“What is a bridal show?” you ask. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. This is a blog about them! A bridal show is kind of like a grocery store, but for getting married. Vendors set up booths for you to peruse and choose from. Read their pamphlet, talk to their representative, get their business card. Piece together your perfect wedding from the smorgasbord of locally available options. Here’s how to get the most out of attending one.
Look Out for Specials – Many vendors at bridal shows will be running specials. Discounts, coupons, freebies, Buy 1 Officiant Get 1 Free, claw machines, dunk tanks, cotton candy, Whack-A-Groom, and of course, the Screamin’ Bride rollercoaster. Bridal shows are really a magical place. Keep your eyes peeled for any exquisite discounts.
Door Prizes – Many bridal shows will have some kind of door prize. Make sure to enter these. You could win a free door!
Prizes are normally given out by the emcee at the end of the fashion show, so be sure to stick around through that. You’ll get to check out the year’s fanciest tuxes, dresses, and tuxes and dresses but for children. Watch models try to vogue down the catwalk with eight-foot-dress-trains. It’s just like Milan Fashion Week, but without the European excess!
Photograph Your Faves – In the 1930s, Man flew too close to the sun, trying to play God, and invented the cell phone. You have one (unless you’re a woods hermit reading this blog on a library computer you have walked 12 miles to reach), so use it. Take your phone out of your pocket, or your iPad out of its cumbersome travel bag, and snap pictures of your favorite vendor booths, signs, or other informational plaques. Human memory is fallible, and you’ll want to save all this important research somewhere.
Sneaky Email – Before you go to a bridal show, set up a special wedding email address. Something clear, like hanandleiasperfectwedding@sbcglobal.net. Use this for coordinating all business for your wedding. That way, your regular inbox won’t be clogged with wedding stuff, and you can keep everything easily findable. You’d hate to miss out on a good deal because it got lost in the shuffle of Chipotle spam emails. And conversely, you’d hate to miss out on what Chipotle is up to because your email is full of wedding deals. Keep them separate.
Enter all the prize giveaways you can with this address. Use it for fishbowls and drawings at bridal shows. Once you’re good and married, go ahead and deactivate the address. Other people need to get married and they might want to use hanandleiasperfectwedding@sbcglobal.net.
Wedding Business Card – Bring pre-printed labels with your name, phone number, and wedding email address. Almost like a business card. You can enter this in the fishbowl drawings or hand it to vendors. (Or just use it to make friends! “Oh you’re getting married, so am I! We have so much in common.”)
The bridal show is the wilderness. This blog is your map, compass, and canoe. Get out there and explore!