Now that you've found that special someone and the commitment's been symbolized with an engagement ring, it's time to prepare for that big event that tells the world of your happiness.

        Planning a wedding is exhilarating and exhausting, fun and frantic, a group experience and a couple's intimate moment. So how do you start?

        Fortunately, several bridal shows are planned this winter in Greater Cincinnati. Also, magazine and book racks and the Internet are loaded with information to make your special day go smoothly.

Singer Toni Braxton models the gown she will wear when she marries this summer. | ZOOM |

        Bridal shows are a good place to check for resources, ideas and bargains for everything from wedding attire to honeymoon destinations.

        In recent years, more men are attending these shows, says Norm Wasserman of Wendy's Bridal in Madeira.

        “The average age of brides used to be 20-21,” he says “Now, it's 25 and the wedding is being paid for by both the bride and groom. The groom's taking a more active part in planning the wedding.”

Wedding shows

        Among the Tristate's shows scheduled for brides and grooms:

IF YOU GO

• Greater Cincinnati Bride's World: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington. Bridal attire shows will be 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Seminars will be noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $8. Information: 588-9335; www.cincinnati-wedding.com.     • Cincinnati Bridal Show and Expo: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Feb. 3-4 at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center, downtown. Bridal attire shows will be 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. Admission: $9.50. Information: 984-1501. www.cincybride.com.     • BridalRama: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center, downtown. Admission: $10. Information: (888) 323-2966; www.bridalrama.net.

WEDDING GIVING

Looking for a special wedding gift? Here are a few ideas.     • “Huppa” from Caithness Glass' Judaica Collection is a paperweight depicting the bride and groom standing beneath the wedding canopy. Also from Caithness Glass is “Luckenbooth,'' a museum quality glass paperweight that shows two entwined hearts encircled by tiny flowers. $150-$395. (800) 452-7987.     • Award-winning ornament designer Christopher Radko offers the “Wedding Wishes Cake Knife and Server Set,” with the happy couple represented on the end of each flatware piece. Mr. Radko also offers a “Wedding Card” ornament featuring a two-tiered wedding cake and the message “Best Wishes” to commemorate the couple's first Christmas together. $26-$39. (800) 717-2356.     • Arts Uniq, a successful art publisher since 1985, presents two watercolors by artist D. Morgan with a wedding theme. “Love is a Circle” depicts a bride and groom on a horse-drawn carriage and “From This Day” features two doves touching inscription to the couple under a cascading arch of flowers. $31.50-$69.50 (framed). (800) 223-5020.     • Figurine specialist Royal Doulton offers “Love Everlasting,” a white bone china image of the bridal couple; “Pretty as a Picture,” depicts a young flower girl dressed in pink and “The Bride” is a vision of beauty in her gown of white and pink. $90-$195. (800) 682-4462.

        • Greater Cincinnati Bride's World, Saturday and Sunday at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington. More than 125 bridal-related exhibitors, including bakers, photographers and floral designers, are expected to participate. Four seminars will offer tips on wedding planning, achieving perfect hair and makeup, cooking and entertaining and creating attractive and memorable centerpieces and party favors.

        • Talk with more than 200 wedding professionals at the 18th annual Cincinnati Bridal Show and Expo, Feb. 3-4 at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center, downtown.

        Heather Renee French Henry, Miss America 2000, will emcee bridal attire shows Feb. 4.

        • BridalRama Showcase comes on the heels of Valentine's Day Feb. 17-18 at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center. This extravaganza will feature seven runway shows of bridal apparel and more than 200 wedding-planning professionals.

Books

        For wedding-planning reading, start at a bookstore with these new offerings:

        • Elegant Weddings (Hearst Books; $60) by the editors of Town and Country Magazine is a collection of the best of the best in opulent weddings, including a special section on second weddings.

        • The Perfect Wedding Reception (HarperCollins; $40) showcases four spectacular seasonal receptions with imaginative ideas for any reception and any budget.

        • Weddings for Dummies (IDB Books Worldwide; $19.99) and Wedding Kit for Dummies ($24.99) offer a wealth of information to transform wedding planning into an enjoyable experience.
       

Magazines, Web sites

        This month, several bridal magazines hit newsstands. The ad-packed publications include WEDDINGBELLS, Elegant Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings and InStyle Weddings.

        How about surfing for a wedding dress? One of the most complete online sites is theknot.com, which has customized its features by city to give wedding suggestions a more personal feel. The site's Cincinnati section under “local resources” gives an extensive list of wedding vendors.

        “Although we're based in New York, we know planning is extremely local, so we came together with Weddingpages magazine,” says theknot.com editor-in-chief Carley Roney. “Our local expert is Linda Stallings, who owns Aunt Linda's Weddings in Madeira. She makes sure our information is top-of-the-line and answers questions in her column in the magazine.”

        WeddingpagesCincinnati Magazine, the printed version of the Web site, just hit newsstands and spotlights everything the Queen City bride needs to make her day special.

        “The people at the theknot.com want to help with weddings and make them meaningful,“ Ms. Roney says. “The trend now is to get back to tradition. Nobody wants a fill-in-the-blank wedding, they want something special.”

        To enhance tradition, theknot.com also offers the book The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions by Ms. Roney. It includes readings, rituals, dances, speeches, toasts and vows for practically any creed.

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