5 Hot Trends for Weddings at the Tinley Park Bridal Showcase

Weddings come with enough built-in pressure. That's why, for almost a decade, the Tinley Park Bridal Showcase has tried to create a wedding show with a relaxed atmosphere for prospective brides and grooms.

"[The showcase] works so nice because people can sit and talk with vendors," said Rick Butkus, the owner of Photos With Rick photography and one of the original organizers of the event. "The vendors have done the big expos, but the downfall is that they run you through without really getting to talk to anyone."

To allow this one-on-one with about 20 Tinley Park and local businesses, the showcase does without one large aspect of wedding planning: dresses.

"We do it without the gowns because this way you can talk to [the vendors]," Butkus said. "I think that's why we've been around for so long."

Patch talked with Butkus about the big trends that will be on display at this year's show, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, is at the VFW Post 2791, 17147 S. Oak Park Ave.

Photo Booths: Along with standard wedding photography, couples also are renting automated photo booths that allow guests to take candid shots, said Butkus, who provides these through his Mr. FotoBooth.

"It has an old-time feel," he said. "It's not so formal."

Couples also are using the photos to create memory books, giant guest books filled with pictures, he said.

The Color Coral: The owners of Norman's Formal Wear, Heather Haus Florist and Leeson's Cakes have said this year's big color is coral. Everything from tuxedos to floral arrangements to wedding cakes will be incorporating touches of that color, Butkus said.

Bold Colors and Exotic Accessories: When it comes to what the bride will look like, makeup and styling that incorporates strong coloring and unique accessories are the order of the day, Butkus said.

Scrapbooking: Sometimes photos aren't enough to capturing the memories from the big day. Couples are looking at scrapbooking in order to include all the different facets of the weddings, Butkus said, adding that couples simply have to supply the items.

"You give [the scrapbooker] the wedding memories, and she'll go and scrapbook it for you," he said. "Photographs, napkins, whatever it happens to be. … You can have all the coolness of a scrapbook without having to do it."

Destination Honeymoons: Because some couples have known each other for years before marrying, having a private honeymoon vacation isn't such a novelty, Butkus said. Destination honeymoons let couples bring family members along, he added.

"Being alone isn't as important," Butkus said. "It becomes a family vacation. It's the opposite of a destination wedding."

Couples also are using travel agencies, such as Diamond Dream Destinations, to register for gifts, such as special dinners or excursion cruises, Butkus said.

Tinley Park Bridal Showcase