Preparing for Bridal Expos

Another old article I wrote. :)

Ah bridal expo season . . . the hectic but very resourceful rite of passage for a bride. After being bombarded with vendors and having a sugar high from tasting five different cake samples, one can get a bit frazzled at these events.  A bridal expo / fair are a great way to meet many vendors under one roof.  With professionals ranging from florists to realtors, you will have access to all of these talented resources and a shopping bag full of flyers, information and party favors.
     You can easily find these expos by using an internet search engine or by asking vendors you’re working with if they will be appearing at or know of a local bridal fair. If your reception venue is primarily for weddings they may host their own open house with a staged wedding reception and have their preferred vendors in attendance as well.
     When arriving at the expo be aware that there is usually an entrance fee around $10 and bring a datebook. Many vendors will give you a percentage off their product if you book them for an appointment or even for your wedding on the spot.
     Another wise bride idea to save time is to print up labels beforehand with your contact information. The majority of vendors will be asking for your information and the labels allow for a quick exchange instead of handwriting your information 200 times.
      If you don’t want to give out your e-mail, create a free e-mail just for your wedding. Many vendors solicit information and give out coupons through e-mail and social networking sites. In fact I just got e-mailed a coupon for a free cupcake from a bakery near my reception, talk about a sweet deal. Google, yahoo and hotmail all offer free e-mail accounts so create your own fun wedding themed login such as megandpathitched or heartbreakertomrs for all your wedding emails. After the wedding you can delete that account and not have to worry about your work inbox getting cluttered with wedding information. 
     Besides all of the information from vendors bridal shows have many perks including fashion shows, raffles, cakes, appetizers and free stuff!  Some expos may put your name in a drawing for a honeymoon or even give the bride a free magazine subscription for attending. At some of the larger expos there may be a “groom’s corner” complete with big screen televisions showing sports games with recliners. 
     Large bridal expos can be daunting, and if you have some of your bridal party willing to go, give them a task. At the last bridal expo I was at I had one bridesmaid putting raffle tickets in different vendor’s boxes and my maid of honor scouting out for vendors I still needed.
     When you talk with a potential vendor, get a feel for their personality. If a vendor seems very pushy or rude keep in mind they may retain this attitude during your wedding.  Seek out vendors you still need, so you don’t waste anyone’s time. When you do find a vendor whose work and personality you like, bookmark or rip off a corner of their information. Doing so it will later remind you that you liked this particular vendor, trust me after talking to 12 photographers, the memory gets a little hazy and the ripped corner reminds me to check out their website. I found my photographer and videographer this way, and they are amazing! 
     Alright so you have your labels printed with your name and your fun wedding e-mail, datebook, and bridesmaids with a task.  Enjoy the day, get inspired, and meet professionals who can help make your wedding dream into a reality.