Here comes the costly bride

A models wears a wedding dress by La Shika. Photo / Janna Dixon

There might be a recession on, but, weddings are special occasions and $5000 for a dress is not a barrier to some.

Designer dresses on show at the country's first couture Bridal Fashion Week at Auckland Museum are going for $3000-$5000 and the trend is for more trimmings, such as lace and crystal.

But one insider said yesterday that budget-conscious Kiwis at the show might well be photographing the dresses and heading to their local seamstress.

There are 20,000 weddings in NZ each year. Experts are already calling 2011 the year of the wedding, as celebrity couples such as Dan Carter and Honor Dillon, and Kate Hawkesby and Mike Hosking tie the knot. There is also a certain royal wedding.

And not everyone has budget issues. Spanish designer Ruben Perlotti, one of the stars in Auckland, said: "Our customers have not been affected by the recession." The event runs until Tuesday.