Victoria’s Modern Wedding expo brings ‘wow factor’ of 80+ vendors under one roof
Published 2:00 pm Saturday, February 28, 2026
Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows it’s no small feat. Wedding planners have been known to say that a magical wedding doesn’t just happen – it requires lots and lots of planning.
It’s why Victoria’s Modern Wedding expo exists. The largest wedding and event showcase of it’s kind on Vancouver Island brings together over 80 vendors – ranging from floral displays to cocktail tastings – under one roof at the Crystal Garden.
This year’s show runs March 8 from 11-2 p.m. Attendees are promised tasting booths, a fashion show, and one-of-a-kind contests and giveaways.
When the pieces of Modern Wedding all come together, the result is like a living Pinterest board, says Jordan Illingworth, producer of the event.
“We really encourage people to think outside the box and bring the wow factor,” she says. “The planning process [of a wedding] can be very overwhelming. And of course in the age of the internet and technology, you can find all of those things online, but it’s hard to know what actually is real now, especially in an AI generated world.”
At the wedding show, attendees are able to meet with vendors, compare them right at the event, and get exclusive show discounts they won’t receive anywhere else.
“The amount of contests and giveaways that you can enter and win is phenomenal,” Illingworth said.
This year, contests include a a six-day, five-night stay in Jamaica. Tickets to Modern Wedding gain entry to the contest.
The grand prize is a wedding giveaway, a package worth $7,500 that includes a $2,000 diamond necklace, an overnight stay, and more. For that contest, Modern Wedding teamed up with Ocean 98.5 to put on a How Well Do You Know Your Partner Game that will run for two weeks. Couples can call in on the morning show with AJ and Mira, and the winning couples will advance into a final battle of 10 couples.
There will also be a dress giveaway with details to be determined. “It’s always a really popular contest,” Illingworth says.
Because only show attendees are entered to win, contest participants have “really good chances to win,” she says.
There will be 200 swag bags up for grabs, that have a value in around $1,000 of savings and include $50 gift certificates for Deco de Mode and the Gold Hair Lounge
The fashion show is another highlight, and will surpass expectations on what a typical fashion show is, Illingworth says. Ten models, dressed in gowns with full hair and makeup, will take to a runway set up with table decor and a ceremony section, so audience members can picture their own wedding with a number of different tablescapes and pallets provided by Beauty Bride. “It’s our take on a fashion show,” Illingworth says.
Booths will highlight cakes, DJs, caterers, tents and decor, venues, photographers, hair and makeup services, a photo-booth, and more – even a naturopath who can help with any lingering feelings of stress.
“It’s a rite of passage, really, for anybody that’s getting married. It’s just a fun day out with your friends,” Illingworth says.
Tickets are $30, or $75 for a VIP ticket that includes a swag bag and skipping the line.
More info can be found at modernwedding.ca.
