We can still hear the laughter ringing in the air as brides and their besties shuffled around to visit each booth. It was a full day of fun, with so many great moments. Much preparation goes into these events, it can leave you wondering, is it worth it? We are here to spill the tea and talk the good, bad, and ugly. 

Preparation began weeks before, choosing the right giveaways, décor, down to what kind of signage should we have. Although it was hours of work, it paid off greatly when it came to set up and tear down. Whether you have minimal or maximum décor, the key word is organized. With all the items having their own designated bin or box, set up and tear down were both seamless and gave extra time to network. This goes for brides as well. Being intentional with what you want, and what you are looking for helps to focus in on the right booth to visit. It also means great questions for the vendors, receiving helpful answers. 

Here's the tea, this type of event is an investment. On both the bride and the vendor side there is a fee to participate. If you are like us, we want to know what is it I’m buying? What we found is that brides enter in with free swag including cute bride identifiers, bags, and many other little takeaways. Additionally, much of the leg work is done for you in gathering vendors of all kinds for you to interview. They come with examples, discounts, and ready to answer all your burning questions. 

No need for a photographer? That’s okay you move on to the next booth. You will come across booths you didn’t even know you wanted to visit! Often, we tend to follow trends, here there are vendors that suit your personal style and design, from the way florals are presented, to the potential for a drone air show instead of fireworks. The sky is the limit! In need of some pre-wedding pampering, from hair removal and lashes to a complete spa package, you have all access to businesses from all over. If you are a vendor, this is great news because it means networking! A key to this industry is relationship. You get to know the couples and their families, but you also get to know the people you may be working with. This makes for a seamless and enjoyable experience for all those involved. 

Let’s talk timing. While vendors must be there earlier to set up, entrance for attendees is typically midmorning and the event runs the span of the day. This is helpful for the early risers, those with kids, or even those that get a late start. Because the event runs for several hours, if you are not there on opening time, you still can leisurely walk around. What we found is that people came in waves. There would be short breaks in between crowds which meant we were able to share details and information with more than one couple. Not to mention, when a place is poppin’ you want to know what the buzz is about; there’s nothing worse than dead energy. Protip: if you get there early, you will get all the fresh goodies and food samples! The cake and catering samples go quick. 

These are just a few basics of events like these and here’s a recap: preparation goes a long way; plan out what you are looking for, what vendors you need vs. ones you have already booked.

Set aside some funds in case you want to put a down payment on something, you never know! The more questions the merrier, while we aim to speak with as many couples as possible, we preferred to have quality conversations. Take the freebies! We were astonished by how many chose not to grab the giveaways. These are free. They are both for your enjoyment but help to support small business through advertisement. 

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