tips for attending bridal shows – Toledo Wedding Photographer

Bridal Show Survival Guide

Congratulations on your engagement!!!

If you are just starting to plan your wedding, or if you are still trying to find the perfect wedding specialists to complete your list, you are probably considering attending a bridal show. If you have never attended one before, it can be quite overwhelming. Arguably, it’s even overwhelming to the participants who are there to help you. But it is also the perfect place to meet and talk with, albeit sometimes only briefly, those wedding professionals who can help you on your wedding day.

Here are a few tips to assist in your bridal show survival.

1. Pre-Register. Almost all of the bridal shows now allow you to pre-register for the event. This will save you lots of time from standing in line. In addition, many also allow you to purchase your tickets online as well. Of course, purchasing them online will save you even more time.

2. Show Up Early. Bridal shows are very busy and chaotic. Arriving early means you will be able to get to speak with the wedding professionals before most of the rest of the brides. This is especially important when your wedding date is the same date that many other brides also want. Remember that when booking a wedding professional, it is usually a first-come, first-served basis, so if you know you want to book a particular wedding professional, the sooner you do that the better your chances will be of getting your wedding dream team.

3. Print Address Labels. Almost all of the wedding specialists will have some sort of drawing. Print address labels prior to attending to save time. Be sure to include your name, email address, phone number and wedding date. Not only does this save time, but will spare your hand from cramping!

4. Know your budget. Knowing your budget will save you the embarrassment of hiring someone you will not be able to afford and then have to cancel their services. Keep in mind that most deposits are non refundable to protect the vendor. Therefore, it’s better for you to spend that money on things that are necessary and that you can afford. Don’t waste it on the fluff no one will remember.

5. Bring your checkbook! If you are serious about planning your wedding, you will want to bring your checkbook. Many wedding professionals do not accept credit card payments. Therefore, it is wise to bring your checkbook. This will ensure you get the wedding specialists that you want from the show.

6. Have your calendar available. If you wish to sit down and meet with your favorite wedding specialists before booking them, you should know when you are available. Chances are that they have their calendars with them and can schedule an appointment at the show.

7. Bring your posse. Have your mom, your maid of honor, your bridesmaids, and your fiancee come with you. Bring whoever will be helping you plan your wedding. (Just be careful not to bring too many people so you don’t get overwhelmed or confused.) They can help you decide on things and also help carry the massive amounts of literature that you will receive from the show vendors and also help you fill out the drawing entry forms.

8. Take notes, pictures and collect as much information as you can. There will be a lot of things running through your brain and this will help you keep track of what you like. Accordingly, there will also be a lot of photo booths that you can try out, so be camera ready!

9. Eat before you go. No one likes it when you are hangry. There will be small, almost bite-sized, food samples at the show. But, they are just samples and not enough to fill you up. It’s a good idea to eat lunch before the show to help keep your mind focused.

11. Bring something to drink. You will be talking to a lot of people and your mouth will get very dry. For that reason, you should bring something that will quench your thirst and keep you going.

12. Wear comfortable shoes! Your entire bridal show survival could depend on your feet comfort level! You will be doing a lot of walking and standing. There will not be any seating areas provided in the venue. Therefore, it’s important to wear something comfortable and supportive.

13. Don’t get pressured into booking at the show! There will be many eager brides ready to find the one perfect wedding professional for their special day. And there will also be many eager wedding professionals ready to fill their calendars with weddings. Don’t let their overzealous antics force you into a contract that you aren’t ready to sign.

14. Have fun! Don’t forget to have fun at the bridal show! After all, this is what you have dreamed of and worked for your whole life.

If you have recently become engaged and are looking for a wedding photographer and/or photo booth, I will be at the Sounds of Music DJs Superbowl of All Bridal Shows on Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. I will be located at The Premier on Heatherdowns. Don’t forget to stop by and say hi and check out my photography and my photo booth! Here is a map of the layout and where I will be.

Use these tips to get the most out of the bridal expo! Happy planning!

For more information about Kurt Nielsen Wedding Photography, including pricing, please visit my website at www.kurtnphoto.com.

To check for availability and schedule your FREE Wedding consultation, please call:

Kurt Nielsen Photography

kurt@kurtnphoto.com

5431 Schultz Drive

Sylvania, OH 43560

419 885 7153

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Tips for attending Bridal Shows – Superbowl of All Bridal Shows

Did he put a ring on it?

Does planning your wedding make you feel like you are staring down the barrel of a shotgun?

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming to say the least. It’s hard just to figure out where to get started. The good news is that it is Bridal Show season!

Because the majority of engagements happen during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, it makes sense to have Bridal Show Season begin in January. The first and biggest bridal show of the year is the Sounds of Music DJ’s Superbowl of All Bridal Shows. This bridal show is a two day event this Saturday and Sunday, January 10th and 11th, from 1pm-5pm. It is so large that it is at two separate venues, The Stranahan Theater & Great Hall and The Premier Banquet Complex. Both venues are on Heatherdowns (across from one another) and transportation is provided between the two venues, so you only have to park once. Tickets are good for both days AND both venues. Over 125 vendors will be in attendance with hundreds of brides and grooms coming out to meet the vendors and to get information and ideas, and to book their favorite wedding specialists. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 at any Anderson’s Store, 2B Bridal Boutique and J. Foster Jewelers; or you can purchase them at the door for $10.

