Elmhurst's Wilder Mansion to host boutique-style bridal show

The Wilder Mansion, a 19th-century estate encompassing four modest-sized ballrooms, will be the setting Sunday, March 19, for the Elmhurst Park District's fourth annual bridal show.

Caterers, photographers, florists, stationery-sellers, bakers and dress merchants will be among the 40 or so wedding vendors at the free event.

"It's a really fun show. It's more a boutique-style show versus what you see when you go to an expo," said Heather Sinon, the mansion's wedding and event coordinator.

The relatively scaled-down size of the show affords vendors and potential clients the opportunity to spend significant time together, she said.

The two ballrooms on each of the mansion's two floors will be packed with displays, samples, information and vendor representatives. Strolling models will show off wedding fashions.

"You can get up close to the fabric and talk to the person wearing it," Sinon said.

Caterers typically provide taste samples, she said. One year, she said, a caterer brought tiny fish tacos paired with tiny margaritas and tiny Patron tequila bottles. Another brought mini-tastes of brut champagne.

"I give them free creative license," she said. "It's pretty impressive how they go all out for it."

Cupcakes for Courage, a local baker, has signed on to exhibit at the show. The company contributes a portion of its sales proceeds to cancer research, Sinon said.

The mansion itself is available for wedding bookings. A porch supported by four, two-story Tuscan-style columns welcomes visitors to the Victorian-style mansion.

"It was built in 1868 and was a residence until 1919," Sinon said.

The home was willed to the city and housed the Elmhurst Public Library until 2003 when the library moved to its current location on Prospect Avenue.

"This big beautiful building was kind of left standing here," Sinon said. "The park district stepped in and purchased the facility from the city."

A renovation followed, including the removal of an addition built in the middle of the 20th century.

"It's actually where we have a kind of strolling garden now," she said. "It's much like a home. We kept the layout as much as we could."

Each of the four ballrooms can accommodate about 80 guests. Weddings often use the first floor for a cocktail mixer before guests adjourn to the second floor for dinner.

"For weddings, 200 people is where you're going to max out," she said.

The mansion also hosts corporate meetings, birthday and anniversary parties, showers, art shows and holiday events.

Sinon said 250 to 300 people usually attend the Bridal Show. She said guests are asked to register by noon Saturday, March 18, at epd.org. Registrations also will be accepted at the door.

"Even if you're not having your wedding in our space," she said, "you can still come and find quality vendors."

If you go

What: Fourth annual Wilder Mansion Bridal Show

When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 19

Where: Wilder Mansion, 211 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst

Admission: Free

Info: epd.org and wildermansion.org