Brides are still donning white even though the country is in the red.

Helping these brides was NIU’s 5th annual Bridal Expo Sunday afternoon at the Holmes Student Center, where wedding vendors displayed their services and products from D.J.s and photographers to cosmetics and portable toilets.

Evangeline Rentria, a Nicor Gas worker in Sycamore who is getting married in the spring, found the expo beneficial.

“This is my first time going to a bridal expo and it’s been really helpful,” Rentria said. “The most important thing for me is to find a place to have the wedding and I think I’ve found one.”

The Expo attracted 54 vendors this year, the most it has ever hosted, and some even had to be turned away. NIU has been able to almost break even in its spending for the bridal expos since the vendors pay for space and NIU uses that money for complimentary food, advertising, decorating and professional models for a fashion show.

Karen Villano, the director of food services who also oversees events on campus, said the expo is a way for NIU to promote the community as it gives advantages to local businesses.

“I think it gives good exposure for the university but also, I think, in a small way, that it’s a way for NIU to give back to the community,” Villano said.

With the looming concern of the recession, families are having to become frugal in their spending.

Ahna Holzinger, a marriage and family therapist, said she is trying to balance her spending.

“I like to see all the vendors, get some ideas and my fiance and I hope to not cut too many corners because we want it to be special, but we have had to cut back a little bit,” Holzinger said. “My friends are very supportive though and are going to make cookies for the reception.”

Some of the vendors are not too worried about the recession and the prudence it may inspire.

Don Shepherd runs a carriage service providing horse-drawn carriage rides all over northern Illinois and said his business is stable.

“We see a lot of last-minute bookings in this economy but the business seems to be holding up,” Shepherd said. “We’ve talked to a lot of other colleagues in the wedding business and weddings are becoming smaller, not such a big reception, but I think we’re seeing a good trend in getting back down to earth.”

Sandy Ryan, owner of Bella Bridal and Formal Wear in St. Charles, 2000 W. Main St., said the economic situation has not really affected her business.

We’ve seen less engagements than we have in the past, but for the most part it hasn’t affected us yet,” Ryan said. “We do have a number of brides lowering their price points, but they are still buying dresses.”