Columnist Susan Snyder: Married to spectacular bridal show

Tuesday, July 24, 2001 | 8:28 a.m.

Susan Snyder's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. in Accent. Reach her at snyder@vegas.com or 259-4082.

It seems odd to host a huge bridal show in a town where people can meet, get a marriage license, marry and have a honeymoon is less time than it takes to renew a Nevada driver's license.

They could probably get their firstborn into grad school faster than renewing a Nevada driver's license. But we digress. There must be something to such shows because the annual Bridal Spectacular has been going on annually for 19 years.

If it was something for the bride or something for the groom or something that could be remotely attached to a wedding and slapped on a credit card in any fashion, this past weekend's show had a booth for it.

They pimped caterers, video experts, photographers, European honeymoons, tropical paradise getaways, dress designers, tuxedo designers -- for dogs, too -- a cosmetic dentist and a cosmetic surgeon.

There was a whole booth for lip gloss ("The liquid lip color that stays all day"). And another hawked disposable cameras for wedding reception tables, sporting sappy slogans and photos of such Las Vegas landmarks as Siegfried and Roy.

There were even guys wandering around. A hopeful bride could have picked up a groom, too, although she might have had to arm wrestle someone for him. For the truly desperate, Madam Tussaud's brought a life-size wax statue of Brad Pitt for photo opportunities.

However, the booths that drew the biggest crowds were ones offering free wedding cake. What do you mean, "What kind?" The free kind. Saw many a size-6 wedding gown going down the tubes Saturday.

Undoubtedly many betrothed couples found ideas for their big day among the kiosks. For others it seemed more of a sport to sign up for as many door prizes as possible. (Me? I was there for a column and the cake.)

Shanna and David Drew were back for a second year. Last year she attended the show as a prospective bride. This year she and her husband were selling what every engaged couple must have: a website.

For $149.99 the owners of Las Vegas Wedding pages.com will design a home page with photos of the couple, the story of how they met, e-mail addresses and one other link, such as an online RSVP, or travel information for wedding guests. Extra links can be added for more fees.

"This is something that is really time-consuming to put together if you wanted to do it yourself," Shanna Drew said.

She says they came up with the idea after assembling their own page. A month before their May wedding, she quit her job as an employee benefits specialist. He quit his job as a dealer for the Flamingo Las Vegas, and they went into business. They're even still speaking to each other.

Low-tech couples can set their ceremony in the Renaissance period with costumes by Noel Payne of Noel Costumier. Grooms typically wear a heavy tunic and tights. But Payne will fashion trousers for those who can't bear the Baryshnikov look.

And when the nuptials are over, newlyweds will want to plunge even deeper into the bliss of debt by purchasing a home. Vendors offered help with that too.

"Ask about your credit report," their signs urged.

Ye gods. Free cake anyone?