The latest styles in bridal wear take to the catwalk at the Wedding Show yesterday. Photo / Martin Sykes
The latest styles in bridal wear take to the catwalk at the Wedding Show yesterday. Photo / Martin Sykes
Mother and daughter teams, groups of giggling girlfriends and an occasional male were among the crowd yesterday at the Wedding Show, at the Aotea Centre.
With various stalls catering to all wedding essentials, punters were spoiled for choice.
Andrea Robertson - soon to be McDonald - was scoping outthe whiteware with her mother Sheryl, who said weddings had grown to be seriously expensive events.
"We had planned for around $10,000 but it's coming out a lot more expensive," she said.
Ms Robertson, 23, said she and fiance Robert were planning a medium-sized wedding, set for next autumn.
"It'll probably be more than what we planned - at least $15,000 - but we're trying to keep to [the] budget. No limo hire here," she said.
A bridal-wear fashion show - with less frill and lace than expected - also proved to be a favourite with guests, with many pulling out cameras to record potential wedding dress ideas.
Tabitha Gray, who owns Model Cakes, said couples were more willing to spend up large on their cakes.
"I like to offer reasonably cheap prices, starting from $350 for a three-tier cake," she said.
"But it can go up to $1000 - I've heard of couples in the [United] States paying $30,000 for their wedding cake. It's really up to the couple."
Chris McFadden and his soon-to-be bride Rhonda Bryers have a wedding day set for January 23 next year.
They said with venue, catering, accommodation, flowers and photography costs all coming together now, it was hard to put a clear figure on their wedding.
"We've really just started but looking around, the photos and video alone is going to cost something like $6000," Mr McFadden said.
"It'll be a medium-sized one, with around 150 to 200 guests - it'll probably cost us around $20,000. That's probably a down payment on a house but, ah well, it's our wedding."
