Hills in Hollywood owner and manager Tracey Heterick will be showcasing several new wedding gowns from the 2010 range at the Your Local Wedding Guide Sunshine Coast Bridal Expo on 21 February.

Alexia Purcell

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What's hot in bridal wear 2010

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HOOPS, netting, ruffles, lace, backless, strapless, cream and white. Wedding gowns come in a variety of styles, fabric, colours and lengths. So, what is the trend for 2010?

“Lace is back,” said Hills in Hollywood owner and manager Tracey Heterick.

“We’re not seeing as much frou-frou (frills) any more and the dress style is much more classic, although strapless is still very popular, you can’t get past it because it suits so many different shaped figures.”

As for bridesmaid dresses, prints are in.

“The Grecian style has gone replaced by soft, flowing beach gowns in prints and mock prints such as tie die,” Ms Heterick said.

Brides will find all the latest fashions revealed at this year’s Your Local Wedding Guide Sunshine Coast Bridal Expo on Sunday 21 February at the Events Centre @ Maroochy.

Ms Heterick said the expo was great for a new bride.

"Everyone in the industry goes, they are all under the one roof, there is no competition and you can browse at your own pace,” she said.

But not every bride is concerned about “the dress”. Seasoned Sunshine Coast celebrant Patricia Brennan has performed a variety of wedding ceremonies from traditional to the strange, including one where the wedding theme was football.

“I performed a ceremony once where all the guests came dressed up in the colours of different football teams. The bride barracked for an AFL team and the groom a rugby league team so I dressed up as an umpire. Themed weddings are a great idea as long as everyone gets involved.”

Ms Brennan said, “I think the expo is very beneficial because it gives them (brides and grooms) the opportunity to meet the people they choose to employ such as photographers, celebrants, hair and makeup. Because there is a large selection of people exhibiting at the expo they can get an idea of costs and what each person can provide for them.”

As for food, will the cupcake trend be popular this year again? One craze that is still in favour is the personalised memorabilia, whether it is in the form of ribbons, tokens or in this particular case, candy.

Don Hammond is the owner and manager of Montville confectionery company, Candy Addictions. Mr Hammond has been catering for weddings with personalised confectionery for 11 years.

Mr Hammond said, “Most people get candy with their names and a love heart whilst others get the bride and grooms initials or full names and the date of the wedding.”

Whatever the trends for 2010, a plethora of professionals in photography, hair, beauty, entertainment, reception venues, celebrants, designers, stationery, transport, flowers and bomboniere will assist brides and grooms with, “What to do to say ‘I do’” for 2010.

AT A GLANCE

Sunshine Coast Bridal Expo

When: 10am to 4pm, Sunday February 21
Where: Events Centre @ Maroochy, Maroochy RSL
Price: $10 per person

See the full details for the Sunshine Coast Bridal Expo or check out other events at Finda's Things To Do guide for the Sunshine Coast.

Check out what else is happening this weekend on the Sunshine Coast by viewing Finda's What's On This Weekend guide.

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Wondering where to wed? View Finda's interactive map of all council approved ceremony sites, read real wedding stories and view a photo gallery of real Noosa weddings.