Going to the Backyard, and We’re Gonna Get Married

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Weddings have come a long way from the traditional church ceremony, white wedding dress and tossing of rice and garters. More and more weddings these days are taking place at home and couples are registering at home improvement stores for more practical gifts. And, the trendiest color is no longer white; it’s GREEN!

The National Hardware Show^® has crossed over the threshold of hardware and drills to display the latest products that top the wish list of every engaged couple and newlywed.

“We host the National Hardware Show in May, right before wedding season kicks into high gear,” said Dean Russo, senior vice president for the National Hardware Show. “Las Vegas is the best place to get a preview of what home improvement has to offer for couples taking this big step in 2009. And, the show floor will be filled with the latest trends for wedding registries and newlyweds’ first homes.”

If your parents or a family friend have the Garden of Eden in their backyard, why not take advantage of it for your wedding reception? Not only will this save you the cost of renting a venue, but it is much easier to personalize a space when you know the owners. And, when you get married at a place that has a special meaning to you, it makes the event even more special.

Some items being shown at the National Hardware Show that are perfect accessories to a backyard wedding:

• Firefly Magic^® Firefly Lights: an amazing, environmentally friendly lighting effect product that uses solar power to accurately recreate the realistic flashing, flickering and fading of fireflies
• Clamp ‘n Stake™: an all-in-one, multi-functional solution that safely secures a beach umbrella to picnic tables, BBQs, grass, dirt and any other surface
• Smart Stone™: a new generation of stepping stones made from 100 percent recycled raw materials to create a scenic, natural-looking path in the backyard

Other trends for wedding season that will be highlighted on the show floor, include:
--		Seeing Green: According to The Knot, "Couples continue to be earth-conscious in 2008, from buying conflict-free diamond rings and recycled gold wedding bands to serving locally grown, free-range fare and donning bio-friendly wedding dresses made of 100 percent silk and cottons. They're also honeymooning at eco-resorts." Couples are also using recyclable products and less energy by hosting weddings outside where there is natural lighting.
--		His and Hers Registries: She likes having her best friends over for cocktails and conversation, while he's more into football and fried food. When it comes to wedding registries, it's better to celebrate these differences with a variety of stores and product categories on the registry.
		"Modern wedding registries go beyond mere towels and toasters. Today's brides and grooms can use registries to help fund their honeymoons, improve their homes and even purchase his-and-her sporting gear. Wedding registries can include just about anything, from jewelry to wine to home-office supplies," says Joyce Scardina Becker, certified wedding consultant.
		With brides and grooms marrying later in life--the average bride is 27 and her groom, 29, according to a 2006 survey conducted for The Conde Nast Bridal Group--couples may already own all the home essentials, so now they need all the extras for entertaining, relaxing and getting organized. The Home Depot and Wal-Mart offer online bridal registries for all home improvement needs.
--		Home Improvement is Where the Heart is: Getting married and moving in together means blending decor styles. Newlyweds and the engaged are among the nation's largest consumers of major appliances, furniture and consumer electronics, as well as tableware, linens, small appliances, and cookware, often obtaining these items as wedding presents selected through a registry.
		Newlyweds need to be practical about creating a unique style that blends their personalities. There are many low-cost options for every room of the home if researched properly. Also, a wedding gift registry should help with all of the necessities. Following the wedding, couples should draft a list of essential items for each room, plus recommendations for future upgrades.
		While one partner may be driving most decisions, for the long-term good of the relationship, always involve the other. It's also fun to research the decoration possibilities and make them a reality as a couple.

Products seen at the National Hardware Show that first-time homeowners or co-habitants are sure to need, include:

• Effbe Storage Bins: efficient and attractive brackets to hold recycling bins on the wall to free up floor space for storage
• KV Lawn Vac: Billy Goat’s next generation 27-inch-wide lawn and litter vacuum is ideal for residential and property maintenance and provides strong suction, simple operation, and reliable design for outdoor vacuum clean-up
• Adjust-a-Hook: an easy to use household device for hanging a picture or grouping of pictures in perfect alignment without measuring or marking up the wall

• BIGSLIDER™ Utility Mover: made from a thin sheet of sturdy, recyclable high-density polyethylene plastic and equipped with a handle for easy sliding, this invention can be used to transport heavy loads, such as bags of concrete or leaves
• Secure-a-Lock: a compact lock restrictor that prevents a deadbolt from being opened, even with a key
• Flexibrush: a paint brush that bends and extends in every direction for reaching every crevice and height

The National Hardware Show, featuring Lawn & Garden World™, Homewares™ and New Product World™, is being held May 6-8, 2008 and will occupy the entire Las Vegas Convention Center in three halls. For those that are feeling daring, A Little White Wedding Chapel is less than two miles away from this location.

The combined events, featuring 150 product categories, will offer home channel retailers of all sizes a comprehensive preview of the entire home enhancement marketplace with over 3,500 exhibitors in over 2 million gross square feet of floor space. The National Hardware Show has added exciting, new programs while expanding on existing ones to reflect current consumer trends and provide endless opportunities.

For more information and updates on the 2008 National Hardware Show, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com. Media registration is now open.

Reed Exhibitions, which manages more than 460 events worldwide, is a member of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading provider of information-driven services and solutions. Reed offers integrated market access programs covering exhibitions, trade publications, direct marketing and the Internet to a database of 3.5 million in North America. Reed has North American offices in Norwalk, Conn., Waltham, Mass., Palm Beach, Fla., Las Vegas and Toronto, and sales and operations offices worldwide. (NYSE:RUK/ENL).