Last week we shared 5 Tips for Getting The Most Out of a Bridal Show that were all about the things you can do to prepare to attend the show. Today, we've got 5 more tips and tricks for you that will come in handy on the actual day of the show. These ideas should help you get most of the wedding planning answers you need before you leave the bridal show. (And we're always here with more tips and inspiration 24/7 at WhereBridesGo.com if you still have some wedding tasks to take care of after the show!)
Pack Your Bag
Taking the following items with you to the bridal show will help you stay organized and have a more successful experience.
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An Extra Bag
You may be given a bag to hold all of the goodies that you will be collecting at different booths (fliers, business cards, promo items, etc...) but it's always better to be safe than sorry. An added bonus if you end up having more than one bag is that you can put your VIP information in one and extra items from vendors that you don't like as much in the other. Don't throw away anything until you have for sure booked your vendors though. That way, if you don't go with your first choice for some reason, you'll still have contact information for your second choice.
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Datebook
You won't get a lot of quality time with vendors at the show because all of the other brides will be trying to talk to them too. Have your calendar handy to schedule one-on-one meetings with the best ones that you want to get to know better and possibly hire. - Checkbook/Credit Card
If you happen to find a wedding vendor that you absolutely have to have, put a deposit down right away before someone else books your date. - Spending Money
Even with all of those samples being given away, you may get hungry or thirsty. There should be stands to buy meals or snacks, and possibly a bar. Have cash handy in case that is all the smaller stands accept. - Your Bridal Binder
Whether you keep track of your wedding planning with an actual in-hand binder or you catalog everything digitally on a mobile device, have it close by. You can add important information to it while everything is still fresh in your mind plus you'll have all the details you've already nailed down close at hand. - A Pen
Another great way to keep the information you are collecting handy is to jot notes down on vendor's business cards or fliers. Later when you go back through everything you picked up, this can help you to recall exactly what you talked about with a specific vendor.
Dress With Comfort In Mind
Comfortable walking shoes are an absolute must at a bridal show. You will be doing a lot of walking all day long and when you're not walking, you'll most likely be standing. Some shows provide a seating area but most have very limited seating available in an effort to keep everyone moving and shopping.
Proudly Boast "I'm the Bride!"
Vendors will want to know which person in your group that they should be speaking to. Also, this day should be all about you and the planning of your very special day, so let yourself enjoy a little extra attention! Many bridal shows will give you a "bride" sticker to wear when you arrive but just in case they don't, maybe treat yourself to a pretty tiara, button, t-shirt, or special "Bride" tote bag to show off your newly engaged status.
Plan of Attack - Go Left or Right?
The tendency of most people at an expo is to head to the right when they enter. If you arrive at the bridal show at the beginning, do the opposite and go left or straight to the middle. That way you will be first in line at the booths that the crowd hasn't reached yet. If you show up later in the day, it's probably a better idea to go right because the bulk of the crowd will have moved on from those booths.
Don't Be Shy
Today is the day for getting a lot of your wedding planning questions answered, so come in with a list of things you need to know and ask the experts. When a vendor says something you like, make an appointment to talk to them in more detail at a later date. Don't be afraid to ask about discount pricing too. Many vendors will offer bridal show-only deals but you may not know if you don't ask!
Bonus Tip #6 - Have Fun!
Last but certainly not least, have fun with it! Planning a wedding can be stressful but this is one of the times that you can "play" while you plan. Enjoy the extra bridal attention, be inspired by the great ideas you see, and talk to the other brides. If you bring your bridal party along with you, this might also be a great time to brainstorm about any upcoming bridal showers or bachelorette parties!
Before attending any bridal shows, head on over to WhereBridesGo.com to take a look through the wonderful variety of wedding decorations and accessories that we have to offer. We are a 1-stop-shop for nearly everything you need to plan engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, shop for wedding party gifts, and of course, put on the wedding of your dreams!
Our wedding store online is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and in most cases, shipping is absolutely free! The WhereBridesGo.com team makes it as easy for you as possible to get ready for the wedding day so you have plenty of time left over to sit back, relax, and truly enjoy this very special time in your life!
~The WhereBridesGo.com Team
Post by Deanna Powell, Certified Bridal Consultant