A display by Red Door Event and Design LLC shows what owner Lisa Hyatt says is a popular choice for wedding happening this summer: shades of blue accented with bright colors.

A model shows off a wedding dress during a fashion show in the Free State Bridal Show on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, at the Granada.

In two years, Sarah Jenkins will walk down the aisle and say “I do.” That date might seem far away, but Jenkins is thinking ahead: to prepare for her big day, she attended the Free State Bridal Show, which was Jan. 16.

“Everyone is always telling me it’s never too early to start,” says Jenkins. “This way I can check out my options early. And I learned a lot of cool stuff today.”

The Free State Bridal Show is a locally produced event organized by wedding professionals. Steve Maceli, owner of Maceli’s, 1031 N.H., is one of the event’s founders.

“This is really about supporting local businesses, so vendors only pay minimal fees,” Maceli says. “It’s the best combination of price and marketing value that we can think of.”

Fifty companies and vendors took part this year.

Midway through the bridal fair, there was a wedding-wear fashion show. Twenty-three models walked the catwalk at The Granada, 1020 Mass., showing off the wedding fashions of 2010.

Norma Baxter, who went to the event because her grandson is getting married this summer, says the fashion show was one of the highlights.

“It was nice to see the new styles,” Baxter says. “The dresses, the hair, and the makeup.”

The fashions on display showed that color and creativity are popular wedding trends this year. Bright and lively colors like water melon tango, grape and spice fusion, clover and kiwi accented dresses and tuxes. Paisley was one popular design that made more than one appearance.