“There are no real changes in what women are buying. Brides are going to have what they want and they’re going to spend the money (on the wedding dress) … they are cutting costs where it won’t show,” said Joy McFarland, owner of Grissom’s Bridal. According to The Wedding Report, the average cost of a wedding dress fell about 5 percent last year. In the coming year, brides are expected to spend an average of $1,287 dollars on a wedding dress, up slightly from $1,266 in 2007.

At this time of year, McFarland said, brides are making the rounds — they are visiting regional bridal shows in search of everything from dresses to caterers to photographers to bakeries.

“During show season, people go to shows in town and in Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati,” McFarland said, “and they price shop.”

She recently helped one shopper who had been to Cincinnati and Bellefontaine looking for a specific dress at the lowest price.

Grissom’s, along with more than 35 other vendors, will participate in this year’s Winter Bridal Spectacular, held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at The Courtyard by Marriott.

Other local vendors include I Do Veils, Polly Agle Floral Design, Rudy’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que and The Tux Store.

Admission is $5.

The show will include a fashion show, product demonstrations and food tastings. Drawings for more than 30 prizes and a grand prize valued at more than $1,000 will be held throughout the event.

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