How to get the most out of Wedding Shows

You’re engaged, congratulations! Now it’s time to start wedding planning.

For many brides the first port of call is a wedding show. With hundreds of suppliers all under one roof, it’s certainly an efficient way to start the planning process. But a lot of people find it quite daunting. They arrive at the venue and realise they have no idea where to start!

Fortunately, just a little bit of pre-game preparation can help alleviate wedding show nerves and make the day worthwhile.

I’ve worked with a lot of brides and I’ve seen them approach wedding planning in many, many different ways. I’ve used this experience to put together a few handy tips that I hope will help you get the most out of the next wedding show you attend.  

      
Make a Game Plan

Spend some time before the event thinking about the type of vendors you’d like to talk to. If you’re completely new to wedding planning you might want to start with venues, caterers and photographers. If you’re further along in the process you might only need to talk with florists, DJs and bakers.

 

You can take this even further by pre-selecting companies to talk to. Most wedding shows will provide a full exhibitor list prior to the event. You can usually find this on their website.

Sticking to a game plan will ensure you’re not overwhelmed and you actually leave with some good contacts.

Set Realistic Goals

Don’t expect to rush in, plan your wedding in its entirety and swoop out before lunch. You’ll only leave disappointed.

Instead, make a few realistic goals like finding a florist or booking a trial with a hairdresser. You’re much more likely to achieve smaller aims like this and so you’ll leave feeling pretty pleased with yourself.

Don’t Bring Your Entire Family

Wedding shows might sound exciting (free cake samples, hello!) but the reality is they can be a little boring for those who aren’t getting married. Do you really want to spend the day worrying about dad?

Bring your partner and maybe two or three genuinely interested people. This will usually be mother of the bride/groom and bridesmaids.

Be Your Best Self

Be friendly, be polite, wear your favourite (but most comfortable) shoes and bring your organisation a-game.

You’ll need a wedding show survival kit, which should include the following:

      Notebook and pen

      A tote bag for all the leaflets and samples

      Any relevant swatches of fabric or colour schemes

      A calendar to schedule appointments

It might also be useful to print your contact details onto small labels. That way you can just peel and stick, rather than write your name and address over and over again.

And all those hundreds of leaflets you’ll inevitably collect? Fold down the corners of your favourite vendors so when you get home you can quickly identify them in the pile.

Enjoy the Day

Wedding shows can be daunting but they can also be lots of fun. Soak up the atmosphere, talk to other happy couples and make sure you pay a visit to the champagne bar!

Calling all Essex brides! I’m going to be at the Heart Essex Wedding Show on the 25^th and 26^th February. Be sure to stop by for a chat, I’ll be on Stand 3!

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