The holiday season is one of the most popular times of the year for engagements. If a sparkling diamond ring was the highlight of your holiday break, congratulations! And now the fun begins... Wedding planning!

Lucky for new brides and grooms, January is host to two exceptional opportunities to get a head start on planning your big day. Our (in)decent proposal: Attend both! Not only will you meet different vendors, but the low admission prices make it an affordable way to bond with your bridal party and get excited about the fun to come!

engagement & wedding rings from Manya Jewelers 255-6668

Sunday | January 6
Bridal Faire Extraordinaire
Held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia on Town Center Drive, the Bridal Faire Extraordinaire is dedicated to bringing you a fine selection of wedding professionals. When you visit the Faire, you'll be able to speak to qualified wedding vendors who are ready to help guide you through the sometimes-confusing and stressful wedding-planning process. Interview potential service providers and pick up samples, ideas, discounts and a coveted contact list. Admission is $5 presale, $8 at the door. Get there early; doors open at 11 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day, too. Witness fun fashion shows, taste cakes, check out portfolios for florists and photographers, chat with DJs, play in the photo booth and much, much more. www.bridalfaireextraordinaire.com

Wednesday | January 30
Santa Clarita Wedding & Event Professionals Host
"Evening with the Pros" Bridal and Event Seminar
The Santa Clarita Wedding Professionals is a united group of the most accomplished and sought-after wedding vendors in Southern California. Together, they form a unique network, providing access to a wide variety of services in every stage of planning. They are ready to assist you in creating "The Perfect Wedding" or event! Experience is key to understanding the ideas, desires and needs of your individual and highly-personal wedding experience. Planning a wedding is an enormous, once-in-a-lifetime ride and the Santa Clarita Wedding and Event Professionals are there for you with over 150 collective years of experience to lean on. If you need full planning or are just looking for wedding and event tips, this "Evening with the Pros" is the place to be. The Santa Clarita Wedding and Event Professionals are putting on this educational and fun seminar for anyone in the process of planning their wedding or event! You are able to get one-on-one attention from some of the best event planning professionals in Santa Clarita, as well as some great "do's and don'ts" tips to make the planning process a little easier. You won't only get education from this event, you will also get to see some beautiful flower samples, taste yummy cake, talk wedding etiquette and much more. Held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia at 7 p.m. $15 for attendee and guest. RSVP by phone or e-mail.
215-2585 scvweddingsandevents@gmail.com www.scvweddingsandevents.com

We're in Love
with Pin-up Portraits
Modern pin-up portraits are all the rage and, in our opinion, the very best engagement gift a gal could receive (Or, perhaps more appropriately, give!). We are swooning over Andrea Gold's stunning images and even more captivated by the simplicity of the process. All you need to do is "strike a pose" and the Andrea Gold Photography team does the rest. Included in your pampering photo shoot are professional hair styling, makeup application and wardrobe. Your glamorous visage will be captured for eternity via an artfully retouched masterpiece portrait ready to be cherished for decades to come. 297-GOLD (4653)
www.andreagoldphotography.com