Angelus Bridal and Formal: tips for attending bridal shows

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

7 Tips for Handling Bridal Shows Like a Pro (Part 2)

Last week our first 3 of 7 Tips for Handling Bridal Shows Like a Pro offered advice for getting signed up and enlisting helpers to join you. Today, the final 4 tips from Angelus Bridal & Formals cover things you need to do the day of the bridal show.

Power Up
Make sure that you eat something before you get to the bridal show. You will need energy for a day full of browsing. There will most likely be food samples, but probably not enough to fill you up. There will definitely be cake samples (lots of cake samples!) but too many of those on a fairly empty stomach will give you a horrible sugar rush. You might also want to bring along a water bottle so that you can stay hydrated throughout the event too.

Wear Comfortable Shoes
A huge amount of walking is involved, especially with the really large bridal shows. Often there isn't a lot of seating, so even when you're not walking you may be standing. Wearing comfortable shoes is extremely important. You can still be adorable without having to add heels to your look for something like this. Also, have something on that tells everyone that you are the bride. A lot of shows will give you a "Bride" sticker to wear when you arrive. This lets vendors know who the VIP in your group is that they should be talking to.

Take Notes
Bring something to take detailed notes on, and if the show allows it, take lots of pictures. You will be seeing and learning about a lot of new ideas, and you don't want to forget the best ones. An easy way to remember your favorite or most interesting wedding vendors is to take notes about them directly onto their brochures or the back of their business card. That way you are sure to not mix them up with someone else.

Don't Forget to Bring...

Cash and a Checkbook - The cash is to buy food and drinks because many snack areas don't take cards. The checkbook is for any small vendors you may want to book that do not take credit cards. Some offer discounts for booking on the spot, so if you're sure they are the vendor you want, book them before someone else gets your date.
Calendar - You will want to put any appointments you make with vendors in your calendar immediately. That way you don't forget to later or double-book yourself.
Wedding Information - If you have a wedding binder, bring it with you. If you are trying to match colors or fabrics, bring along the pictures or swatches you need too.
Sticker Labels - Having sticker labels with your information (name, groom's name, phone number, address, email, wedding date) will allow you to sign up for giveaways without having to write down all of that information over and over all day long.
Extra Bag - More than likely the show itself or a vendor will be handing out bags to collect the goodies you'll get at different booths. Just in case they don't, bring one with you. If you end up with two, use one bag for important business cards and brochures and the other for vendors you're not as interested in. You can decide what to keep and what to throw away when you get home later.
An Open Mind - You may go into the show with ideas about what you want for your wedding, but take a look at everything. You may see a great idea you never thought of. Also, just because a vendor has a bad website, they may be a perfect fit for you in person.

Last but not least, remember to HAVE FUN! At a bridal show, you, the bride, are the star of the show for the day. Enjoy the attention, the freebies, a fun day out, and the great inspiration you will find all around you. Best of luck with your wedding planning from all of us at Angelus Bridal. When you're ready to tackle the fashion portion of your special day, remember to give us a call!

South Florida's Most Trusted

Bridal Salon

878 SW 10th Avenue - Suite #8

Pompano Beach, FL 33069

954-943-7768

Visit our website: www.AngelusBridal.com

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Thursday, February 22, 2018

7 Tips for Handling Bridal Shows Like a Pro (Part 1)

Bridal shows can be a very helpful tool for getting a lot of wedding tasks taken care of all in one place. They can be tons of fun too if you go into it prepared. Angelus Bridal & Formals has 7 helpful tips that will allow you get the most out of any bridal show. We'll share the first 3 pre-show tips today, and finish next week with 4 more for show day.

Pre-Register
Getting signed up early to attend a bridal show means that you will probably receive updates and reminders as the show gets closer. Some shows offer discounts, special gifts, or extra entries into prize drawings for anyone that pre-registers too.

This also allows you to get inside much quicker on show day because you won't have to bother with registration once you get there. Sign up with a temporary email address that you have created especially for wedding correspondence. This way, once the wedding is over, you don't have a lot of vendors clogging up your regular email with unnecessary information you no longer need.

Have a Plan
Do a little research on the vendors that will be attending the bridal show before it happens. It will give you a good idea of which wedding vendors you are most interested in so that you can visit their booths first. Know exactly which things you still need for your wedding and take care of those early. If there is time left over when you are done, visit some of the other booths that didn't make your list. They may surprise you.

Have a list of questions prepared for each vendor so that you can get the answers you need right off the bat. There will most likely be a lot of people trying to talk to a vendor all at once, so your time with them may be very limited. If you decide that you want to know more about them, schedule an appointment to talk to them in greater detail at a later date. Check the bridal show's website to see if they have a map available so that you can plan a route, and time your visits so that you don't miss any interesting events the show has planned.

Don't Go Alone
You will be getting a lot of information all at once, so you will want to ask a few helpful people to go with you. Grooms are welcome and often encouraged to attend bridal shows of today. If he is into the wedding decision-making, it could be a fun and informative day to spend together.

Bridesmaids are another option for your bridal show back up, and if you have parents that want to be involved, you might bring one or more of them too. Your "helpers" for the day can assist you by keeping track of brochures you pick up, signing you up for giveaways while you chat with vendors, and offering opinions when you need them.

Those tips will help you prepare before going to the bridal show, and next week Angelus Bridal has a few more tips that will help you out greatly on the day of the bridal show. When you are ready for help finding your dream bridal gown, call our wedding dress store in South Florida and make an appointment. There won't be any fighting for attention from our consultants while you are here. You will have a talented team member's undivided attention and expert assistance in finding a bridal gown you will absolutely love!