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The Big Wedding Blog

Editor

Bridal shows are a great way to get ideas and to look at a lot of different vendors very quickly. If you are planning to attend a bridal show in the near future, here are a few tips to help you:

1. Pre-register. Most shows let you pre-register online. By doing this in advance, you’ll spend less time waiting to get into the show on the day and you’ll often save money on the admission fee! 
2. Wear comfortable shoes. Bridal shows are packed full of vendors and other guests, so you’ll be on your feet all afternoon in order to see everything.
3. Bring a hefty tote bag. You’ll be handed business cards, flyers, brochures, info packets and more so it’s nice to have a bag that has comfortable handles and can hold a lot. The plastic bags you get at the show usually fill up quickly and aren’t much fun to carry.
4. Consider bringing two bags instead of one. Inevitably, you’ll be handed stuff by vendors you don’t like or don’t need so it’s nice to be able to put their things into a “Toss” bag immediately. When given stuff by a vendor you really like and want to follow up with, put their things into a “Keep” bag. Throw the “Toss” bag away at the end of the day so all you take home with you are the “keepers!”
5. Take notes. You’ll meet a lot of people at the show, so keep a notepad with you to take notes about which vendors you liked the best and why.
6. Bring a bottle of water and a small snack. Most bridal show venues have a snack bar, but they tend to have lines and can be a bit expensive.
7. Preprint your own address labels. Many vendors will have prize drawings and other show specials, but you’re usually asked to register at the booth. Bringing pre-printed labels with your contact info and wedding date will speed up the process.
8. Avoid high-pressure salespeople. The decisions you make for your wedding day should not be made on the spur of the moment. If you feel pressured at any point, walk away. This also applies to vendors that offer show specials valid for the day only. How can you make a decision after only meeting for a few minutes?
9. Use fashion show time to get more time with vendors. When the fashion show starts, most of the show guests will find their way to the stage to watch. This is a great time to revisit vendors that you liked, as they’ll have more time to spend with you.
10. Ask questions. This is what you’re here for! Find out what’s included in the package, are they available on your date, do they have any suggestions?
11. Don’t waste your time. If you’ve already booked something (florist, venue, etc), don’t waste your time looking at those booths again.

I hope you find these tips useful. I look forward to seeing you at the show!

–Shannon Belletti, Belletti Photography

Note from the Big Wedding Blog Editor:

All Wedding Professionals are invited to become a Contributing Blogger and share your expertise with brides who read the blog.
To apply to be a contributing blogger, click on the register button on the left column, sign up and submit your first post. Your submitted post will be reviewed by ADMIN and you will be approved as a blogger on the BIG Wedding Blog. To maintain your Contributing Blogger rights, you must agree to the Contributing Blogger Rules

The BIG Wedding Blog is an exclusive feature brought to you by www.BrideAndGroomPlanner.com

I’ve observed over the years that very few grooms attend bridal shows. Normally the bride attends with her mother and/or some of her bridesmaids. The question being posed here…..Is this a good thing?

I say, YES. A grooms role in the wedding planning process should be one of support and help with general planning. In the American culture, a wedding is “all about the bride”. 

If you see a groom who is trying to involve himself in the small details of the wedding planning, I believe thats an indication of possible future problems. In most successful marriages, the couple divides duties and responsibilities according to their interests or an agreed upon division of tasks. Planning a wedding is no different. So, if the groom is not an active participant, that does not indicate a problem. To the contrary, it can mean that he is fully suportive of letting his bride enjoy pursuing her interests without him needing to control and manipulate every detail. This is healthy.  

A big part of a bridal show is the “fashion show”. This is the woman’s domain. In American culture, it’s tradition that the groom does not see the wedding dress, or at least see the bride in the dress, untill the day of the wedding. That’s another reason for the groom to stay away.

So, enjoy the bridal shows. Take your friends, take your mom, the groom should stay home.

Editor, The Big Wedding Blog

To see a list of local wedding shows, go to www.brideandgroomplanner.com, choose your city and click on events.