I will be there with my Kurt’s Kustom Keepsakes green screen photo booth and my Kurt Nielsen Wedding photography. I will be at The Premier and located at the back wall which is directly across where you will be entering the venue. My vendor booth is next to the Sounds of Music DJs booth. We will have my full photo booth set up and ready to show you how much more fun a green screen photo booth can be. Plus, you and your bridal show companions will each get to take home a free 4×6 photo from the photo booth. For a sneak peek at my Bridal Show Specials, please visit my website at: http://www.kurtnphoto.com/toledo-bridal-show.asp. Don’t forget to sample our special treat courtesy of our friends at Hit of The Party Ice Cream Machine Rentals!

Times have changed and so has wedding planning! One of the best and easiest ways to plan your dream wedding is to attend a bridal show. However, attending a bridal show can be extremely overwhelming, especially if this is the first one you have gone to and it is so big, like this weekend’s Sounds of Music DJs Superbowl of All Bridal Shows. Hundreds of brides, like yourself, will be in attendance. It will be crowded, it will be loud, and it will be confusing! But have no fear, we’ve got you covered! Here are some helpful tips for attending bridal shows to help you through the day.

Pre-Register! Not only will this save you time in line at the door, but for this show, you will be entered to win a great prizes. You can get information on how to pre-register on the Sounds of Music DJs website at: http://www.soundsofmusicdjs.com/bridalshows.html. You can also look at the list of participating vendors and get the layout of where everyone is located. The list will show you who will be there and you can check out their websites and reviews before you go which will help you in your decisions for planning your dream wedding.

Show up early! Not only will this give you a head start on the other brides, but it will give you more time with the vendors before things get too crazy. Since this is a four hour per day show and it is for two days, you can always go back and talk more with your favorite vendors if you start early!

Bring an entourage! Bring your mother, your maid of honor, your bridesmaids, and your groom; whom ever will be helping you plan your dream wedding. Not only will they be able to help carry things for you, like the information and your coat, but they may be able to see and hear things that you may not pick up on. They can also help you make decisions.

Make up address labels! This is very important to help you save time. Most of the vendors will have some sort of drawing for prizes and having the labels ready will save time and prevent your hand from cramping. Make sure you include your name, phone number, email address and wedding date as these are the things most of the vendors will want to know.

Bring a notebook! This is a great way of keeping track of what you like and don’t like. You can write down notes to yourself about the vendors or ideas you get from speaking with them. You never know what you will need it for, and you don’t want to forget the great ideas that you get from the show!

Bring a camera! If you see something you like, like a centerpiece or even a vendor you want to remember, you can take a picture to help you remember.

Gather as much information as you can! Most of the vendors will have some sort of hand out to give you. Whether this is about pricing, services or both, getting that information now can be extremely helpful and can cut down on time spent researching later. You should receive a bag at check-in to keep all of your information in. This bag will get heavy so it’s a good idea to let someone else hold it for you while you talk to the vendors. If you come late, bring your own tote bag just in case they run out. It’s also a good idea to look over the information that you receive as soon as possible after the show while the conversations are still fresh in your mind.

Bring your checkbook and/or credit card! Almost every vendor will require some sort of deposit to hold your date. However, not all of the vendors will be able to take credit card payments at the show. That’s why it is important to bring your checkbook, or even cash (not advised!). However, if you must make a credit card payment, the vendor may be able to write down your number and info and run the card at their office, or they may schedule you to come in that week to take care of it in person. {Be sure their bridal show offer will still be valid if you need to schedule an appointment!}

Bring your calendar! As I said in the previous tip, you may need to schedule an appointment to speak to the vendor more at length than you can at the bridal show. Having your availability ready to schedule an appointment will be a huge help in planning for both you and the wedding vendor.

Know your budget before you go! You will be soooooo overwhelmed and see things that you really like and want, but will you be able to afford them? Remember, deposits are usually non-refundable and booking something or someone you cannot afford is never a good idea. However, going with the cheapest vendor to save money is not necessarily a good idea either. That’s why you want to set some sort of budget so you know how much you can afford to spend on each of the details of your wedding day. The five major costs will be the venue, the caterer, the DJ and/or band, the photographer, and the florist; not necessarily in that order. They are also the most important aspects to book early because they book out several months or even years in advance! {I have several events booked for 2016, some late in the year!}

Don’t get pressured into booking someone that you are not ready to book! The wedding vendors are there to attract clients and show off what they do. A few of the vendors will try to pressure you into booking them instead of their competitors. Checking out the wedding vendors before you go is a great way to prevent this. Make sure you read their reviews on TheKnot.com and WeddingWire.com to see what their past clients think of their services! There will be a lot of brides attending the show that will be ready to book, but most of them are just collecting information. However, because some will be ready to book their favorite vendors, it is important for you to be prepared to be flexible in your decisions, just in case your favorite vendors are already booked for your dream wedding date.

Eat before you go! Although some of the vendors will have some type of food or dessert, including us, you will only be getting sample sizes. Even if you eat all of the samples that will be there, it will still probably not be enough to fill you up, especially since you will be walking a lot. It is also a good idea to bring a water bottle of other liquid refreshment. You will be talking with so many new people that you will definitely become thirsty. In the past, the venues have had their full service bar available, but they will charge you for their drinks.

Probably the most important tip of all is to wear comfortable shoes! You will be doing a lot of walking and standing. Because of how many vendors and brides to be will be in attendance, there is no room in either venue for chairs for the participants to sit down and relax. Therefore, wearing comfortable shoes and clothing becomes even that more important.

I hope these tips for attending bridal shows help you prepare yourself for this weekend’s Superbowl of All Bridal Shows, and any other bridal show you might attend. If you are coming to this weekend’s show, be sure to stop by my booth and say hello and have your picture taken in our fun photo booth! Don’t forget to sign up for my give-away! Good Luck and Happy Planning!

For more information about Kurt Nielsen Wedding Photography, including pricing, please visit my website at: www.kurtnphoto.com.