According to theknot.com, wedding statistics show that 83 percent of all engagements happen between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day, making January and February the ideal time to plan bridal shows for recently engaged couples.
The expos are used to assist brides, grooms, wedding parties and their families with planning by offering bridal fashion shows, cake tastings, music and other vendors.
Many bridal shows boast hundreds of vendors in large spaces, so Vow bridal show planner and Vow Bride magazine editor-in-chief Kim Wadsworth came up with five tips on how brides-to-be can navigate the shows to get the most out of their time.
1. Always bring someone with you whose opinion you really trust, who knows you well and can share those experiences with you.
"A bridal show should be a great opportunity to fill in the blanks of anything you might not have in terms of vendors for your wedding day. I always say, 'Go with your maid of honor, your mother, your sister or a couple of people.' Make it a fun day."
2. Before you go, make a list of things you need.
"Make your list and look at the vendors. Take care of the things that are very important, then take time to look at other things. Get the priorities done first and then have fun exploring other things you haven't considered." Wadsworth added that prioritizing the list depends on where a person is in the wedding planning process, but for beginners, finding a wedding planner, photographer, videographer, caterer and venue are the most important.
3. Make sure you have a date.
"If you're just shopping around and you don't have a date, rates could change. Try to come with a date in your mind, because no one's going to hold that date until you're absolutely sure. If you can come with a date, that's the first step you really need to have."
4. Talk to event planners, photographers and videographers.
"Yes, you want to meet your florist and cake person, but it's your photographer, videographer and event planner who are with you until the end of the day. You really want to meet them to make sure the chemistry is good, the personality is a good fit, because those are the people who are going to be documenting your day and making sure your day goes smoothly, so you want to have a good connection with them."
5. Don't feel compelled to sign a contract right then and there.
"Take some time. After you've seen everybody, get their information, check them out, check out their websites and reviews. Ensure that they've got a good standing and good recommendations. Take your time."
High Profile on 02/19/2017