The brides-to-be of Hillsdale will march through downtown this Saturday during the 2nd Annual Wedding Walk, an event hosted by Smith’s Flowers.
Owner Jane Steward said that the event is to help brides with everything and anything they need for their big day.
“The gals are in love,” Steward said. “It’s a fun group of girls coming in.”
The brides will start at The Elks Lodge at 10 a.m. and walk through the various shops until 4 p.m. They will be given a bag of fliers and magazines and can collect more information and freebies along the way. They will also be given punch cards to fill out at all the different stops.
“There is everything from cakes to flowers, venues, jewelry, hair and places to register,” Steward said.
Steward will showcase wedding flowers, bouquets, and displays, and said that close to 30 other Hillsdale businesses will participate. Businesses include Hillsdale Jewelers, Cake Thyme, The Hair Cutter, All Aboard Travel, 8 North, Every Bodies Yoga, and many others.
Steward said that last year, she saw about 27 brides, which is a lot for a small town like Hillsdale. Because last year’s date for the Wedding Walk coincided with Hillsdale College’s winter break, many brides from the college were unable to attend. This year, the date was pushed back with the hope that more college brides will attend the event.
“You put your best foot forward, give it hell, and go for it,” Steward said.
Senior Gretchen Sandberg, recently engaged to Ryan Johnson, plans to participate in the walk with her best friend.
“I think I’d still be interested in going even if I wasn’t getting married in Hillsdale, but I am, probably in May,” Sandberg said, who plans to have the ceremony at College Baptist Church.
She is mostly attending the walk to check out the floral shops, their prices, types of arrangements, and how they can personalize her wedding.
“For me, I’m mostly checking out the flowers,” Sandberg said. She plans to visit Ann Arbor later that day to go wedding dress shopping at the Brides Project and David’s Bridal.
Though the event is primarily for brides-to-be, girlfriends and especially moms of brides, Steward said, are encouraged to come as well.
“It’s not just to show brides what we offer,” she said. “It shows the community what we offer, what we have down here.”
