Love was most definitely in the air at the Oxford 99 Wedding Fayre, writes KAREN ROSINE.

Hundreds of couples, many of them with parents in tow, visited the fayre and bridal fashion show at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel, Sandford-on-Thames, on Sunday.

About 1,000 people attended the all-day event, organised by the Oxford Mail, which had everything on hand for couples tying the knot.

The event included two fashion shows where models showed off dresses, ranging from £185 to £1,850, by Abingdon-based Fantasia Bridal.

Inside there were exhibition stands displaying cakes, dresses, jewellery, make up and makeovers and photographers. There were also representatives from health and fitness clubs and holiday firms. Outside, there were wedding cars on display for the journey to the church.

As well as providing a one-stop shop for weddings, the event also raised money for Helen House Hospice, in Oxford.

Simon Mace, joint organiser along with Jeannie Timmins, said that the day had proved very successful.

He said: "A lot of stallholders have made bookings. Everything that you could want is here."

Abingdon-based Jo Arnold Flowers provided flowers free of charge for the fashion show.

Owner Jo Arnold said the whole event had been very profitable. She said: "The response has been excellent, even for next year's bookings."

A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO RAISE HOSPICE CASH

Helen House Hospice has been presented with a cheque for £200 following the Oxford Wedding Fayre and Bridal Fashion Show. The cheque was handed over to the east Oxford hospice to representatives from the hospice in Leopold Street, east Oxford, by Newsquest Oxfordshire managing director Shamus Donald yesterday.

The money was raised from two fashion shows at Sunday's event at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel in Sandford-on-Thames.

Organiser Simon Mace said the reaction was "astronomical" and that many of the people who exhibited at the event had voiced their approval.

France Boden, owner of the Connelle Beaute health and beauty salon based in Summertown, Oxford, said: "We had a good response - especially from lots of people who wanted to slim."

Story date: Tuesday 23 February

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