Published: Sunday, 1st March, 2009 4:00pm

Weddings are fair-ing well through recession

by Richard Crowe

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THE credit crunch may be starting to bite most sectors of the economy but one area seems to have remained unscathed - weddings.

Evidence of this boom was there for all to see at a wedding fair held at Northcote House, Sunningdale Park, on Sunday with organisers Prestige Weddings reporting an increased footfall.

Company managing director Zoe Downey said it was clear couples were choosing to get married instead of spending money on mortgages and holidays.

She said: "In October, when we held the last fair, it was very quiet as news of the problems with banks first came to light but this time has been completely different.

"Couples are thinking 'why don't we get married instead?' I suppose it's basic security.

"They are both in work and their mortgage payments have reduced by a considerable amount so they have got more expendable income to get married."

Around 300 people attended the event, including 90 brides. There were 69 in October.

Everyone a couple could want to meet was at the event including photographers, cake makers, jewellers, classic car hire companies and even a string quartet.

Mrs Downey added: "It's like a one-stop shop for all your needs - there is everything here that people would want for a wedding."

Another business bucking the trend is Sunningdale's Bridal Lounge which is going from strength to strength after being created by friends Lauren Young and Katie Underdown two years ago.

Mrs Underdown said: "I do feel sometimes that we are in a bubble because it has been really busy this year.

"People seem to still want to spend money on wedding dresses."

Gemma Pateman, 25, of Sunningdale, is getting married in Northcote House later this year and came to the fair to show her parents the venue and book the cake maker.

Miss Pateman said: "We have been working on quite a tight budget but we still have 70 guests coming and haven't cut back too much. We haven't got anything extravagant as it just costs so much more.

"Everything is still at last year's prices."