Weddingbee Blog

You would not believe how my luck has changed since becoming an engaged woman. No, seriously! Since August ’09, I’ve won toasting glasses, a beauty day for me and my five closest girlfriends, a free engagement session…

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Do you want to be lucky too? Simply visit a Bridal Expo, and fill out the form that identifies you as a bride. Then just sit back and wait for the emails and phone calls to come pouring in. Constantly. And all you have to do is dedicate every ounce of free time you possess to attending two-to-three hour seminars! Does that sound fun to you? Yeah, it doesn’t sound fun to me either.

When the first call came, I was genuinely excited. But as the calls continued to come in, I soon realized that the majority of these “prizes” were a lot like the timeshare sales events:

You get a “free” weekend at a resort, only to spend the entirety of it being schmoozed by the salesman.

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I thought I would share a few things I have learned during this experience:

1. My first suggestion, and the one I most regret not knowing ahead of time, is to create a separate email address for all things wedding. Use this when trying on dresses, requesting photographer information, or attending “bridal expos.” I’m not suggesting creating a dummy account you will never look at—in fact, a lot of the wedding-related email I have received has turned out to be quite useful. But when the wedding is over, the last thing I will care about is the sample sale at my bridal salon, or the $500 print credit from a popular photographer.
2. If attending a bridal show, only sign up for the “drawings” (I use that word very generously) that you are actually interested in. Because, chances are, you will win. Don’t enter a drawing for a free engagement session if you’ve already booked your photographer—you will end up paying for the engagement session, even if it’s not in cash. But if you are truly interested in those crystal toasting flutes, and are willing to sit through a 1-2 hour sales pitch to get them, then go ahead! Drop in your name (and new email address).
3. There are some really awesome freebies you can get without doing anything you wouldn’t already be doing—like registering! Many brands offer incentives to encourage you to register for their items. By simply including $xxx worth of their brand on your registry, you can qualify for a free gift. Some of these are more enticing than others, of course. Here are a few links to several popular stores’ incentive programs:
   • Bed, Bath & Beyond
   • Bloomingdale’s
   • Crate & Barrel
   • Kohl’s
   • Macy’s
   • Williams-Sonoma
4. Some stores host “Registry Events,” where you can nibble hors d’oeuvres and sip champagne while scanning your china. Often they offer special incentives or free gifts as well. Macy’s, Williams-Sonoma, and Crate & Barrel are just a few that host these events.

The “winner” calls have mostly stopped coming these days. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s getting so close to our wedding date, and they know I probably wouldn’t have time to attend their seminars, or if it could have something to do with my immediate interruption when they would call to tell me I’d won.

Have you experienced any “bridal perks”? Or have you won anything worth sitting through a sales pitch?