Vows: Kingston Bridal Week (KBW) 2018
The long-awaited Kingston Bridal Week (KBW) has come and gone and has left its attendees in awe and wanting more. The week of activities ran September 23 – 30, and saw the hosting of multiple events with giveaways and prizes totalling over 3.5 million dollars.
KBW began with a Bridal Brunch hosted by noted wedding planners Petals and Promises, at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa. The bubbly brunch featured an elite array of guest speakers including Ashebre’s Oji Jaja, and Jodi-Anne Paul, owner of JodiCakes. The presenters spoke on all things wedding-related, spanning topics from counselling to marriage licences to bridal party etiquette.
The Sip and Paint, hosted at Cannonball Café at Sovereign North, was a fun after-work getaway for couples and the bride and her friends. Following Artify’s talented Afayah Prendergast step by step, attendees found their inner artists while sipping on beverages sponsored by KBW.
KBW continued with a couple’s cruise sponsored by Loose Cannon Tours. Couples relaxed and partied the night away on an all-inclusive cruise around the Kingston Harbour aboard a luxurious 69ft power catamaran, seizing the opportunity to create and capture lifelong memories with downtown Kingston and the city lights as backdrop.
The Scavenger Hunt, KBW’s penultimate event, was much anticipated by brides and their friends and did not disappoint. Established in 2014, the event this year witnessed over 20 registered bridal teams racing over the Hope Gardens property using clues to find gifts from the KBW sponsors. Prizes valued more than US$10,000 and included L’Oréal cosmetics, free engagement photo shoots and a free wedding dress rentals. Teams won sectional prizes for best dressed team, most guys present, best social media post, as well as on-the-spot competitions.
KBW closed out this year’s events with its annual Bridal Market and Expo. Held at The Marquee at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, the event showcased over 60 of Jamaica’s most recognised bridal vendors and exhibitors, providing everything for weddings in one venue. Over 600 brides registered for the event and attendees were treated to giveaways and competition prizes by the sponsors and vendors. Hosted by the debonair emcee Ryan Dixon with a soundscape provided by DJ CopperShaun and DJ Pepsi, the event had a fun and energetic vibe from start to finish. Meanwhile, the annual Fashion Show was a crowd-pleaser and featured dresses from Petal and Promises’s new, hot and sexy plus-size collection.
