By Luke Voogt
Brides-to-be and wedding planners will flock to Geelong Racecourse for a marriage expo returning for the first time in two years this Sunday.
Geelong wedding expo will feature more than 90 exhibitors for everything nuptial, according to director Kari Hauser.
“We’re jam-packed this year!” the Lara wedding photographer said.
“We’ve had to place the stalls differently due to COVID-19. I’m trying to fit in other people but it’s getting virtually impossible.”
The expo features dress and cake makers, photographers, makeup artists, celebrants, venue hire displays, signage booths, a jumping castle and, for the first time, food trucks.
“We’re bringing them in so we can have more of a festival atmosphere,” Kari said.
“That’s the incredible thing about the Geelong business community; when we need help, we all jump onboard to help each other.”
Business is booming for Kari, who for about a decade has run the expo – now in its 22nd year after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
“I’m editing wedding photos now,” she said.
“That was a large wedding – it was like, ‘yay, we’re out of COVID, and having fun and partying again’.
“Last year was tough – the wedding industry was hit really hard. So there’s no explaining the excitement they have marrying people and just doing their job again, finally.”
Exhibiting makeup artist Jessica Anderson said the wedding season had extended into winter this year to cope with a backlog of engaged couples.
“My accountant [advised] me that I had done more work in the past three months than the previous 12.
“Normally we’d be shutting down about now and taking well-earned trips to Bali. But we’re forging right through, nobody cares about the weather. It’s about time!”
Details: geelongweddingexpo.com
