Bridal Fair 2009 - an eye catching event

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Eye catching dancing items, unbelievable fashion designs and attractive bridal dressings were some of the spectacular events at the 13th annual 'Bridal Fair 2009' which concludes at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC) in Colombo today (July 12).

The three-day Bridal Fair will come to an end today at 6.30 pm by demonstrating series of bridal dressing items, bridal shows and fashion shows.

Addressing the gathering SLECC, Executive Director Shanthi Outschoorn mentioned the history of bridal shows in Sri Lanka and thanked the organisers for conducting the 'Bridal Fair 2009' continuously since 1997.

The Executive Directors speech was followed by a spectacular dancing item, presented by three young dancers Nilupul Kulatunga, Upeka Danial and Dulanjalee Thilakaratne. They performed the dancing to the tune of the favourite Sinhala song 'Peradiga Mutuetaya' which was originally sung by Sri Lanka's singing sensation Latha Walpola. She also thanked Mrs. Nirupma Rajapaksa for her presence on the very first Bridal Show in 19997 and also for the 13th show that concludes today.

According to organisers, over 200 participants took part in fashion and bridal shows during the three days.

Sri Lanka's two versatile Bridal and Fashion show presenters evergreen dynamic fashion designer Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne and Hashini Gunasekara who presented the 'Bridal Fair 2009' were highly praised by the organisers for their painstaking effort that helped to make this year's show a success.

Speaking to the media sponsor, Sunday Observer, Chula said that her objective of conducting such a show is to give an opportunity to up coming artists to demonstrate various kinds of bridal dressings, make up's, poruwa and flower arrangements to interested parties.

She said viewers were able to see beautiful bride, bride grooms, bestmen, bride's maids and flower girls in unusual colour and style during these three days.

"They came on to the stage in catwalk and go down the stage like in a real weddings", she said. A past pupil of Visakha Vidyalaya, Chula Nanayakkara Ariyaratne said she started her career at the age of 14 by dressing a bride and during the past five decades she conducted large number of bridal and fashion shows here and abroad such as London, Sydney, Chennai and Malaysia.

Chula proudly said the fashion show that was conducted by her in London under the theme "Api Wenuwen Api" was highly commended by almost all Sri Lankans domiciled in the UK. It was a charity show, for the benefit of Lankan soldiers. Chula also mentioned about the "Sunday Observer Fashion Designer of the Year Contest" to be held in October 2009 at the BMICH.

"I wish to demonstrate various designs of sports wear, office wear, evening and saree wear at the show," she said.

Pansiluni Weerawansa and Thejasrini Philips as flower girls, Buddhika Palihawardane as the bride groom, Dulanjali Thilakaratne as bride's maid and Dulantha Hapuaratchchi as the bestman represented the first day at Bridal Fair 2009.