(photo courtesy of Brad Howe Photography)
You may not realize it, but there is an August bridal show season (not in Williamsburg this year, but around us). Since you may be attending a show in the next couple of weeks, we're sharing some of our bridal show strategy tips for engaged couples.
Register in advance. While most shows permit walk-in traffic, registering in advance usually has multiple benefits. Ticket prices may be lower (or even free). Pre-registered brides are sometimes registered for special prize drawings, and show producers may throw in useful extras like pre-printed labels you can use at each vendor booth to enter additional contests.
Use “wedding” contact information. The simple fact of bridal shows is that they are lead-generating events. In almost all cases the contact information of the attendees is distributed to some or all of the participating vendors. In order to minimize traffic to your work or personal email, and to your home mailbox, establish a wedding email address and if you are particularly private, a PO Box for the engagement period. The information sent to you by vendors can be useful, but at times overwhelming.
Don’t Take the Whole Entourage. It’s fine to surround yourself with a couple of key supporters or decision makers, but wedding expos can be crowded and a tiny bit chaotic. You don’t help yourself, or the show by bringing your 30 closest friends with you.
Don’t Hire On the Spot (Unless…). There will be a lot of shiny options at a bridal show, and some vendors may offer incentives if you hire them on the spot. You’re a smart bride or groom though, and you know exactly how important it is to research and vet your wedding pros. Most vendors will extend those “day-of show” offerings if you make an appointment to consult with them right after the show – this will give you time to do proper reference checks and be certain that your decision is based on the best information and not just the excitement of the moment.
There is an “unless” scenario. Do not hire a vendor on the spot at a bridal expo unless you have done your research prior to the show and have essentially pre-selected your favorites. If attending the bridal show confirms what you already know about a particular professional, feel free to take advantage of the event and book on site.
Wear Comfortable Shoes. Expos can be exhausting and the bigger the venue, the longer those aisles of pros can seem. Have a nice light meal before attending, take a bottle of water and wear some comfortable shoes.
These are just a few success strategies for your next bridal show experience – most important: enjoy yourself!
Shayna Walker owns Williamsburg Wedding Design. She publishes the annual Where to Wed bridal guide for Williamsburg, Yorktown, Providence Forge and Newport News. She is also a passionate speaker and educator for the wedding industry, an established professional wedding planner and her most important job: a single mom of twin first graders. She writes about business development for the wedding industry at Life in Weddings.
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