Wedding bells were ringing at the Cohere Centre on Halloween for the fall Ottawa Wedding Show. Engaged couples and brides-to-be’s walked down the aisles seeking vendors for their big day, comparing their options while looking for ways to save. A showcase of almost everything a couple would be looking for was available, with nearly 170 vendors offering a wide range of bridal-themed options from dresses, suits, décor, photography, rings and venues. Bride-to-be Cassandra Grignon and her fiancé are halfway done their wedding planning, hoping to celebrate with a small ceremony. “There are not a hundred guests. There’s just like 60 to maybe 70 even. We’re doing that mainly just because it’s very expensive,” said Grignon. According to a recent survey by Wealthsimple, a typical wedding costs roughly $25,000 and many couples, nearly 70 per cent, feel pressure to overspend on their big day. “We want the close family. The people that we care most about and the people that are very present in our lives. I feel like that’s the one that deserves to share that day with us,” said Grignon. Organizers say couples are making smarter purchases to cut cost, with venues and food being the most expensive. “It’s really a question of making better choices. Being more selective. As they’re planning their wedding rather than an actual scaling back, that’s what we’re seeing,” said Ian Forsyth, show director of the Ottawa Wedding Show. Bride-to-be Monica Dafoe and her mom Karen Dafoe were exploring their options. “We’re going to see where we can save and then in areas maybe we don’t want to, things that are more important,” said Monica Dafoe. Whether a traditional wedding or a smaller wedding, bride’s say every detail matters while looking for vendors to make their dream wedding day a reality. “I am just looking forward to Monica having a wonderful day with her new groom and just having everything to be absolutely perfect for it. Hopefully we’ll find a few people here who can help us make that a reality,” said Karen Dafoe. The show runs until 4 p.m. Sunday.
