MUSCATINE, Iowa-As engaged couples start planning for their weddings, they may feel overwhelmed by the number of things they need to put in place for their big day and unsure of what vendors can make their vision a reality. The Merrill Hotel, in partnership with QC Wed Me, looks to take some of the guesswork out of the wedding planning process by hosting Muscatine’s first QC Wed Me Popup Bridal Fair Aug. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Merrill Hotel, located at 119 West Mississippi Drive in Muscatine.
Depending on what a couple would like to do for their wedding, it can take many vendors to meet all of their needs, from having an officiant to conduct the ceremony, to finding a florist or other specialist to provide beautiful flowers or decorations, to lining up a DJ to keep guests dancing all night long. Fortunately, the QC Wed Me Popup Bridal Fair will bring together nearly 20 vendors to showcase some of the best services available in the greater Muscatine region. “We wanted to make it a one stop shop for recently engaged couples to see all the vendors, including ones that already work with the Merrill,” said Brigitta Del Vecchio, regional director of digital marketing for the Hostmark Hospitality Group, which the Merrill works with.
Couples who have not chosen a venue, either for their ceremony, reception, or both, can also discover the services the Merrill can offer them, as it sometimes gets overlooked as a choice, despite its reputation as the best hotel in Iowa and one of the top hotels in the nation. Currently, the Merrill can hold weddings in either their Grand Ball Room (which can fit up to 500 guests for a ceremony or 450 for a reception) or either their Clark or Clemons Rooms, (which can accommodate 200 guests for a ceremony or 150 for a reception).
Additionally, couples can explore the other services the Merrill can provide them with as well, including linens and simple centerpieces, guest room blocks, free parking, and spaces to use for welcome dinners the evening before the wedding or brunches for the day afterwards.
In particular Del Vecchio encourages couples to consider the catering options the Merrill provides. With food prepared by the staff of the Merrill’s restaurant, Maxwell’s on the River, including Executive Chef Tessa Crookshanks, a Muscatine native herself, Del Vecchio believes couples will all kinds of tastes will find it delightful. “She already has a local following,” said Del Vecchio of Crookshanks’ culinary creations.
Whether couples have just started planning their weddings or simply need to find a final vendor to put the finishing touches on their big days, Del Vecchio encourages them to attend the upcoming QC Wed Me Popup Bridal Fair. Couples may register online to receive additional information about the fair and to ensure that vendors have plenty of complimentary information, and possibly special gifts to hand out as well. However, the fair will welcome walk ins too. As a bonus, attendees can enter into a drawing for a special swag bag filled with fun prizes and discounts, including one for a stay at the Merrill Hotel.
