encouraged but not required, and can be done at www.marriageequalityexpo.com.
American Bridal will also host a same-sex expo at 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, N.J., and another at 1 p.m. Feb. 22 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.