OK, I’ll be honest, I’ve been in the lodging industry for 25 years (http://www.daytonweddinghotel.com/) and I can help you answer your questions about the subject, but this is my first experience with blogging, so bear with me as I enter the world of virtual reality!  Thanks!

I am also the owner of a limousine service, (http://www.daytonlimo.com/) so I would be glad to help you with any questions you have in that arena as well.

Note from the Big Wedding Blog Editor:

All Wedding Professionals are invited to become a Contributing Blogger and share your expertise with brides who read the blog.
To apply to be a contributing blogger, click on the register button at the bottom of the left column or on the top left of this page. Then sign up and submit your first post. Your submitted post will be reviewed by ADMIN and you will be approved as a blogger on the BIG Wedding Blog. To maintain your Contributing Blogger rights, you must agree to the Contributing Blogger Rules.

The BIG Wedding Blog is an exclusive feature brought to you by http://www.brideandgroomplanner.com/

    Brides I am so impressed in the quality of Vendors we bring into the industry, keep doing those surveys. http://brideandgroomplanner.com/myWeddingSurvey.php

My favorite part of our planner and Website is the Your Future section, we take pride and staying with you after your special day, don’t overlook this section, we are growing and have recently signed on a couple of Realtors and a Financial Planner. I spent an hour with our financial planner last week and he educated me more in that hour than I have ever been in my 39 years. What better gift could your parents or you give to yourselves than a free financial consultation to start your marriage off right and avoid one of the biggest potholes you could get into.

On the lighter side have you checked out our wedding disaster videos? http://www.brideandgroomplanner.com/stopWeddingDisasters.php  Share them with you friends and family?

Don’t miss our idea galleries it’s my favorite part of our new site. Look for the mouse ring box for all your computer savvy fiancés or boyfriends what a trip!!!! It’s in the wedding ring section.http://cincinnati.brideandgroomplanner.com/pictureGalleries.php

And don’t forget your engagement stories and add a picture after such romantic stories we want to see you.

http://cincinnati.brideandgroomplanner.com/engagementStories.php?action1=es&id=105

I am proud to be the newest addition of the Cincinnati Dayton Bride & Groom Family. This is my first year with the company; I am the office Administrator as well as part of our Sales team. My favorite part of this company and what sets us a part is our commitment to our Vendors, if you don’t succeed we don’t. This goes far beyond signing you up for our program we include networking and monthly follow-ups a must as we go into June ‘08, so look out hear we come!!!! I look forward to meeting you all soon weather in person or phone calls.

Kim Lanthorn

Bride & Groom Planner

513-272-3300

klanthorn@brideandgroomplanner.com

Note from the Big Wedding Blog Editor:

All Wedding Professionals are invited to become a Contributing Blogger and share your expertise with brides who read the blog.
To apply to be a contributing blogger, click on the register button on the left column, sign up and submit your first post. Your submitted post will be reviewed by ADMIN and you will be approved as a blogger on the BIG Wedding Blog. To maintain your Contributing Blogger rights, you must agree to the Contributing Blogger Rules

This Blog is devoted specifically to Bridal Shows & Wedding Show topics in the wedding industry. The blog is for the entire wedding industry both vendors and brides.

All wedding professionals in the field of Bridal Shows & Wedding Shows (including vendor attendees, producers and other wedding professionals) are invited to become a Contributing Blogger and share your expertise and ideas on this topic.

Being a contributing blogger is an excellent way to promote your business for FREE. You can share your expertise with the Brides of America. Give them advice and invite them to your website. That’s right, as a blogger, you can put hyperlinks back to your website right in your blog post.  It’s an excellent way to increase your web presence and your search engine rankings and you don’t need to be a customer of BrideAndGroomPlanner.com.

To apply to be a contributing blogger, click on the register button toward the bottom of the left column (or at the top left of this page), sign up and submit your first post. Your submitted post will be reviewed by ADMIN and you will be approved as a blogger on the BIG Wedding Blog. You can blog as often as you like, however, to maintain your Contributing Blogger rights, you must agree to the Contributing Blogger Rules and post a blog entry at least once per month.

Hope to see you’re blog post soon.

Editor, The Big Wedding Blog

More to come!