LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – For decades it had been one of the premiere events for wedding vendors in Las Vegas, the Bridal Spectacular, a one-stop-shop for brides-to-be to find photographers, venues, DJ’s and more for the big day.
The event scheduled to be held at the World Market Center earlier this month was abruptly cancelled, and vendors say the organizer disappeared with their money. Tuesday, FOX5’s Kim Passoth spoke to local vendors at another big industry event the Second Annual Las Vegas Wedding Awards.
“Bridal Spectacular was a hallmark of the wedding industry in Las Vegas,” shared Jason Whaley, owner of Smash Booth Interactive Photo Studios. Whaley shared videos and pictures from past years of the event.
“We would have the opportunity to go and actually set up our photo booth at the expo and engage with couples and let them try it out there on site,” Whaley recounted about his experience. Sondra Falk has made thousands of gowns in the 30 years she’s been a designer, including the dress she wore to the Las Vegas Wedding Awards. Specializing in wedding gowns, she wants to make sure brides in Vegas know about her.
“I started using bridal spectacular back in the nineties when the location was at Cashman Field, and I remember it was my very first show there. It was amazing. There were so many people there and I literally had business for two years and at that time I was designing dresses in my garage,” Falk revealed. Falk attended the event every year since but when she heard there was a new owner, she decided to skip so she was shocked to hear from that new owner.
“Apologizing for cancellation of the show and then she asked me, ‘Well, do you want your deposit back?,” Falk reported though Falk never made a deposit. April Soria did. Soria paid $2,200 for her photobooth company, Las Vegas Photo Booth, and friend who is a DJ to share a booth. Soria first went to the bridal spectacular as a bride-to-be and launched her business there.
“The deposit, was like September, October, and they were great in communicating with us until they took our money,” Soria contended. On Monday, January 6th, she got an email just days before the planned event on January 10th and 11th. The email stated: “Due to circumstances outside of our control we are needing to cancel the event this weekend… We will reschedule.”
FOX5 tried reaching out to the organizer at that email address. Our email bounced back. Our Oregon sister station also covered another bridal show from the same organizer cancelled at the last minute this month in Portland. They spoke with a wedding venue vendor also out thousands of dollars.
“What were your intentions? Were you overwhelmed or did you have a plan to take the money and run?,” Darrell Hames, co-owner of the Carver Events Center questioned.
The Better Business Bureau shared this statement with FOX5’s sister station in Oregon:
“Karin Webster… became the CEO of Bridal Spectacular in Las Vegas with a contract to buy out the owner but failed to pay or perform and canceled the Las Vegas bridal show…We have left a message for Karin and sent her a letter asking if she is willing to respond to complaints/reviews and are waiting for her response.”
The BBB recommends anyone who is out money file a complaint with them and with the Nevada Secretary of State.
FOX5 has tried calling, texting, and emailing the organizer. We will update this report if we do hear back.
FOX5 also reached out to World Market Center where the Bridal Spectacular was supposed to be held and were told they have no comment.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
