Wedding providers covering every aspect of the big day from function centres, cake makers and car hire through to photographers, make-up artists and of course, all important dress makers teamed up to the hold the event, attracting about 1400 people.

Organiser Bev Mills, who has stitched her mark on countless Maitland brides through her business Callanna Designs, said a second event would be held at East Maitland Bowling Club on February 22.

Wedding season is in full swing with plenty of nuptials to be held in September, October and November, and more to follow in February, March and April.

Ms Mills said the expos were designed to be one-stop-shops for planning a wedding.

“We’ve tried to get four businesses from every category for couples to be able to come along and book everything,” she said.

The event was held on the back of figures that showed the number of weddings in NSW was on the rise. Australian Historical Population Statistics 2008, issued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics last month, showed the number of registered marriages in 2006 was 38,071, up from 35,927 in 2005 and 37,431 in 2004.

The best year for weddings was 1971, when 43,038 marriages were registered.

The 1980s was also a boom decade for the hymeneal industry.

Ms Mills said yesterday’s one-day event was the biggest bridal expo in Maitland - and would only continue to grow as more people chose to tie the knot.

“It’s been a really good day and we’ve had a wonderful response,” she said.