Date & Weather – Sunday 15th April – 18 Degrees
Expo Hours – 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Location – The Mining Exchange – Ballarat Parking – City metre parking
Public Transport – Yes – bus
Ticket Cost – $10 at the door or online
Advertising – Online advertising on Facebook
Prizes – Not advertised online; major prize $500 travel voucher
Giveaways – $500 travel voucher for all guests, small prizes offered at some of the exhibitor stands
Features List – Bridal fashion parade, which ran twice throughout the day
Layout – U-shape layout built around the fashion parade
Queue to Get In – No Queue
Quantity of Exhibitors – 52 – Good range of exhibitors for a small-town expo. Mostly local, with a few from Geelong and Melbourne.
| Mobile bar | 1 |
| Bridal accessories | 1 |
| Celebrants | 4 |
| Wedding catering | 3 |
| Wedding planners | 5 |
| Entertainment | 1 |
| Cars | 1 |
| Cakes | 6 |
| Venues | 8 |
| Jewellery | 2 |
| Personalised gifts | 1 |
| Hair and makeup | 3 |
| Beauty and wellbeing | 4 |
| Bridal fashion | 2 |
| Florist | 1 |
| Photo booth | 1 |
| Menswear | 2 |
| Photography | 5 |
| Charity | 1 |
| Hens/bucks | 1 |
Overall star rating – 3/5
Overall impression – The Affordable Wedding Expos Ballarat show was surprisingly energetic. The event organisers tailored the expo to the residents of Ballarat, showcasing primarily local businesses. Tickets were $10 and could be purchased online or at the door. Two fashion parades took place throughout the duration of the day with Ballarat’s top-tier bridal and groom’s fashion providers supplying the outfits.
The U-shape layout made it an easy expo to navigate, ensuring all exhibitors were seen. Although there were only 52 exhibitors at the Affordable Wedding Expos Ballarat, it was to be expected for a small town. This expo was clearly targeted at local brides-to-be with very few exhibitors from outer regions.
