A model wears one of the many bridal creations that could be admired by at Exponoivos, the world’s largest wedding trade fair, recently held in Lisbon.
Exponoivos, the world’s largest wedding trade fair, recently held in Lisbon’s FIL exhibition centre, opened with a catwalk of the finest creations that Portugal has to offer. In a homage to bridal fashion kings, José Carlos (Portugal) and Olivier Lapidus (France), the audience was treated to haute couture à la marieé, followed by a parade of bridal wear by talented, young, local designers.
Everything needed to prepare for a wedding was on show – from dress designers, make-up artists and hairdressers to wedding car hire companies, reception venues and travel companies offering honeymoon packages. Exponoivos had a staggering 311 stands covering an area of 15,000sqm.
Several celebrity names linked with the world of fashion in Portugal were among the guests, including fashion designers, Fátima Lopes and João Rôlo, and socialite Lili Caneças. At a prize draw tombola organised by Exponoivos sponsor, Marriott Hotels, winners won free treatments at Lisbon’s Anti-Stress Clinic.
Portuguese marry less but spend more
Getting married has become big business in Portugal in recent years, with thecouple’s family spending an average of around 20,000 euros on the event – double the amount it cost 10 years ago. In fact, the total wedding business industry here represents an incredible one per cent of the nation’s 100,000 million euros Gross Domestic Product (PIB). Put another way, it represents the same amount of money that Portugal ploughed into the building of the 12 football stadia for Euro 2004. In 2003, according to the Portuguese National Statistics Institute, there were 54,000 weddings, with families shelling out 1.080 million euros.
