Bridal Fairs

I’ve already attended my fair share of bridal fairs in Eastern Iowa. January - March seems to be the peak season for these events in order to precede the summer wedding rush. For those of you who have attended bridal fairs, or those who plan on attended some in the future, I offer just a few suggestions and tips:

• For those of you getting married in Iowa, sign up for a FREE Iowa Bridal Planner, and bring it with you when you attend fairs.
• If you don't have a planner, bring a notebook or some other device that allows you to take notes. Even if you do not choose to go with any of the vendors, you are likely to encounter a lot of great ideas that you can DIY at a much lower cost. Also, many shows offer free bags to collect business cards and brochures, but be prepared with your own folder or bag in case they are not provided for you.
• “Couple cards” are a new trend I recently saw featured in the spring 2011 issue of get married. For those vendors you have a serious interest in, consider creating couple cards with your names, phone number, email, address, and a photo of you and your future hubby to help people remember you. Trust me, your hand is going to get really tired from writing down all of that information on all of those forms at the vendors’ booths. Make it a little easier on you. The vendor will appreciate not having to interpret handwriting that can be difficult to read (especially with email addresses). Shop.getmarried.com offers many different themes for personalized couple cards, but I suggest looking into vistaprint.com for possible less-expensive options.
• Check to see if your venue (or preferred venue) hosts their own bridal show. Many venues host these events and offer great prize packages associated with the venue and their preferred vendors.
• While it’s fun to sign-up for all of those great prizes and gifts, you also have to be somewhat cautious in the types of personal information you are handing over. Don’t write down a phone number unless necessary, or if you are serious about a specific vendor. Unless you want your inbox flooded with wedding emails that will eventually become irrelevant, create a new email address specifically for these events so you can delete the account after your wedding.
• Although it is good to attend bridal fairs to get ideas and tips, try to attend fairs that are located in the area you plan on hosting your ceremony and reception. If you fall in love with the services of a vendor at a show, keep in mind that they may not be able to offer you the same services due to travel restrictions.
• Although there are many great vendors at these events, keep in mind that they are not the only ones you have to choose from. You are by no means limited to the typical vendors that show up for these fairs. Many of the bridal fair vendors are on the more expensive side, since they have the funds available to purchase a booth at the event and other forms of promotion. Some of the best vendors don’t pursue this type of publicity, so you may have to network with other local brides to hear word-of-mouth promotion. Websites such as weddingmapper.com also offer great “real bride” testimonials and ratings for various vendors.