PLAN YOUR WEDDING AT A WEDDING EXPO
5 Tips for attending a wedding expo.
For the past few years, due to Covid, planning a wedding had been all online. Going down the rabbit hole of Pinterest, getting lost in Instagram hashtags, and navigating the online wedding directories was just a click away. But nothing beats meeting wedding vendors face and face. Wedding Expos, Bridal Showcase and Wedding Open Days are coming back, and it’s a great opportunity to get your wedding planning down in one day. You’ll meet local wedding vendors, book consultations, pay deposits and make the most of great offers and expo specials.
Here are my 5 reasons why you should go to a wedding expo.
One-Stop Wedding Shop
Face to Face
Be Inspired
Fun Day Out
Special Offers, Giveaways, and Prizes
One-Stop Wedding Shop
If you’re short on time, a wedding expo is a great way of planning your wedding in one day. Wedding shows are the epitome of one-stop shopping. Instead of aimlessly searching through website after website, you get to have face-to-face conversations with your potential vendors. From the bridal gown to the honeymoon, you can turn your dream day into a reality, narrow down choices and priorities, and have fun planning your wedding all in one place in one day. Most expos will have everything you need for your wedding and if it’s not there, other trusted wedding vendors will be able to refer you to the right place. It’s a fun day out with your wedding crew, you’ll get some bridal swag, and there are always so tasty treats to try out!
2. Face to Face
Anyone can have a great social media presence and an awesome looking website but meeting your wedding vendors in person can make your final booking decisions a whole lot easier. At a bridal show, you have the opportunity to have those face-to-face meetings in an efficient and non-committal way.
Most wedding professionals will be involved at some point in your wedding process for several hours if not longer. It is good to test the waters first before making any decisions! The hope is that during the expo you meet a photographer, celebrant, or DJ that really understands YOUR ideas and vision for your dream wedding and can help make it happen! Think of it like speed dating, but with wedding suppliers. If you do find a wedding supplier you’re excited about, try to book them as soon as possible. Many will run special promotions or discounts for show attendees, and these deals often only last a short time.
3. Be Inspired
The best wedding vendors are typically up to date with the ever-changing trends of the wedding industry. Sometimes attending a wedding open day sparks an idea that you wouldn't have had otherwise! For example, maybe your groom didn't know that mini-golf set-up was possible! Or maybe you were planning to go with a regular photo booth and saw all the GIF, slow-motion options that are out there now. Or maybe you realised how special it would be to have a live painter or fireworks at your reception.
4. Fun Day Out
Planning your wedding should be fun, not a chore. Make the most out of wedding expos in your area and have a fun day out. Whether it’s with your fiancé or mum, or wedding crew, having them attend the wedding show with you provides the opportunity to discuss ideas and make vendor decisions on the spot. There’re always some interactive activities too to enjoy, like photobooths, fashion shows, hair & makeup trials and more.
5. Special Offers, Giveaways and Prizes
It's no secret that weddings are expensive, but they’re an investment into this new chapter in your life. Wedding expos are a great way to maximise your wedding budget and take advantage of the exclusive vendor offers. Plus, don’t forget to grab your Swag bag at the door and score some freebies in the process! There’s always tons of prizes and giveaways around every corner.
BONUS TIP
Planning a wedding can be all-consuming, and it can get confusing having wedding emails mixed in with your personal account. Create a dedicated wedding email to receive all your wedding correspondence and collect all the promotional emails. It makes it easy to sift through and stay organised. Then, after the date, you can delete the account.
So, there you have it! That’s my 5 reasons why you should go to a wedding expo. Whether it’s a wedding expo, bridal show, wedding open day or fair, they’re all simply a great experience that every engaged couple should attend at least once. From free stuff, awesome advice and exposure to the latest in wedding trends, a wedding show has it all.
PS– if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of attending a wedding expo, you can contact me for a one-on-one consultation, and I can help plan the wedding of your dreams.
My name’s Lou O’Brien and I’m a Sunshine Coast wedding photographer. I have years of experience, helping couples with their weddings on the Sunshine Coast and I’d love to help you. Contact me today for more info on my wedding photography packages, or referrals to other wonderful wedding vendors here on the Sunshine Coast.