Bride Takes Home Diamond Surprise.

LOS ANGELES: Amber Sims of Alta Loma, CA. emerges as the first to retrieve wedding jewelry at the recent BrideWorld Expo contest. A total of five southern California brides-to-be were assembled around a four foot wedding cake with diamond jewelry hidden inside. The contest to find the gems only took a few seconds, but as the five dug quickly into angel-food cake and frosting, it was Amber who took home the prize.

Amber Sims and her fiance' Justin Jackson will exchange vows in August of 2004. Her fiance and her parents were watching with hundreds of onlookers as she raised the prize proudly.

The "California Cake Dive" has become a simi-annual contest, and will be held again on January 25th, at BrideWorld Expo (www.brideworld.com) at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event coordinator, Rinda Ashby, promises in correlation with the largest two-day wedding-planning expo in Southern California, "We're already planning for a larger cake, and an even larger prize to entice brides-to-be from among the ten thousand women attending."

Patriotic Pose Highlights Bridal Fashion Show.

COSTA MESA: A patriotic moment accented the recent BrideWorld Expo held Sunday, September 16th at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Held a few days after the terrorist attacks, thousands of people attended to shop and compare local wedding exhibits and merchants, but all were inspired with the last-minute addition of a patriotic pose in the fashion show.

"The models had only a few moments to reschedule the gowns", explains fashion coordinator Kimberly Long, "due to the recent tragedy in New York, and compassionate nationwide support, the models themselves created an inspiring red, white, and blue presentation." The closing pose, accompanied by patriotic music, was welcomed by an overwhelming cheer, some tears, and a standing applause.

Just days after the attacks, brides and grooms were striving to return to normal. "We've been glued to the television, we needed some relief ourselves", commented Lisa Weaver of Orange. The Expo promised relief with fashion shows and 110 exhibits including photographers, limousines, caterers, and florists. Event activities and exhibits are referenced at the www.brideworld.com web site.

During the opening fashion show, BrideWorld coordinator, Rinda Ashby, announced that $1 per attending bride would be donated to a non-profit fund benefiting New York relief workers. "We're sending $900 to New York this week.", Ashby said following the event.

Brides-to-Be, Firefighters Raise $751 for Cancer Research

ONTARIO, CA: A recent BrideWorld Expo at the DoubleTree Hotel, enlisted the help of local firefighters Scott Brown, Kurt Bekins, and Cliff Verity to help raise funds for cancer research. "These guys generously donated their time as models for our fashion show," explains Valinda Cranfill, the Inland Empire representative from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, "They donned tuxedos, patent leather shoes and bow ties, all to help raise funds for cancer research. They were a huge hit."

BrideWorld.com, the event organizer, together with the DoubleTree Hotel, donated $1 for every bride-to-be that attended the Expo. The planning and resource Expo attracted 751 brides and over 2000 people. "This contribution will directly benefit women in the Inland Empire and we're so pleased to be a part of the fight against cancer," said event organizer, Rinda Ashby of BrideWorld.com.

According to Becky D'Egidio, wedding coordinator at Ontario's DoubleTree Hotel, future events are already being organized for September 9th of this year and very early 2002. "The DoubleTree Hotel and BrideWorld.com are working together to raise even more during the upcoming Expos." D'Egidio asserted, "We anticipate even more brides along with sisters, mothers and girlfriends so we have a perfect opportunity to spread the word about cancer awareness."

The Expos feature three fashion shows and showcases ninety wedding merchants, the best the Inland Empire has to offer. Engaged couples and those involved in planning a wedding will have a unique opportunity to shop and compare while meeting face-to-face with various wedding professionals.

Serving Southern California brides, BrideWorld.com organizes over 14 planning Expos each year. The BrideWorld Expos help brides-to-be save money and time by providing them with dozens of wedding resources and merchants all in one location. For more information on the September 9th show or other BrideWorld events, visit them on the Web at www.brideworld.com, Email them at info@brideworld.com or call 800-600-7080.

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