Over the past 28 years I have grown up attending every different type of bridal show there is. Actually, I attended my first bridal show when I was less than one year old; even to this day BobHawkins.com still exhibits at no less than six bridal shows a year.
Because I have seen every trick in the book, I am writing this article to let couples know what to expect at a bridal show. What I have to write may upset some vendors because I am revealing information that they don't really want couples to know, but I believe that the information I am providing here will help couples make informed decisions about their most important event in their lives.
First of all, there are two times in the year when bridal shows are prevalent. The rest of the year, there are very few regional or area bridal shows to attend. There are always an abundance of shows in January though. Designers and vendors want to capitalize on new engaged couples who are in the midst of planning a spring or summer wedding. The other great time for shows is late September and early October. These shows are trying to catch the couples planning their Christmas holiday or New Year wedding.
Although there are many categories of bridal shows there are two different types that define the industry. These are regional and area bridal shows. Regional shows are almost always bigger with many more vendors and a larger venue to attend. They encompass a wider geographic region as well. Usually a metropolitan area will include the surrounding towns and offer products and services from everywhere in between. For event lighting, to invitations to Toronto DJ companies.
For those soon to be brides who are planning a wedding on a budget, attending local area bridal shows is the best way to find out what your neighborhood holds for you. There are usually many more area bridal shows scheduled throughout the year, as local vendors are all vying for your wedding dollars and want you to keep them in mind. A great benefit of attending one of these shows is that they are often free to get into or they ask just a small entrance fee. This can be the best way to start building a relationship with a vendor who will be responsible for key arrangements on your wedding day.
First of all, an area bridal show is more common than a regional bridal show, as these shows focus on vendors located in or near a certain town or within a certain distance from where the bridal show is taking place. These shows usually take place in a banquet hall, or at a golf course. The cost to attend such shows can range from zero to about $6.00. I recommend that couples visit at least one of these shows to see what vendors are located in the neighborhood of your reception. Vendors at such shows are likely to be familiar with your venue; also, they are unlikely to charge traveling fees.
Keep in mind that you will probably be asked to complete a registration card, the information of which will be shared with every vendor at the show. (Privacy concerns aside, this is not a bad idea, as it may allow vendors to contact you for a more personal proposal of what they can do for you. I have more to say on this subject later in this article.)
Regional Shows
Regional shows are usually only held twice a year at the busiest of times. They take much longer to organize and are much more expensive to put on. They will offer a wide variety of services and products and have a number of different companies for each service and product. There will be a number of Toronto DJ companies, several gift supply chains and even wine and liquor stores to give you an idea of what kind of drinks you could offer at your reception.
The regional bridal shows will usually cost more to get in and go through the weekend, Friday through Sunday. They will usually charge a fee to get into the venue that will go up to about $25. However, this price will include much more than you will ever find at an area show. Vendors with services and products you may not be aware of will be in attendance. This may be overwhelming while at the same time providing a lot of inspiration. If you are not afraid of choice then attend a regional bridal show for the most variety.
Keep in mind too, that when a vendor offers a free trial that free is not always free. Often times you will have to buy something or give them a trial run before they follow through on their offer of a free gift or service.
Because I have seen every trick in the book, I am writing this article to let couples know what to expect at a bridal show. What I have to write may upset some vendors because I am revealing information that they don't really want couples to know, but I believe that the information I am providing here will help couples make informed decisions about their most important event in their lives.
First of all, there are two times in the year when bridal shows are prevalent. The rest of the year, there are very few regional or area bridal shows to attend. There are always an abundance of shows in January though. Designers and vendors want to capitalize on new engaged couples who are in the midst of planning a spring or summer wedding. The other great time for shows is late September and early October. These shows are trying to catch the couples planning their Christmas holiday or New Year wedding.
Although there are many categories of bridal shows there are two different types that define the industry. These are regional and area bridal shows. Regional shows are almost always bigger with many more vendors and a larger venue to attend. They encompass a wider geographic region as well. Usually a metropolitan area will include the surrounding towns and offer products and services from everywhere in between. For event lighting, to invitations to Toronto DJ companies.
For those soon to be brides who are planning a wedding on a budget, attending local area bridal shows is the best way to find out what your neighborhood holds for you. There are usually many more area bridal shows scheduled throughout the year, as local vendors are all vying for your wedding dollars and want you to keep them in mind. A great benefit of attending one of these shows is that they are often free to get into or they ask just a small entrance fee. This can be the best way to start building a relationship with a vendor who will be responsible for key arrangements on your wedding day.
First of all, an area bridal show is more common than a regional bridal show, as these shows focus on vendors located in or near a certain town or within a certain distance from where the bridal show is taking place. These shows usually take place in a banquet hall, or at a golf course. The cost to attend such shows can range from zero to about $6.00. I recommend that couples visit at least one of these shows to see what vendors are located in the neighborhood of your reception. Vendors at such shows are likely to be familiar with your venue; also, they are unlikely to charge traveling fees.
Keep in mind that you will probably be asked to complete a registration card, the information of which will be shared with every vendor at the show. (Privacy concerns aside, this is not a bad idea, as it may allow vendors to contact you for a more personal proposal of what they can do for you. I have more to say on this subject later in this article.)
Regional Shows
Regional shows are usually only held twice a year at the busiest of times. They take much longer to organize and are much more expensive to put on. They will offer a wide variety of services and products and have a number of different companies for each service and product. There will be a number of Toronto DJ companies, several gift supply chains and even wine and liquor stores to give you an idea of what kind of drinks you could offer at your reception.
The regional bridal shows will usually cost more to get in and go through the weekend, Friday through Sunday. They will usually charge a fee to get into the venue that will go up to about $25. However, this price will include much more than you will ever find at an area show. Vendors with services and products you may not be aware of will be in attendance. This may be overwhelming while at the same time providing a lot of inspiration. If you are not afraid of choice then attend a regional bridal show for the most variety.
Keep in mind too, that when a vendor offers a free trial that free is not always free. Often times you will have to buy something or give them a trial run before they follow through on their offer of a free gift or service.
About the Author:
Want to find out more from a Toronto DJ, then visit Robert Hawkins's site on how to choose the best advice from a Toronto Wedding DJ.
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