Bridal Show Tips for Brides | Denton Wedding Photographer

Attending Bridal Show Tips

When you’re engaged, attending bridal shows can be a really fun activity for you, your mom, and/or maid of honor. But it can also seem super overwhelming. There’s a ton of booths and a lot of vendors clamoring for your attention. Here are some simple, straightforward tips and tricks for attending bridal shows or bridal expos and making the most out of the experience.

• Set up a special wedding email address beforehand. The organizers of bridal shows will hand off your email to every vendor attending—even ones whose booths you didn’t visit! Create an email handle that’s specifically for wedding business so that your inbox doesn’t get too clogged.  I also suggest if you really want a vendor to contact you, give them the email you check daily so it doesn’t get lost with all the other emails you will receive.
• Be strategic. Don’t waste your time or that of the vendors you don’t need.  Be selective about which booths you visit. Choose 2-4 vendors you’re specifically searching for at this particular show, like a DJ, a florist, and a videographer, and then only visit those particular booths. It will keep things less stressful.
• Don’t bring an entire entourage. Although it can be fun to include every bridesmaid in every wedding activity, the truth is, bridal shows held in convention centers are usually packed and some cost money to attend. Bring 1-2 friends or family members that will give straight-shooting opinions and don’t mind being on their feet for a while. You could even bring your groom if he’s involved in the wedding planning process.
• Consider bringing pre-printed address labels. You’ll have a ton of vendors asking for your information, whether it’s to enter you in a drawing or so that they can follow up later about your service inquiry. Having to write out your name, email address, and wedding date a billion times is not fun.
• Take pictures. Again, you’re going to be visiting a lot of vendors and receiving a lot of information. You don’t want to respond to someone’s email with “Who are you, again?” Taking pictures of booths and displays that you like will remind you of who you were truly interested in. Just snap a pic, add some notes in your phone, and rest assured knowing you’ll remember each booth that piqued your interest!
• Come prepared. Bring a list of questions for each of the vendors you’re interested in. For instance, if you’re hunting for a videographer, come with 2 or 3 quick questions you’ll ask each one. Just listening to sales pitches can sometimes leave you walking away with little concrete information.
• Enter Drawings. It’s always fun to win something at bridal shows but know that some vendors will email every bride that they won so they can hopefully get more business.
• Handouts. You will receive lots of printed materials from all the vendors.  If you like one, tear the corner off of it so you can remember when you get home and dump out your bag.  This way the ones you didn’t like, you can toss without wondering which vendors you liked.
• Do your research. Look at each vendor’s website and read what they are about or what you can expect from them. Read their reviews on popular wedding websites like The Knot or Wedding Wire. Make sure they are legit and won’t ruin your wedding.
• Take your time. Don’t feel obligated to book a vendor on the spot in order to get a “deal”. You shouldn’t have to rush a huge decision during bridal shows.

At the end of the day, just stay calm and have fun. Bridal shows aren’t supposed to be an annoyance; they’re supposed to be a fun way for you to shop for potential vendors in one spot. It really helps to meet vendors face to face in a fun environment to get a feel of who they are.  Consider making it a special wedding planning day where you grab lunch after to go over your prospects. Keep these tips and tricks in mind, and go rock those bridal shows!