Bridal Shows - Yay or Nay?
February 24th, 2007 @ 11:37 pm by Mrs. Bee
I attended The Bridal Event last year, and there was a great turnout of both vendors and brides alike. So I went again today, but there were only a fraction of the vendors and people in attendance this year. The event was pretty disappointing, so I apologize for recommending it if you attended and it wasn’t too helpful!
This was 5 West Studio’s table. Do you recognize one of the bees in the pictures? 
I didn’t stick around for the fashion show.
I’m generally not a fan of most bridal shows, but I do think the better ones have their merits. You have a ton of vendors in one place, so you have the opportunity to talk to them and see what’s out there, which is helpful even if you don’t decide to book them.
I’ve attended two other bridal shows - I enjoyed The Wedding Salon’s bridal show last year, and will probaby attend again this year (plus they have the best gift bags!). And I don’t know how helpful The Wedding March was as far as wedding planning goes, but that event was the most interesting and fun.
I never attended bridal shows as a bride, only as a weddingbee. So I’d like to hear your thoughts on them - have you found bridal shows to be helpful? And are they any you’d recommend?
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9 Responses to “Bridal Shows - Yay or Nay?”
My FH and I went to a bridal show here in DFW and I have to say while it was interesting, I would have gladly traded my time spent there for my money back! In theory this concept is a great one, but it was such a madhouse in there that I felt overwhelmed more than informed. Most of the vendors were so busy talking to someone (or someones!) while their assistant maniacally handed out business cards and brochures to anyone who made direct eye contact. Some of the booths were so crowded I didn’t see examples the vendor brought, yet I got their advertisements! I went home with a lot of paperwork but no lasting impressions of who’s brochure went with what product…
The best part was the fashion show because I was able to get real visuals. Every dress that came out, FH and I would discuss what we liked and didn’t like about it. It helped me kinda tune in to the dress styles he liked and what he hated and I plan to use this knowledge in my own dress endeavors.
Maybe it’s just the one we went to, but I haven’t even batted an eye at the other ads I’ve seen for other shows going on.
On another note, there were b2bs at the show who were actually booking vendors for weddings happening within the next month or two. If I could get away with it, I’d wait until a bridal show close to our date and book vendors at that time - many of them give discounts for booking on the spot! However, I could never be so last-minute about anything!
I am planning on attending New York Magazine’s Wedding Showcase event. I really just want to go to get ideas and for the free stuff!! I don’t think I will go and book any vendors. Has anyone gone to this before?
i love the work of Spencer from 5 West. I interviewed w/many photogs for my wedding, but I ended up choosing someone else b/c his price was a little too high for me.
I think it really depends on the show. I went to 3 bridal shows; the first one was truly disappointing, the second great, and the last one okay. I was able to find my florist and harpist through the second show I went to.
Our Special Day
Please, please tell me why they were truly disappointing, great and okay. I consult with different show producers and believe me, each and everyone of them would kill to know what brides think makes a show “great”.
i think you would agree if i said that everybody likes free stuff! one show i went to gave everybody bride-to-be a rose. yeah, it was just a rose, but some people asked me which vendor gave it and they went looking for the floral booth. it made people go to them. there was a girl walking around with samples of fudge and had her business card napkin on the tray. it catches people attention. i love going to this technology show b/c everyone gives something away..from t-shirts, to pens, to cheap plastic bags with their cool logo. I’ve had polaroids taken w/ my FI by printing companies and put into a custom made (cardstock) frame w/ name and date of the even so that was considered our souvenir from that day. we had fun b/c we were interactive with the vendors…and that got us to use their products. just getting a little something to know that they’re working for us gives us that satisfaction that the show was worth going to. even if i don’t end up using those vendors, when people ask me for suggestions i tell them what i saw at the show.
I went to one, it was INTERESTING to say the least. I was totally put-off by the men’s tux places attacking like vultures to get a deposit. I’d be pissed if my FH put a deposit down on a gown without consulting me, why would I put a deposit down on a tux I hadn’t talked to him about?? There was also a dance studio demonstrating on the runway before the bridal show started, and the female dancer was wearing a very short skirt with a very small blue thong!! My mother couldn’t stop laughing. Everyone in the audience was looking around very embarrassed. After “winning” a free lesson at their dance studio I had to decline.
I didn’t win any free stuff at the show I went to, but I did get plenty of solicitations from people pretending like I’d “won.” The prob is so did my sister and friend who went with me, so obviously everyone “wins.” We did catch a free bouquet (at the show, not that could be saved for my wedding), but after paying to get in it wasn’t free.
And someone tell me how to get the Mary Kay lady to stop calling me…
second row, last picture!
Mrs. Bee, New York
Age and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee Publisher
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Internet
Engagement Date: May 7, 2004
Wedding Date: March 5, 2005
Venue: Westside Loft, New York
About Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!
AWW! I spotted Mrs. Butterfly. I love the picture of her.