11 Feb 2018

 

 The door to The Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort is wide open. 

 

Right by the entrance is a strikingly colourful bouquet of peach, white, powdered pink and lilac flowers, which cannot escape the eye.

 

Carefully arranged, their fragrance undoubtedly fills the convention hall with a sense of freshness. The beautiful blooms set the scene. They lure one to take a mini tour around the room, where over 22 exhibitors have come to showcase various wedding related products.

 

Interestingly, those who come in through the wide open door are youthful brides and grooms who are seen chuckling as they make stop overs at various stalls. Clearly besotted with each other, some are seen walking merrily hand in hand in the comfort of each other’s company.

 

On the spot, none want to be interviewed, “E sa ntse e le phitlhela kgomo ya serotswana, batsadi ga ba ise ba itse ko gae, (It’s still under wraps, parents do not know yet)” said one youthful groom - his bride busy perusing through pure white and cream Kalahari Bridal gowns.

 

Katlego Mogorosi, a Grand Palm guest relations officer is gratified by the attendance of the event. “The objective is to sell our wedding packages and help couples create their perfect wedding day. We have brought industry leaders to give our clients the best,” she says excitedly.

 

She wants her wedding exhibition clients to see Grand Palm Resort as a venue of choice for weddings. She says in order to promote weddings; a competition is running where clients stand a chance to win a complete wedding package worth P1 000 000. The package, caters for 100 guests and is sponsored by different companies. It comprises of a venue, food, welcome drinks, Public Address System, Dance Floor, Honey moon suit, photography, make up, bouquet, Spa treatment for the newlyweds and wedding invitations.

 

For one to win, she says, they must post their love story or that of a couple they know on their Facebook page, “The one which gets many likes scoops the package,” she says.

 

Located at the back of the room, but outstanding with her exquisite and elegant designs is Samantha Peter, who is the managing director of Xplosion Designs.

 

“I have been coming here for the past three years and I noticed growth in business,” she says.

 

Samantha, whose business commenced operation in 2012, was later funded by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development in 2015 to the tune of P100 000. 

She has nothing but praise for the role government had played in growing her business and how exposing her wedding gowns and designer clothes at the Grand Palm exhibition had contributed to her success.

 

“Before I came to the Grand Palm exhibition, I used to produce not so good products, but after learning from other exhibitors and getting clients from past exhibitions, I have been able to produce what you see here today,” she says proudly displaying her best pieces.

 

“After seeing what others had exhibited last year, I was inspired to up my game. Here I am now,” she flushes an effortless smile.

 

Celebration Cakes marketing manager, Ellonah Seleke is also thankful to Grand Palm for the exhibition, which she notes helps them to draw more clients to their business. Her stall emitting a floral scent of fresh pink roses beautifully displayed with golden tiffany chairs with matching gold wine glasses, Ms Seleke appreciates the turn out of the event.

 

“The attendance is not bad given the fact that the wedding Expo events are two, one is currently held in Phakalane,” she says. She says exhibiting at Grand Palm helps them to expand their business to other areas.

 

“We started off with cakes in 1995, now we have expanded into wedding planning, event management, wedding décor. 

 

We are now looking to expand to laundry business, the cloths that have been used at a wedding, we will wash,” she says.

 

In the evening, exhibitors dismantle their exhibitions; the carpet is seemingly smeared with fresh rose petals and lilies. 

 

The door to the Grand Palm remains open, possibly to welcome wedding dreams of droves of marriage hopefuls who had filled the convention centre at different intervals to prepare for their future.  Ends