As I write this blog article, we are right in the dead middle of January. Traditionally the coldest part of the winter, and also the hottest part of engagement season! Now is when all of the bridal shows are up and running. Without a doubt, there are dozens and dozens to select from. One thing to keep in mind is that not every bridal show will be worth your time or trip. There are several factors to keep in mind.
First, if your wedding facility has a bridal show… GO!
It is always a great idea to see how your place looks all decorated for a bridal fashion show. Next thing is to consider the driving distance from your wedding city. That means if you drive 1 hour to a show and find a vendor you would love to contract with, chances are that they will be too far out of your area and not be able to provide service. Even if they are willing to provide service to you, how long of a drive do you want your cake people to have anyway? Local vendors usual make a better choice for certain items like perishables. Also a local professional is a shorter drive for you when having meetings with them. Finally, and most important, don’t go to a “Meat Market.”
What is a “Meat Market” you ask? Well, as I write this blog our state just had the largest bridal show in the region. This huge show hosts over 150 vendor booths and attracts thousands of attendees over a 2 day event. What is so bad about this you may ask? Well how about 35 photographers and 20 DJs under 1 roof. How productive will you be when you are completely overwhelmed by the sheer size of an event of this magnitude. These super large shows can cause stress and frustration, as well as sore feet. Brides and Grooms often leave more confused than when they enter.
Here’s the main point of this blog article… Investigate in advance how large a show is. See how many vendors are participating and try to avoid shows that are so large, you will leave with your head spinning. Go online and get a list of the participants. Sometime the best bridal shows are the smaller, more intimate events. You never feel like cattle and you have the private opportunity to speak in a civilized way to the wedding professionals. Most important, don’t forget your comfortable shoes.
Bigger is only better when it comes to the diamond!
