Black brides, grooms and entrepreneurs unite
By Kenya Vaughn
Of the St. Louis American
“It’s just wonderful to see African-American women getting married,” said Bunmi Okunade. “Just being here with all of these beautiful black people who plan on getting married is a wonderful thing to me.”
Okunade, who is planning for her September 2007 nuptials, is speaking of the Midwest Black Bridal Fair that was held this past Sunday at The Airport Renaissance Hotel. The 12th floor was packed with people and information of use to African Americans looking to jump the broom.
Booths and vendors ranged from the traditional (i.e. caterers, photographers, banquet halls, tuxedo rentals) to the necessary but sometimes overlooked services such as fitness organizations, real estate and financial institutions.
“I’m at this bridal fair because oftentimes when people are getting married, they do not plan for the future as well as they think that they have,” said Anita Cavette-Reel, a local realtor with Coldwell Banker Gundaker. “I’m here because I want the educate, empower and inform so that they can make the best decision for their new life.”
“This fair has information that is good for the bride and groom,” said Leon Mitchell, who attended with his fiancée Mary Hill to get information for their 2008 wedding.
“Everyone here had an excellent presentation; there was no one that I went to that I was disappointed with.”
The vendor who probably stood out most at the event, but at the same time was one of the most necessary for African Americans who are engaged, was the booth dedicated to Sickle Cell awareness.
“Congratulations,” Caroline Douglas told one of the visitors to her station. “But before you get married, you need to get tested.”
Brown told people who stopped by the booth of her own lack of knowledge concerning the disease prior to marriage, which resulting in her giving birth to a son with the disease. Douglas and her husband both carried the trait for the deadly disease, but neither knew because they took the idea of getting tested lightly at the time of their wedding. “I am a living testimony,” she said.
On a lighter note, the buzz aspect of the fair was the Fashion Show. Designs ranged from traditional to contemporary, including formalwear for brides, grooms and bridesmaids. The standing-room-only show had dresses and tuxedos of all colors and styles, and those involved in their own wedding plan were taking notes and snapshots of the outfits that sparked their interest.
Erica Brown, a bride-to-be, stopped by the fair to find a photographer with new ideas. She wants to avoid the same plain Jane traditional photo journal.
“I have received a lot of good ideas and a lot of photographers that have the kind of things that I am looking for and not just the regular poses,” Brown said.
One of the photography studios that Brown probably visited at last weekend’s fair was Vivid Memories.
“It’s difficult to get business when you’re African-American and just starting out,” said Dewanna Dobbs of Vivid Memories. “We have a lot of brides and grooms to be who are coming out looking for African-American entrepreneurs.”
