here comes the bridal show

Houston's biggest bridal extravaganza unveils huge downtown show

Discover all things wedding at the annual show.

Photo courtesy of 38th Biannual Bridal Extravaganza Show

Brides-to-be, get ready: The biggest bridal show in the country comes back to the Bayou City Saturday and Sunday, January 8 and 9, 2022.

The 38th Biannual Bridal Extravaganza Show sets up shop in the George R. Brown Convention Center, bringing with it cakes, gowns, local vendors, fashion shows, flowers, and more to help give brides (and grooms!) a ton of inspiration for wedding planning. In all, more than 200 vendors will be present.

General admission tickets are $14.99 and $20 for early entry, and Sunday VIP admission is $49, and tickets can be purchased online.

The weekend bash features Insta-ready selfie walls, 15 fashion shows, cake samples, and seminars. There's a special Sunday VIP seminar with with Reward James Akpiri, the author of “Wedding Whoops: 50 Things Not to Do on Your Big Day.”

The first 100 VIP brides also receive signature swag bags with complimentary gifts from sponsors and vendors. In addition, look for super cool out-of-the-box ideas, like Jump into Bliss Houston, a luxury bounce house company, and Bierwagen Draft Beer Truck, as well as a mobile bar from The Vintage Brew.

Couples can also download the BrideScan app, which lets them connect with wedding professionals via a QR code. They will leave the event with a digital list of all of their favorite vendors, perfect for future wedding planning.

Founded in 1983, the Biannual Bridal Extravaganza has evolved into the country's premiere wedding planning event. It draws couples and their families from all across Texas and beyond. More than just a one-stop shop for wedding needs, the show offers couples access to experts and the chance to win big prizes.

Available to win this go around honeymoons, shopping sprees, a bachelorette weekend at the Westin of The Woodlands, a three-night stay at Breathless Punta Cana, a groom’s outing at Golf Club of Houston, a weekend getaway at Deer Lake Lodge, and more.

The show is open Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, January 9, 2022 from 11 am to 5 pm More information is available here.

event-planner weddings inspiration where-to-shop

Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

undefined

Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”