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<< Previous   of   Next >> Darren Breen / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Jackie Posenjak, 22, of Everett searches for a dress among the $99 deals offered by Wedding Belles Bridal Boutique of Mount Vernon at the Northwest Bridal Showcase in Everett on Saturday.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, January 20, 2008 Brides flock to Everett wedding show By Scott Pesznecker Herald Writer EVERETT -- Ashley McDonald, 18, didn't know what to say to her father when her boyfriend proposed to her on Christmas. On Saturday, Bruce McDonald, 47, took his little girl to buy her wedding dress. The McDonalds, of Everett, were among the hundreds of people on Saturday who attended the Northwest Bridal Showcase at the Hansen Conference Center at the Everett Events Center. The show featured everything a girl could want for a wedding, such as cake vendors, caterers, tuxedo renting services, dress companies and wedding photographers. Ashley McDonald beamed as she browsed through racks of wedding dresses. Her father -- still slightly overwhelmed by the thought of his daughter getting married -- sat in a chair in the adjacent hallway. "I want my family to be there," said Ashley, who found her perfect dress for $99. "Usually this is a mother-daughter thing, but I'd rather my dad come. He's better at finding things." A few dozen people braved cold, rainy weather to line up at the doors as early as 6:15 a.m. Many were brides-to-be who came with their friends, while some brought family members or their fiances. Melissa Anselment, 32, and her longtime boyfriend, Chris Woytko, 35, were first in line to get in. They are not formally engaged, but they have a wedding date. Earlier this month, after buying Anselment a dress and taking her out to dinner, Woytko gave his longtime girlfriend a ring and promised he would marry her. Within 15 minutes, Anselment found what she was looking for -- an off-white, strapless, lacy dress. By taking care of the wedding plans now, she feels her wedding date with Woytko will happen naturally. "He's Mr. Logical," Anselment said. "As long as I make it logical and everything, it's all done." Jessica Dalke, 24, owns Wedding Belles Bridal Boutique, the Mount Vernon-based business that sold Anselment and McDonald their dresses. She worked throughout the day with help from two of her three sisters, sizing up women and giving them dresses to try on. "It's amazing, that's why I'm in the business," Dalke said. "I enjoy helping women find the dresses of their dreams." Denise White, 24, of Arlington browsed through some dresses with her cousins, Nichole and Teri Megard, who live in Granite Falls. They also visited several booths upstairs in the convention center, checking out photographers, tuxedo renters and other vendors. After seeing all the glitz and glam, the Megards were ready to find their own husbands. "I don't even have anyone lined up yet," said Nichole Megard, 22. "I just want all this stuff." Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

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