Bridal Show Survival Guide

Bridal Show Survival Guide

By Emily Capdevielle

Bridal shows are usually a bride’s best friend….if you work it right. While brides can take advantage of having so many vendors all in one place to jumpstart the wedding planning, it can be very overwhelming. In order to get the most out of a bridal show experience, there are some tips on what to do and what not to do so you can enjoy the VIP bridal experience.

1.       Create labels so you’re not wasting valuable time filling out basic contact information while you could be finding out what deals the particular vendor might be offering just by being at the show. You can easily make sticker labels yourself complete with your name, phone number, house address, email address and the projected date of the wedding. Depending on the vendor, they may request more information like the color scheme or theme of the wedding but at least you won’t have to be writing down the same information over and over again.

2.       Have a game plan in addition to just planning on giving out your information to every vendor who is there. Visiting the booths will prep you for what is in store for you when you start setting up appointments one-on-one and what you are exactly looking for in a photographer, caterer or save-the-dates. All of the vendors are most likely located in the area so you can get idea on pricing, package deals and any specials going on for your particular wedding date. Some bridal shows even incorporate fashion shows as a part of the event and contests where you may win something for either the wedding or for the honeymoon.

3.       Invite your bridal party or just your Maid of Honor to help you go around to various booths to help you fill out applications to enter contests while you gather the vendor’s information and take advantage of any promotional deals. Vendors will also be handing out samples and various contact information and brochures so anyone you bring along can help keep everything organized and can make sure you don’t miss out on any tables.

4.       Bring a camera or snap photos with your handy smart phone of your favorite vendor tables to help you remember what you liked. Depending on the bridal show, there can be so many vendors packed into a small space you may confuse one photographer or DJ with another. You can also take photos to get some ideas for flower arrangements, cake designs or invitations for the wedding.

5.       Don’t be afraid to say no to a vendor who may want to convince you to sign up for something you are not sure of just yet for the wedding. Some vendors might offer a certain percentage off of packages if you sign up for an initial appointment, but make sure there are no strings attached or any obligations. You are also not obligated in any way to give out your personal information if you don’t want to or maybe just give an email address instead of a direct phone number. Believe me, they WILL call you.