Despite a few blokes loitering around DJ equipment, women were definitely in the majority at the Central Otago/Lakes District Wedding Show at the Millbrook Resort yesterday.
Brendan Mitchell was one of the few men present, although reluctant. He came along to keep an eye on fiance Kate Jelinek to make sure he can have at least some input into the Queenstown couple's wedding. Brendan and Kate have booked a February wedding at Alexandra's Orchard Gardens and Brendan said Kate had the big day "planned down to a tee".
"The wedding show's good - it's got lots of free nibbles," he said, while conceding the expo's plethora of stalls had given him a few good ideas.
Kate for her part said the show, which brings together wedding industry businesses from around the lower South Island, was invaluable in terms of getting ideas, meeting people and "putting faces to the names of people I've emailed".
"It's good. I'd recommend other brides come along." Last year the show was held in Wanaka and organiser Sandy Jefferies, director of Dunedin's Elegant Wedding Shows, said it was a way to bring exhibitors together under one roof.
"With so much choice out there people get lost. It's great to come and get some ideas to help plan.
"Everyone in the wedding industry offers something different and businesses are now going wherever to show their wares. Wedding shows do work. People can book a whole wedding and businesses can co-ordinate," she said.
"We had 48 exhibitors - photographers, caterers, cake makers, venues, transport, dressmakers, florists, jewellers, stationers, florists, singers, hairdressers, makeup artists - everything from the wedding industry, we had covered."
