Let’s
re-cap what you learned in part 1:
- Bring pre-printed address labels, stickers, a pen and a backpack or other large shoulder bag.
- Bring your maid of honour. Leave kids and young teens at home.
- Plan to be at the show for 3 hours. Bring some change to buy water.
- Any vendor who can put a wedding-related spin on their business with be in attendance. This includes travel agencies, mortgage brokers, fitness consultants, and maybe even psychics if you’re lucky.
What will happen at
the bridal show?
- You will arrive and receive a plastic bag filled with thick magazines, a wedding planner guide book, select vendor business cards and brochures and a sticker saying “I’m the bride” to put on your shirt – all before you even enter the show. This bag will be lots of fun when you get home, but will be very heavy at the show! Ask your entourage take turns holding the bag with you.
- You’ll walk in and find aisles packed to the edge with vendors. The booths are directly beside each other and are on both sides of the aisle. Your “I’m the bride” sticker will let every vendor know YOU are the decision maker, and will cause them to vie for your attention every second you are in their vicinity. People will be handing you brochures left, right and centre and you won’t be able to stuff them in your bag fast enough. Give your entourage a raised eyebrow if you need them to distract a pushy salesperson so you can escape.
- Remember to keep your eye on the game plan. Find the vendors you definitely want to talk to and go straight for them. Don’t get distracted and don’t waste time being overly polite with the harder to shake sales people. This is where your list will come in handy and keep you on track. When you have time later you can visit vendors you missed.
- Have a pen on you, so you can write details directly on the brochures. For example, if the bridal attire shop sounds wonderful but their business card doesn’t have the name of the lady you spoke with, ask for her name and write it down directly on the card. Then put a happy face sticker on it. Remember your stickers!
- In part 1 I told you to bring a small dollar-store stapler. This is because many times a vendor will have a business card and a brochure - but now you’ve got 2 pieces of paper and they will not stay together when you stuff it into your bag. Allocate someone who goes with you to staple all pieces of paper from the same vendor together, and then when you go home you can separate them if necessary.
- Have your entourage look at other vendors if you are busy speaking to one. There will be so many vendors you won’t be able to look at every one unless you do another round (by the end you’ll just want a margarita!). While they are scanning for other vendors you need (from the list you gave them) they can act as extra eyes helping you see what you may not be able to see.
- I’d suggest bringing a bottle of water, but that just adds extra weight. Perhaps bring a few dollars to buy water there for when you sit down to watch the fashion show. The reason I say this is because there will be LOTS of goodies (cupcakes, chocolate, and candies) for you to sample at the bridal show…but no one offers anything to drink. Keep yourself hydrated and stay away from too much sugar – you will crash afterwards (I know from experience).
- If you find a vendor you need, ask them questions. Many times there will not be prices on their hand-outs so ask. For example: How much is this wedding cake you have on display; how much does this bridal bouquet go for; is this an example of a head table backdrop; do you provide discounts for bundling services; what is the price per sugar cookie favour you have on display? Write the answers down on their brochure and put a sticker on it.
- Lastly, keep in mind that vendors will often have special offers at the bridal show which they normally don't have. So this is a great opportunity to inquire about discounts. Never be afraid to ask for a discount. For example, "If I book within 30 days of this bridal show, can I get a 10% discount?" Be prepared for them to say no, but vendors rent space at the bridal show to get customers, so they should be will willing to at least discuss discount options.
What will happen after
the bridal show?
- You and your entourage will be exhausted but excited and you will find a communal place to discuss the loot. We did this at my house and everyone dumped out their bags (just like Halloween - I kid you not), and threw out the garbage and duplicates. Remember to keep in mind you have lots of other reasons these vendors may be of use to you. Think of your bachelorette, buck and doe, bridalshower, etc. If the vendor isn’t right for your wedding, think of other places they may be useful.The point here isn't to horde, but save yourself time later when you remember you forgot something such as bridal shower guest favours.
- We put the brochures that were on my “interested” list in to a pile, and recycled the rest. This pile was then separated into vendors I needed such as “DJ”, “Video”, “Officiate”, “Limo”, etc. I tell you, those stickers definitely do come in handy. My piles consist of 5 limo companies, 7 DJs, 4 officiates, 8 venues, and 5 bakeries and 10 miscellaneous (imagine how many I recycled!)
- Make sure to thank your entourage for going with you. It is an exhausting event, may have cost them money for admission, and they are going only for you. They get nothing out of it other than some sample goodies, so thank them.
Reading this
may have been a bit overwhelming (and you haven’t attended the show yet!) but
I promise it is fun when you are prepared. Make sure you eat before you go and
stay hydrated. You will get distracted by pretty shiny things along your way to
see that florist you’ve read so much about, but try to stay on task. I suggest
arriving so the fashion show is half-way between when you arrive and when you
leave so you get a break from all the excitement, and can put down all your bags and grab some water.
Do
you have any other tips for bridal shows?
To
have and to hold,
Elizabeth Honey
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