In other news, I have been working on a new blog site – one that will show off photos a little larger and cleaner, so I hope you will update your RSS and links and join me at beccadilley.com/blog

Lots of new content is already waiting for you there!

The amazing Fesitivities showcased many of their outstanding linens on the second floor tables.

Clockwise from top left – Sweets Bakeshop display, Jessica’s cakes amazing decorated cake, Liebling designs necklace, Sweets bakeshop made a splash at the opening of the fair, the Traveling Photobooth in action!

The panel discussions were wonderful – this one featured Antoinette from Paperista, Jen from JWP Jewelry Design, Maribeth from Red Ribbon Studios, and Jackie from Just Bloomed flowers as well as Jules from Knit-N-Jules (not pictured) and moderated by yours truly.

Jessica herself in front of the wonderful display of Jessica’s cakes, Le’event planning, Armato designs, and Sweets bakeshop mini-desserts.

And the whole group, including Distinctly Debbie flowers, Diana’s floral affairs, Chowgirls Killer catering, :

The wedding vendors that participated (there were 23 of us), are really passionate folks. When you love what you do, it is wonderful to be able to talk with people about it, and the relaxed atmosphere of the FIVE event center mixed with the awesome vendors made for some great conversations with brides and grooms. It didn’t hurt that Jessica’s Cakes and Sweets bakeshop made impressive displays of their gorgeously edible creations.

It was a pleasure to finally meet Katrina from Studio Laguna Photography, and also spend some time with Krista from Never Miss A Moment. I had already met the amazing Maribeth from Red Ribbon Studio a few times, and her work on the design and marketing for the fair was tremendous. And, of course, my good friends Sarah from Sarah McGee Photography and Jennie of Sewell Photography are always a pleasure to spend time with.

If you are still looking for music for your wedding, I can recommend without reservation Urthema Quartet, who perform an amazing array of things from traditionally “wedding” pieces (Pachabels Cannon) to Jazz and pop, to their own compositions. Also, Radio K (University of Minnesota’s student radio) played an ecclectic mix of music on the first floor.

I loved joining in the discussion panel about planning your wedding timeline – I love sharing tips I have picked up over the years about logistics and timing, and the other panels had equally informative tips and insights. There were a ton of other amazing vendors, and I plant to add another post when I get all the photos in.

**this post is part of “dollars for comments” drive – Becca Dilley will donate $1 for each comment on her website between January 18, 2010 and February 14, 2010 to Doctors without Borders to support their Haiti relief efforts.

**this post is part of “dollars for comments” drive – Becca Dilley will donate $1 for each comment on her website between January 18, 2010 and February 14, 2010 to Doctors without Borders to support their Haiti relief efforts.

Voting online through March 1 at MNbride.com

For your vote to count, you need to vote for a minimum of six vendors. If you need some ideas for florists, cakes, photographers, and venues, check any of the amazing vendors associated with the Independent Wedding Fair.

Many thanks to anyone who can take the time to vote!

**this post is part of “dollars for comments” drive – Becca Dilley will donate $1 for each comment on her website between January 18, 2010 and February 14, 2010 to Doctors without Borders to support their Haiti relief efforts.

**this post is part of “dollars for comments” drive – Becca Dilley will donate $1 for each comment on her website between January 18, 2010 and February 14, 2010 to Doctors without Borders to support their Haiti relief efforts.

February 6 will mark Minneapolis’s first ever Independent Wedding Fair. I am so excited to be involved in this event – it is bringing together 21 local vendors, who are all hand selected for their creativity, love of weddings, and value. The fair will be low key with lots of actual information and none of the trinkets and sales of more traditional fairs.

But that is where you come in! I am looking for ideas about what you want to know about planning your wedding or what you wish you had known before you got married. Between the panel discussions and Q&A we are already planning to cover a lot of questions like:

• How to make my photography budget go further?
• How to get great food?
• What do I need to think about when I plan my wedding timeline?
• How do I incorporate my complicated family into the wedding without driving myself crazy?
• What do ushers do?

What questions do you want answered?

**this post is part of “dollars for comments” drive – Becca Dilley will donate $1 for each comment on her website between January 18, 2010 and February 14, 2010 to Doctors without Borders to support their Haiti relief efforts.

Post Katrina New Orleans

From now through Valentines day, I will be running a  ”dollars for comments” drive.

For each comment on my website between now and February 14, 2010, I will donate $1 to Doctors without Borders to support their Haiti relief efforts.