Millions of Americans are out of their jobs, homes and cars, but local industry insiders say there’s at least one certainty amidst the economic carnage.
You can’t keep a good wedding down.
“It’s kind of like one of those things where if people have the money, they’re going to spend it,” said Corrine Crocker-Luby, owner of the Glastonbury-based Corrine Weddings. “They know this is a once-in-a lifetime event.”
Crocker-Luby was one of more than 150 vendors from across the region who took part in the 13th annual Women’s Health, Beauty and Bridal Show at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods.
And organizers said attendance at this year’s event surpassed last year’s just two hours after it began. John Fuller, owner of the Ledyard-based Red Wolf Broadcasting that sponsored the show, said he expected more than 3,000 people to turn out.
“Everyone’s getting married, and a lot of our vendors are about looking good and active fitness,” Fuller said.
But the main feature at Sunday’s extravanganza was matrimony, and for people like Evelyn Kennedy, the allure of a wedding against the backdrop of a bad economy means a chance to do something more traditional and intimate.
“You don’t have to spend $40,000 to do it,” said Kennedy, who owns Sewtique, a Groton textile studio that specializes in restoring and altering wedding dresses.