Congratulations lovely!
You just said yes and now you are sporting a sparkly new accessory just ahead of the season. Yup, you guessed it! Wedding show season!!
The time of year where venues and wedding vendors take advantage of the cooler temps and set up shows in exhibition halls across the country in the hopes of drawing in very excited brides and their besties for fashion shows, giveaways, cake tastings and seasonal specials ahead of the new year of weddings. It’s fun, sure! But if you know all things big and bridal will overwhelm your partner, or you’re looking for a place to really connect with suppliers who are ready to bring your Pinterest dreams to life, then don’t worry, I have you covered!
Save the date!
Wed Well Showcase. January 12th, Oakville Conference Centre
[Tweet “Save the date. Jan 12th, Oakville Conference Centre. Wedwell showcase”]
Once you’ve taken those first few engaged steps, paged through your latest wedding magazine subscription & got your boards done on Pinterest, you might be ready to take the next planning step: attending the obligatory wedding show. Yup, it’s almost a given that you’ll find yourself booking a ticket to your nearest show. (Buy your Wed Well tickets here).So here’s a guide to not only surviving wedding shows but getting the most enjoyment out of them too!
GET PREPARED
[Tweet “The first tip I love to give my brides is to set up a separate wedding email address”]
Sign up for a wedding-specific email address on gmail/hotmail. “yaywearegettingmarried at gmail dot com” etc. Not only does this keep you a little more focused on a Monday morning when you open your work mail, but it keeps everything together in one spot. A quick FYI though – your suppliers may ask you for an alternative email address to reach you on after the wedding to keep you up to date with deliveries or post-wedding information.
Within your new account, form different folders to file all correspondence in the right place. Make a separate folder for your different suppliers to keep contracts and correspondence all together and make another folder to keep track of all RSVPs/meals/accommodation you need to keep track of. Use it in any way that makes sense to you and your planning. But especially when it comes to wedding shows, this little pre-plan makes things WAY more simple to deal with.
INVITE YOUR VIP
It’s true! Wed well is going to be the perfect show to bring your hubby-t0-be. There will be lounges and treats and time and space to really connect with a variety of suppliers all under one roof. So grab your besties, your beau and your bucket list for your dream day and head out to get your planning on the go. I highly recommend buying tickets ahead of time or head on over to the #wedwellshowcase2019 hashtag and enter some of the ticket giveaways happening in the next couple of weeks.
HAVE A PLAN
Most wedding shows will have a list of exhibitors on their websites so check out the websites ahead of time and make a note of the ones you specifically want to check out. It’s a good idea to print the floor plan if it’s available or simply work your way up and down the show layout to make sure not to miss anyone. Don’t feel obligated to stop at every stand though. Try to plan a wish list/what you need list ahead of time to maximize on your time.
GET READY FOR GIFTS
The biggest tip you’ll get as a new bride-to-be attending a wedding show is to come prepared with printed address/info labels to pass out to vendors. This is a great time-saving tip so go ahead and add that new email address you’ve created, your groom’s name, your wedding date, venue, theme and even your wedding budget if you are happy to share that information. When you connect with a supplier at the show, you’ll be able to leave behind this info quickly and easily for them to get back to you with a follow up after the show.
BRING BAGS
The swag bags for WedWell Showcase are going to be epic! And you’ll also stand a chance to win the ultimate tote swag bag (seriously, have you seen it over on @wedwellshowcase? It’s gorgeous!!) But as you make your way around the show you’ll be given flyers/guides/favours and you’ll want to come prepared with a few extra bags (& hands!)
HYDRATE
Along with your extra bags, start off with grabbing a coffee or water before beginning your adventure around the show. WedWell will have a free coat check so you won’t have to worry about that but dress comfortably and plan for a day out. You’ll be doing lots of walking, talking and standing so make sure you are comfortable and cool. The venues can often get very warm with the amount of action and attendees buzzing around.
GET SOCIAL & SNAP
One way I love to handle a wedding show (both as a bride and a vendor) is to be signed in and ready on Instagram. If I connect with an exhibitor, I like to look them up on Instagram and follow them while I’m standing in their booth. If I want to really remember and follow up with them post-show, I’ll ask to snap a quick pic on my phone so I can have a record of my favourites. If Instagram isn’t your thing, you can go armed with a notebook and pen, as well as some paperclips. Attaching business cards of any NB exhibitors to pages where you can make note of their social media platforms/emails/anything of note is also a great way to make your wedding show follow up the process a little easier. Make sure to follow @wedwellshowcase and #wedwellshowcase2019 for supplier intros, sneak peeks and show set up action.
POST WEDDING SHOW
KEEP THE KEEPSAKES (FOR A WHILE)
I won’t lie. You’ll be headed home with a LOT of marketing material. It’s just the way the shows work. Set aside a little time when you first get home to go through the keepsakes. Toss anything you have already booked/gone firm on/don’t need for your day. But I like to suggest you hold on to anything you may be interested in/change your mind on/help a friend with down the line. I have a gift box I add all my wedding show material to for future collaborations but you could file it away/leave it in the totes for a while. Just in case.
GET CHATTING
You’ll often be able to tell a lot about a specific supplier and their business from their exhibition stand and your immediate connection to the (or not). Most of us put a lot of time and effort into creating a stand that represents our brand. But there is often a lot more behind the brand if you get chatting.
Most shows will have the time and space to stop and chat to the person exhibiting. It’s a good idea to arrive at the show with a knowledge of your wedding date, budget and general look and feel, while staying open-minded. I also like to suggest going with a couple of pre-planned questions for specific vendors you are still on the lookout for. Do they charge for travel? Are they available on your date? What are they offering at the show? Getting to know the person behind the brand with also help you select who you want to follow up with when you get back from the show.
Post-show, you can expect a lot of thank you/follow up emails from the exhibiting vendors. If you don’t get a chance to chat too much at the show, don’t be afraid of using this opportunity to get chatting, ask any questions you still have and book a consultation with any vendors you are interested in connecting further with. Communication is key and we love hearing back from brides we have met in person at the shows.
HAVE FUN
This all sounds super serious, doesn’t it? Well, it totally doesn’t have to be. You can rock up at the wedding show, with your bestie in one hand and your coffee in the other and just wander around, soaking up all the wedding goodness that is this time of your life. ‘Do You’ is always my motto for my brides.
[Tweet “‘Do You’ is always my motto for my brides. Do what you want, how you want and where you want when it comes to planning.”]
Do what you want, how you want and where you want when it comes to all things wedding planning. If a bridal show isn’t your thing, that’s totally ok too. Have fun being engaged. The planning will happen, one way or another, so soak it up and enjoy this special time. But I hope to see you on January 12th, I’ll be ready with arms wide open for hugs and can’t wait to hear all about your plans.
xx
