Bridal expos are big business today but when the first Bride of the Year events were held in Tamworth they were huge affairs where brides got back into their bridal wear, hitched up their bridesmaids too in all their finery and did a ceremonial re-run of the occasion in front of hundreds of people.

Our special gallery of brides were the stars of the show at a function at the West Leagues club in March 1996. 

From left, they were Amanda Edmonds, unnamed, Donna Schultz, Jacqueline Hudson, Sandy Harris, Gail Smyth, Kelee Dryden, the winner that year Karrie Whitten, runner up Ann Maree Marshall with her model, and Kylie Gorton.

Jenny Garratt was one of the brides who stepped down the aisle again that year. She was the former Jenny Marr from Werris Creek and a former Tamworth musical and dramatic society committee member. She married John Garratt and they now live at Coffs Harbour. Jenny has the photo taken at the bridal expo all those 17 years ago, still on her mantelpiece today