Getting the most out of attending a Wedding Expo/Bridal Show

Kickstart your wedding planning by attending a wedding expo or bridal show! These events, often held on a Sunday, provide the perfect opportunity to meet several vendors, of all types, at once. You can often find: venues, planners, DJs, florists, hair and makeup artists, caterers, bakeries, stationery designers, and more. It can be a lot to take in, so here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your experience!

Tip #1: Organization is Key

From the moment you check-in at the event until you leave, you’re going to be handed a lot of information. Goodie bags, flyers, business cards, price sheets, notepads, pens, food samples – more things than you can imagine, and definitely more things than you can easily keep track of with everything else happening at the bridal show. So, before you arrive: have a plan to keep things organized! I recommend either: A) Use two separate bags. Put information from vendors you liked in one, and anything you’re not interested in, in the other. B) Use just one bag, and mark only the information you want to keep and follow up on. (Purposefully folding a corner is a quick and easy way to do this!)

Tip #2: Share Your Information

Your name, email address, and wedding date are typically the three most important pieces of information for vendors to collect. Some events provide attendees who have registered in advance with sticker sheets printed with this information for you to pass out, but not all of them do this. If you’re able to print your own stickers to bring, I definitely encourage you to do so. Vendors will receive this information in a leads list afterwards, but that can take time, so providing the information directly to those you are interested in will allow them to connect with you quicker!

Tip #3: Have a Wedding Email

Speaking of sharing your contact information… Create a new email address for everything related to your wedding – and only for your wedding. Use this email when requesting quotes, submitting inquiries, or communicating with vendors. (Trust me on this, you do not want to have wedding emails in your everyday inbox.)

Tip #4: Take Advantage of Bridal Show Specials

…but don’t feel rushed or pressured to sign anything if you aren’t ready! Many vendors have show specials, like rate discounts or added services, that are limited time offers. For some (like me!) you just need to schedule an appointment while at the show, while others require you to book and sign a contract to qualify. If you find a vendor you know you want to work with, absolutely take advantage of their show specials, but please don’t feel like you HAVE to make an appointment or sign a contract. It is perfectly fine to just want to collect information, or take extra time to look at all your options, before making any decisions.

Tip #5: Have Fun!

Bring your partner, your parents, your siblings, your friends, your bridal party, whoever you want to include! Grab a beverage, sample the tasty treats, sit and enjoy the fashion shows – you can go all out with matching t-shirts for your group, or put on a headband with a mini veil, however you want to make this day special! It’s a lot to take in, but it’s also a lot of fun, so enjoy it!

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Located in Southern California? Here’s a few of our favorite wedding expo/bridal show events!

Bridal Bazaar
California Bridal & Wedding Expo (Costa Mesa)
California Bridal & Wedding Expo (San Diego)

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