• The fair welcomed more than 2,000 visitors over the weekend and closed its doors on Sunday with a real wedding ceremony.
• Classic vehicles, tables set up for celebrations, catering companies, photographers and all kinds of suppliers transformed the Agüimes Exhibition Centre during this first edition.

Gran Día, Celebrations Fair, closed the doors of its first edition today after bringing together 66 companies and professionals from the events industry and more than 2,000 visitors over the weekend, all looking for inspiration to organise their celebrations.

Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development, Industry, Trade and Crafts, gave a positive assessment of the fair’s first edition, which “has achieved its objective of bringing the public closer to the wide range of services required to create unique and special celebrations, while at the same time providing companies in the events industry with a new commercial platform where they can showcase their services”.

In this regard, the fair, which was launched with the intention of becoming a permanent event, has helped raise the profile of participating professionals, “facilitating contact with potential customers and generating new business and collaboration opportunities”, she said.

One of the aspects most highly valued by exhibitors taking part in this first edition was the opportunity to present their proposals directly to their target audience and generate new business opportunities, as the majority of visitors were people with a genuine interest in organising a celebration and hiring specialised suppliers for the occasion.

Promoted by Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria, the new fair brought together specialists in photography, make-up, fashion, travel, catering, sound and lighting, music and vehicle hire, among many other services, all in one venue. Visitors were able to contact these suppliers directly, receive advice and find inspiration for organising their weddings, baptisms, first communions, anniversaries, birthdays, retirement celebrations and other special occasions.

Throughout the weekend, the public also had the opportunity to attend a range of talks and round-table discussions exploring the latest trends in the celebrations industry, from financial planning and venue selection to communications, travel, clothing, accessories and aesthetics.

During Sunday’s programme, “flow psychologist” Érica Sosa offered advice on managing stress during event preparations. Two round-table discussions moderated by influencers Ana Bravo de Laguna and Marta Ibrahim also took place, exploring emerging trends in fashion, aesthetics and other types of services capable of creating the unique character and atmosphere of an event.

Fashion and accessories shows, together with performances by groups including Fijo Discontinuo, Plátano Swing, Aseres and DJ Álamo, brought energy and dynamism to the first edition of the fair. One of the event’s highlights was a real wedding ceremony organised by the Lopesan hotel group. Journalist Jezabel Artiles acted as master of ceremonies, while a wide representation of the companies and professionals exhibiting at Gran Día took part in the wedding. The event transformed the exhibition centre into the setting for a complete celebration and provided a practical demonstration of the wide range of services brought together at the fair.

Gamia and B/A Wedding Planner & Events were responsible for the wedding planning, while the Gran Canaria Automobile Museum provided the vehicles used by the bride and groom. They were dressed by Binkas Elegancia y Moda and Gianlucca Urraso, with accessories from Tempus. Eclat Novias, by Vanessa Fleitas, and Ary Beauty Studio were responsible for the couple’s hair and make-up.

The ceremony, captured by CRS Fotografías and Romy Artiles, took place in a setting decorated with balloons by Burbujas de Ángeles, flowers from Floristería Lucía and decorative elements provided by DeQú Trabajos Amables.

The catering was provided by Guanchef, Salitre Catering, Carben, Frambuesa Eventos, El Verraco Bocadillos and Helados Peña La Vieja. In addition to the music performed by Maribel Martín, who accompanied the ceremony with her harp, entertainment for the subsequent celebration was provided by Grupo FEMS and Un Quierito Estudio, which created the place cards through a live artistic performance.

Other contributors to the wedding included B Delgado Creaciones, which personalised the wedding favours, and Viajes Insular, the travel agency that advised the couple on choosing and organising their honeymoon.

The first edition of Gran Día, Celebrations Fair, was promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and organised by Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria. Lopesan was the event’s sponsor, with Cajasiete and Agüimes Town Council participating as supporting partners.