KEY POINTS:
Champagne, organza and the unmistakable sounds of the Love Boat theme song filled the Ellerslie Convention Centre yesterday at the 12th annual Bride & Groom magazine show.
More than 6000 people checked out the 160 stalls carrying various wedding paraphernalia.
From cakes and cocktails to photographers and place settings, hundreds of brides-to-be eagerly worked their way around the centre, dutifully followed by their slightly less eager fiances.
But, much like a wedding itself, the major focus of the day was the bridal fashion show, in which more than 30 dresses paraded down the catwalk before a room full of admirers.
This year marked the second time a fashion show has been included in the day's line-up, a move fashion designer Kate Dowman was pleased to support.
"When you see a girl in a dress walk out and shimmy, it just does so much more than a picture ever could," she said backstage before the show. "You need to see how the dress moves."
Bride-to-be Chloe McColl agreed with Ms Dowman and said she had decided on her dress designer after seeing the afternoon's show.
"After seeing some more designs on the runway, how they move, I know who I want and I'm going to make an appointment," she said.
Ms Dowman said brides were becoming more fashion-oriented and looking for something different.
"They're a little bit older so they're more style-savvy. They want more intimate weddings, but more beautiful weddings. And all of them want that special, special dress. They don't want to be like everybody else," she said.
Intimacy was a key theme at this year's show, where Villa Kula's luxury display tent drew a sizeable crowd throughout the day.
Wedding planner Tanya Erkkila said that modelled on a Rajasthan lounge, with cushioned sofas and colourful wall hangings, the marquee symbolised a new trend in wedding receptions. People were looking for "sophisticated and stylish" events but also wanted something more relaxed.
"It's definitely a new trend. They don't want seating plans or formal dining, it's far more relaxed."
