Fri 1/11

According to The Knot Real Wedding Study, the bridal industry edged to earnings of about $72 billion, with the average cost of a wedding estimated at about $32,329 in the United States in 2017.

These numbers are good news for the 300,000-plus wedding vendors operating in the U.S., including ceremony and reception venues, DJs, coordinators, fashion designers, photographers, caterers, hair and make-up artists, limo drivers, and more.

Current wedding trends for brides and grooms call for adding personal, non-traditional elements for their big day. Those unique aspects are brought to life by local artisans and vendors who can work closely with the couple to bring these ideas to life.

With these needs in mind, the annual bridal boutique “After The Answer” at Lake Affect Studios (1625 East 25th Street) was created. This year’s event on January 11th showcased bridal professionals throughout NEO while creating one-on-one interaction with local wedding vendors. Guests enjoyed food, desserts, cocktails and music,while exploring the beautiful event space.

To learn more about “After the Answer” and other happenings at Lake Affect Studios, please visit  lakeaffectstudios.com.

About the writer: Dru Thompson is a fashion designer who owns and operates Dru Christine Fabrics and Design, a design studio located in Lake Affect Studios in the Superior Arts District. Through community involvement, Thompson has firmly established herself in the arts and fashion community as a writer, educator at the Cleveland School of the Arts, and mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs. To learn more about the designer, visit druchristine.com, on Instragram @druchristine, Twitter @druchristine and Facebook Dru Christine Fabrics and Design.