Wedding dressmaker of 32 years Yvonne Shrimpton and alteration guru Simone Spencer are gearing up for the first Geelong Bridal Expo in more than a year.
“It’s really exciting,” Yvonne said of the event, which was cancelled last October due to COVID-19.
“I went to their recent expo in Ballarat and it was just lovely to see the brides and their entourages.
“I’m looking forward to seeing that again on Sunday.
“This time it will be even better, because as of [today] there will be no masks, so I can actually see their faces.”
Yvonne reckoned her central Geelong store, Bernice Fashions, had never been busier than now, with couples flocking to frock up for weddings they had postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19.
“We’re doubling up from last year!” she said.
“Last year was very much the unknown for everyone in the industry, but it gave you time to work on your own business and hone in on other skills.”
Currently weddings have no maximum attendance limits, provided they maintain a density limit of one person per two square metres.
But as of 6pm tonight the number of people allowed to attend a wedding at a private residence will increase from 30 to 100.
Geelong Bridal Expo organiser Tadas Adamavicius was thrilled to hold the event on Sunday beginning 10am at Geelong West Town Hall.
“We’ve already hosted three expos so far – Geelong being our fourth – and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.
“It’s getting easier and easier as the year goes on.
“Normally we’d have about 40 exhibitors but with restrictions we’re looking at 26 to 30, because of distancing, hand-sanitising stations and that sort of thing.”
Unfortunately today’s further easing of restrictions would be “too late” for organisers to increase that number, he said.
Details: bridalexpos.com.au
Luke Voogt
