'Bride & Groom 2007' exhibition to open on Aug 18

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) The Great Indian wedding industry is a burgeoning market estimated at 11 billion dollars, growing 25 per cent annually and is an indication of the growing purchasing power of the people.

And to tap this huge potential, the eighth 'Bride&Groom 2007' exhibition will be held here from August 18-20, 2007 at the Hotel Ashoka. Organised by International Trade and Exhibition Group India Private Ltd (ITEGIP), the three-day exhibition will display the complete wedding range including trousseau, accessories, latest jewellery and wedding gifts.

''The event will provide minute tips to prospective brides and grooms about what they should purchase to look their best on the D-Day, organise one-on-one sessions with experts, make-up artists, wedding planners, specialised wedding photographers and honeymoon packagers,'' said ITEGIP Director Kiran Sharma.

The exhibition also aims at providing more high quality and a huge collection to consumers this year and to bring the business community into direct contact with buyers, she added.

India's wedding boom is evident from the fact that Delhi, during the winter, has been known to play host to as many as 15,000 weddings in a single night. A typical Indian wedding involves hundreds of guests and costs ,000, whereas an average American wedding is complete at ,000.

The event draws more than 100 exhibitors every year from India and Pakistan and is visited by over seventy thousand visitors and buyers from Delhi and adjoining states.

The exhibition will be preceded by a fashion show on August 16, 2007 at the venue, where designers like Gaurav Om Chabra, Yuvraj, Seema Agarwal and Ekta will showcase their fall winter collection of bridal wear.

''Leading designers from Pakistan like Aiesha Varsey, Jaazib-Monia Farooqui, Lala Lawn-Shahrek Lala will display their creations at the exhibition,'' said Ms Sharma adding that the affordability of products at the exhibition had helped in creating a niche for the event in the growing wedding industry.

This is the fifth year running that Pakistani designers are participating in the exhibition.

''Our exhibition is aimed at providing a platform to talented and aspiring newcomers in the fashion industry. Providing myriad choices in each category, this exhibition brings together designers and shopping marts all under one roof for three continuous days.'' said Ms Sharma.

UNI