Every September and January at Rabobank Arena, soon-to-be brides go to The Ultimate Bridal Event in hopes of making their dream wedding come true.

“It’s central California’s largest and only upscale bridal event,” said Schezelle Beltran, agency director of The Ultimate Bridal Event.

“At our last show alone we had over 3,000 guests attend, so we really cater to the most elite of the wedding industry.”

The bridal event is filled with the excitement of brides along with the cakes, white gowns and flowers.

Ann McCright is the owner and producer of event. “I know when they come to the bridal show they expect to see the white gown, the black tuxedos, the flowers the cakes, the normal things,” she explained.

“But we pride ourselves into providing things that they don’t even know about or think about.”

There were a few things at the show that were peculiar, like caricature drawings, real estate agents and rental photo booths.

Along with all the vendors, there was a celebrity guest, a fashion show and prizes.

The celebrity guest who attended the event was Gretchen Rossi and her boyfriend Slade Smiley from “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

“Seeing all the vendors; seeing all the fun stuff that you can plan for your wedding, it’s just beautiful,” said Rossi.

Smiley commented on the event. “We’re very impressed with the show, because we do a lot of different events and been in a lot of different venues and convention centers and it’s quite beautiful.

“These guys did an excellent job,” he said.

Along with signing autographs and taking pictures with fans, Rossi hosted the fashion show and modeled a Mia Bella Couture gown.

The fashion show featured some boutiques like Apricot, Bra Shoppe and Mia Bella Couture and featured glamorous, embellished wedding gowns, sexy lingerie, trendy cocktail dresses and stylish men’s tuxedos.

Everything that could be needed for a wedding was in one place.

“They [the brides] can save gasoline,” said McCright. “They don’t have to go to 10 places and find parking and spend time.”

There were many different things that brides look for at the event.

Brittany Downs is a recent Bakersfield College graduate with an A.A. in Business Administration.

She just got engaged and went to the bridal event to find the perfect lighting for her reception.

“I was looking into Flourishing Art [a local event planner] and I’m waiting to see Gretchen,” she said.

“I came to get ideas because I don’t have a set date.”

Miriam Jimenez has been engaged since December.

“I have a certain mind-set on certain things but I want to explore and see what else there is,” she said. “I’m trying to soak everything in. I’m excited, I’m anxious.”

McCright and all the vendors love to help brides find what they want and need for their weddings.

“People who are in the wedding business absolutely love the wedding business and that’s what they do, they develop dreams for these brides,” she said. “Because the bride will come in and doesn’t know exactly what she wants and boom, she gets the right people and they can help her and it makes life simple.”