Wedding expos get a bad reputation. And having been to a few of the traditional ones myself, I understand why; there’s a lot of pushy sales and traditional vendors asking about “your special day,” and it’s basically all topped off with a Swarovski Crystal-covered Mason Jar. But the good ones? The good ones are actually more like an awesome party, where you can eat cake, and meet potential wedding vendors who are thoughtful, progressive, and won’t treat you like a walking dollar sign. And Toasted Wedding Event is one of the great ones.
Toasted’s co-founders Tara Arjona and Dawn Mauberret (who we love) first met while working at BUST, aka one of the baddest feminist magazines ever. They worked on events, cruised happy hours, and bonded over crafting, design, and feminism. They each moved on from the magazine but not each other. A few years later, Tara found herself in the midst of wedding planning and dismayed with the antiquated state of the wedding show circuit—bad style, high prices, and a mega emphasis on the Barbie and Ken vibe. It dawned on Tara that she could maybe, with a little help from a friend, start her own show and hello: the ultimate wedding expo was born.
Since its inception two years ago, Toasted has expanded to five cities in four states (this year’s events are in San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, and Brooklyn). Each time, the duo curates a selection of awesome local vendors to put on a fun, informative, and affordable expo. The ultimate goal of Toasted is to support small businesses who promote equality and progressive ideals and values. Couples of all kinds can enjoy DIY demos, giveaways, live music, and libations while mingling and chatting with photographers, caterers, florists, bespoke dress and suit makers, coordinators, DJs, and everything in between.
For a taste of what the Toasted vibe is like, check out this video from Lovebrain Films:
Pssst, did you notice those APW sponsors in there? Because Toasted also represents a chance to meet some of your favorite APW folks in person. Said one recent attendee:
The ambiance and overall attitude was so laid back, not judgy, casual but still beautiful. I also loved how many unique vendors there were. From food to jewelry to shoes, it was so nice walking through a bridal event that wasn’t just focused on makeup or honeymoons!
This year’s Toasted event dates are as follows:
San Francisco: March 20, 2016
San Diego: March 24, 2016
Brooklyn: April 10, 2016
Chicago: April 24, 2016
Advance online tickets are $15, and tickets purchased the day of are $20 (details about how you can get a discount on general admission tickets are below!). You can also snag VIP tickets for $30 and get a drink and gift bag thrown in. So if you’re lucky enough to live near one of the Toasted cities, get on it. Go ahead and snag your advance tickets and get ready to have a blast.
Bonus: Use code “APW” to get $10 general admission tickets to any of the upcoming Toasted shows!