Northern California’s International Wedding Festival is a wedding expo and bridal fair with the underlying theme of celebrating cultural diversity. The intention of the show is to highlight the colors, traditions, sounds, and tastes of different cultures in weddings today. Vendors and wedding professionals of different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to participate. The event’s fashion show features cultural dance as well as products by clothing designers of western (and not-so-western) styles.
Models show off Swati Couture's South-Asian-inspired fashion line at the International Wedding Festival in San Francisco this past Sunday.
Of course, culture is an important part of who you are, and it will influence the choices you make when planning your wedding. It can especially be interesting when you and your spouse-to-be are of different cultures, different faiths, or both. How you express yourselves with your wedding celebration will be the most important part of the end result. And, for me anyway, what makes memorable weddings stand out from all the rest is when a couple’s own unique personalities and styles are really well represented and thoughtfully expressed.
The International Wedding Festival has a track record in more inland areas of Northern California; locations like Modesto, Livermore and Stockton have been their bread and butter. This past Sunday was the show’s first foray into the city by the Bay, more our neck of the woods, so I dropped by to check it out.
The venue was the very impressive Westin St. Francis Hotel of San Francisco, which boasts quite a beautiful ballroom. It’s also conveniently located across the street from Union Square, a shopping and tourist hotspot, so there is plenty of local interest for out-of-town guests. Do pay a visit if you’re considering a wedding in San Francisco.
The International Wedding Fesitval was held in the Westin St. Francis of San Francisco this past Sunday. Forefront: cake by The Buttercream Studio (thebuttercreamstudio.com)
There were a number South Asian vendors and wedding professionals, and many western vendors as well, so the show’s signature line of “East Meets West” was fitting. The fashion show highlighted Swati Couture of Milpitas, with South-Asian inspired styles, colors, and fabrics, along with dance by Fashion Rhythm Dance Company and Leung’s White Crane Lion and Dance Association.
My favorite part of any wedding show is always chatting with the local wedding professionals, and hearing their entrepreneurial stories. Always so inspirational! As I mentioned in my last post, these hardworking folks really put their hearts and souls into what they do. Take Tracy Auseklis of The Buttercream Studio, who started her cake business a year ago with her husband right after their own wedding. In fact, they launched The Buttercream Studio with money that they saved by opting out of their original big-wedding plans in favor of something a lot more simple. After scouring the Bay Area for a location, they finally found a former Domino’s Pizza shop in South San Francisco and poured everything they had saved into the fledgling business. When Tracy recounted the endless scrubbing of “black grease” in the beginning, I was reminded of what makes the entrepreneurial spirit–and therefore the wedding industry–so special.
Tracy Auseklis, founder of The Buttercream Studio, at Sunday's International Wedding Festival
The International Wedding Festival will be appearing throughout the next few months in several northern California locations, including Modesto, Stockton, Livermore, and even a reprise of their San Francisco debut. Check their website for the latest schedule.
About Jason
Weddings are our favorite event, we even write about them! You all inspire us to be event planners, wedding planners, and do catering! Can’t wait to grow up and join everyone. Thank you!