Wedding Show Tips

Sue Walsh on July 9th, 2008

On any given weekend, there is sure to be a wedding show going on in some part of the country. Wedding shows are popular and easy ways for brides and vendors to connect-however they do have a downside. Here’s what you need to know if you plan to attend one in your area.

Don’t bring a crowd. It’s tempting to invite your entire bridal party to go with you, but don’t. Bring one or two trusted friends, no more. The problem with inviting a crowd is you have to listen to all those opinions, making it hard for you to form one of your own!

Do be wary of registering.The first thing you’ll be asked to do when you arrive is register. They tell you this is so you can win door prizes, and some shows do give out some nice prizes and vendor discounts, but you should still be wary of filling out the registration form they’ll hand you. Why? They will ask for your phone number, postal address, and email address. Hand them over and I promise you you’ll be bombarded with calls, emails and catalogs/flyers/postcards from all kinds of vendors. I have been married a little over a year and I still get wedding catalogs in the mail and emails from DJ’s hawking their services! I recommend putting down a fake postal address and phone number, and if you must give an email address, make it a fake one or use a “throw away one” from Yahoo or Hotmail if you have one. You won’t be sorry.

Do bring a tote bag and a notepad. The tote bag is to hold the literature you’ll get from vendors, and trust me, you’ll probably get tons. The notepad comes in handy if you want to take notes on ideas you’ve seen or vendors you’ve spoken to.

Do wear comfy shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking and standing!

Do be brief when talking to vendors. This is not the time to interview or book any vendors! Save that for a less hectic time. Look through their samples, ask a few quick questions, and if you’re interested take a business card and any other literature they offer and move on.

Do enjoy yourself! You’re only a bride once (hopefully!) so enjoy every wedding planning experience!