Bridal Show Tips.

In the wedding business the period after the holidays is often known as "Engagement Season".  This means that many couples get engaged around the holidays as it is a time that people feel a natural sense of family, commitments and traditions.  If you've been dating someone you love for a period of time and you know friends and family will be in your travel plans or even in your thoughts it's a natural time for many to propose so they can share the joyous news during the holidays when they know they will be seeing friends and family.

Because of this in the Midwest the early part of the year is rife with many bridal shows.  With less weddings on the books during the colder months wedding  vendors plan to spend time at these shows as it truly provides a "one stop" place for brides and grooms to gather information and have some "face time" with vendors rather than emailing and texting for information.

So when it comes to  bridal fairs , here are some tips to keep in mind.

1.  Come prepared.  Many companies will have giveaways and drawings so pre-printed address labels are wonderful.  Also realize that when you sign up for these promotions you are giving the wedding fair as well as the vendors permission to contact you  via email or text.  TIP: Set up a separate  gmail  account for your wedding like karenlovesjim@gmail.com to put on all of you wedding communications.  The ones that you feel are really pertinent you can forward to your working email address.  

2.  The bigger shows here in Milwaukee can garner as many as 2000 brides coming through in a single week end. And that's just brides.  This does not count your mom, your BFF or even your fiancé who come along with you.  Girls who, just like you want to find the perfect vendor for their wedding vision.  To say that these shows can be overwhelming is an understatement.  We've heard these shows described as "Cattle Calls", "Disneyland lines"  and the like.  They can be busy, and they can be overwhelming if you are not prepared.

3.  Do your research.  Check the vendor listings on the publications, visit their websites and narrow down who you want to meet.  Most of the major bridal shows such as Premier Bride will give you a floor plan layout of where each vendor is.    

4.  Do expect that vendors will want to talk to you and will want to book appointments with you, but do not tolerate rude vendors.   Wedding shows are a symbiotic relationship.  Vendors book space because they want to book weddings.  You attend bridal shows because you want to meet the wedding professional that is right for you and you are hope to find them there.   It's normal for them to want to meet you outside the hubub of the bridal show booth, it's NOT normal for them to pressure you with scare tactics.  If a vendor intimates to you if you don't book at the show you will lose incentives etc, then walk away.  

5.  Be respectful of the vendors.  In most cases they've paid the equivalent of what they would earn on a wedding day plus expenses, they pay taxes and are invested in their career. If when inquiring about their pricing they give you information that is well out of your budget range thank them and refuse their literature for another bride who may be in that range.  You'd be surprised how this simple gesture will open a dialect and may result in great referrals for you, or even a custom package.

6. And the best tip ever....if the Packers are playing at any time during a bridal fair in Wisconsin, you can  practically have lunch with any wedding vendor there as the aisle will be barren and they will be bored out of their minds!