Getting married, it is supposed to be the most important day of a couple’s lives but the details of pulling it all together can see the moment eclipsed by stress.
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On top of that stress expenses like cake, cars and photos all add up, with the cost of the average Australian wedding now coming in at a cool $36,200.
It is something the third annual Wedding Expo, held at the Griffith Exies club, hoped to help up and coming brides overcome by bringing together a selection of local businesses, all who specialise in planning a perfect wedding.
One such bride-to-be, hairdresser Stephanie Brook, said she had helped countless women prepare for their big day, but this is the first time she has been on the other side.
For her the sheer number of details involved in planning a wedding have come as a shock, something the expo was helping her deal with.
“I have booked the venue, but just trying to find everything else is hard,” she said
“There are just so many details to think of.”
Miss Brook said one of her biggest challenges had been keeping costs down, with each detail to be thought of coming with an often hefty price tag.
“I think it is just one day and it should be about having everyone together, laughing and having fun – but even then there are costs,” she said.
With her own wedding on the cards for September bride-to-be Agnes Beni was lamenting the fact she had already taken care of most of her planning on Sunday following the expo. “They just had everything there that we needed,” she said.
In a society where time is money Miss Beni said in her experience the expo would be an enormous help to anyone at the start of the planning journey.
“On a weekly basis, I probably spend two to three hours a day planning,” she admitted.
“If I was planning right from the beginning it would have been really helpful – there were flowers and dj’s and even dresses as well.”
One of those exhibiting dress creations on Sunday was 22-year-old Nicole Gibbs who in April took a chance on love and opened her own Bridal boutique operating out of her home.
“All of my dresses are exclusive and custom made, I design them all myself,” she explained. “It is all definitely all worth it in that moment when someone puts on their dress, I always get teary.” With weddings a passion for all in the room Miss Gibb’s mother Sheryl said she had no doubt her daughter had found her calling. “When she was a little girl she had her whole room covered in pictures of wedding dresses,” she laughed.
