How to prepare for your first wedding & bridal expo! Tips & tricks to be intentional with your experience and find your wedding dream team.
Newly engaged couples and lover's of weddings, hello! I am Elizabeth Jones of EJ Events Wedding Planning & Event Coordination. Here to guide you on your wedding planning journey and share helpful tips & tricks!
So, you are thinking of attending a wedding expo, and you are wondering if it's something you should attend... My advice, you absolutely should! As long as you prepare and plan before your trip, it will absolutely benefit you to attend! Let's dive into what it is, how to prepare, and why you should sign up asap!
What Is A Bridal Expo?
The magical land of wedding inspiration.
A wedding or bridal expo is an event designed to inspire you on your wedding planning journey. To introduce you to local wedding vendors, trends, creative ideas, and help you visualize what your wedding day can look like. It is the BEST way to meet and connect with local wedding vendors.
Here you will find the traditional necessity vendors as well as vendors and opportunities you didn't know you needed!
Plan Ahead.
The best way to ensure your time here is spent wisely, you need to plan ahead!
Create a list of the vendors & items you need for your wedding and plan to stop by their booths during the expo.
Create a wedding email that is only used for wedding planning. Use this email as your main form of contact while at the wedding expo to share with vendors. This will keep your vendor communications from getting lost in your personal inbox.
Bring bags to carry around for freebies, cards, brochures, etc. Many booths give out free gifts and information cards.
Print your contact info on label paper for easy sharing and giveaway entry. Whether you are wanting to connect with a vendor, or enter into a giveaway.. it will save you so much time to have your information pre-written on a sticker! Name, email, & wedding date!
Know your budget before attending the show, to help you decide what you are looking for.
During & After
Be open minded! You may find things at the expo that will bring your wedding dreams to life! Get inspired and have fun.
While exploring your options, take notes of your thoughts and feelings for each vendor.
After the expo, follow up with your favorites.
Lastly, bring a friend to help you weigh your options and have the best time!