Marriage ceremonies often require months of planning, longer than it takes to organize a house party, but less time than coordinating a welcome-home luncheon for Halley’s comet. Prepare for out-of-this-world nuptials with today's Groupon to Wedding Faire at Santa Clara Convention Center on January 7 and January 8. Choose between the following options:
- For $12, you get a pair of single-day tickets to Wedding Faire (up to a $30 value).
- For $65, you get a two-day all-access pass to Wedding Faire, including the wedding luncheon on Saturday, January 7, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. (up to a $150 value).
At Wedding Faire, brides-to-be attend edifying panels, peruse wedding wares from hundreds of vendors, and try on around 400 styles of dresses from local bridal salons. Enthused betrothees explore 25,000 square feet of matrimonial merchandise and events, glimpsing new styles at three daily fashion shows and dropping in on workshops featuring wedding tips from industry insiders (some events entail additional fees). At Saturday's wedding luncheon, brides and professionals mingle and enjoy scrumptious eats as wedding maven Sasha Souza presents a collection of her favorite bridal trinkets and tricks. Afterward, a book signing allows attendees to shake Sasha's hand and propose marriage to her.
Inside the convention's exhibition hall, vendors at more than 100 booths peddle wedding goods of all stripes, from grandiose cakes to decorated balloons to wedding invitations with erroneous dates to stop paparazzi from attending. The first 250 brides to arrive each day receive a savings booklet with $5,000 worth of coupons for local retailers.