The Hunter River Times

The Hunter River Times inaugural Wedding Expo had a smashing start, highlighting Upper Hunter businesses.

With 22 vendors ranging from photography to venues, luxuries loos to mustangs, there was something for every attending couple.

Jess and Scott Schmierer from Jessica Schmierer Photography have been doing photography for seven years, including weddings for the past five years.

Moving from Narrabri to Aberdeen about 12 months ago, the pair found the expo a great opportunity to promote themselves in the area, while also meeting other wedding businesses.

“In terms of weddings, we liked that we are a husband and wife team, Scott goes and does the guys getting ready and I do the girls getting ready and we sort of work around each other in the middle, but now that we’ve moved to the Upper Hunter, it’s been really important to promote ourselves to the community and encourage people to support local,” Jess told The Hunter River Times.

Kathleen Cowcher from Moonan Cottage, an all-inclusive and DIY wedding venue based 45 minutes out of Scone at the base of the Barrington Tops agreed with the need to support local businesses.

“It’s been a great opportunity at the expo to highlight Upper Hunter businesses because it’s local and supporting local people. Previously there hasn’t really been something like the expo to promote Upper Hunter businesses,” Kathleen said.

Muswellbrook couple Dominic White and Andrea Watts have been engaged for 18 months and are getting married in six months and found the day valuable in seeing if there was anything they could add to their ceremony.

“We’re probably halfway with our planning and we just wanted to see if there was maybe anything we missed or could tac on, especially to get local vendors involved in our big day because it’s important for me to use local in my ceremony,” Andrea said.

The expo was organised by The Hunter River Times to showcase the Upper Hunter as a great place to celebrate such a significant occasion.

The expo was in conjunction with the launch of the Upper Hunter Wedding Guide, a publication published by The Hunter River Times and now available at various outlets.

“Too often we see people look beyond their own backyard to have their wedding and the team here felt it was important to remind people of the wonderful settings right here in the Upper Hunter to celebrate such a special event,” The Hunter River Times editor, Di Sneddon, said.

“I would personally like to thank our staff who put 100 per cent into this event to showcase local businesses, especially journalist Jem Anshaw for all her work behind the scenes.”

If you would like a copy of the Upper Hunter Wedding Guide, simply email di@hunterrivertimes.com.au and we will organise one to be sent to you.

Alternatively, drop into the Times office at shop 10, 157-159 John Street, Singleton.

Alana Duggan from Muswellbrook was the winner of the lucky door prize and special thanks to Jessica Schmierer Photography for her wonderful donation of a family photography session to the value of $349 and picbox photobooth for their album donation.