Since the day of my engagement... I sought out, found, and wanted to go to bridal shows. And now, there's one in Syracuse tomorrow... so I figured I'd share my experiences and thoughts about them.
In Central New York we are lucky enough to have a company called Syracuse Weddings (the same people also own Rochester Weddings and Utica Weddings). They host bridal shows about 2 times a year in each city. Brides plus unlimited guests can go for free.
You can pre-register online, which I suggest because otherwise you have to wait on a line and fill out forms. If you pre-register they mail your ticket to you, so if just hand it in and go. Or if you forget your ticket you can just give your name, they find it on a list and you can go in. Once you get there, your ticket is your door to prizes.
One of the best parts of a bridal show is that many vendor tables have individual raffles you can stick your name into and the bridal show itself has drawings after the fashion show for lots of great prizes. They often have the big ending prize as a free honeymoon or free wedding. Plus the diamond dash is always fun to watch. Four women get picked to dig into a wedding cake, find a token, and they win a piece of jewelry.
Some bridal shows charge per group. I've seen bridal shows popping up hosted by a company Brides World lately. They charge $4 at the door or $3 if you pre-register. I haven't attended any shows by this company as of yet. I've only seen about 2 happening, and always miss them.
Than some reception sites have their own mini-bridal shows that vary if they choose to charge. From what I've seen they don't usually charge though. They are much smaller than the ones I mentioned above. Often they only have one vendor for each type of service that they consider their preferred partners. I've also never gone to what I will call a mini-bridal show mostly just because I am never available for them. I often find out only a few days before and I already have plans for the day.
In downstate New York area I have heard there are not that many bridal shows to speak of, and the ones there do charge money and it's certainly not in the $5 range. So I think we're pretty lucky in the Central New York area to have these available to us because although they can feel overwhelming at first, I think they are a great asset to wedding planning.
My first bridal show was actually in Rochester (1 1/2 hours from where I live in Syracuse), but I just wanted to go and experience it. It was considered a smaller show, and not that I suggest to you to drive out 1 1/2 hours to attend a bridal show, but I was very happy it was my first one. Although it was considered small by Rochester Wedding, I was extremely overwhelmed. It spanned through three rooms in a hotel!
Because it was in Rochester, many of the more local vendors were not applicable for me, so it was able to help me filter out who to speak to. The problem with when you first start planning is... you don't even know where to begin! I wanted to look at everything and see what it all was about. Well let me tell you, if you do that you too will be overwhelmed and probably just not want to go to bridal shows by the end of the day!
I was able to learn for the bridal show in Syracuse what I'm going to suggest to you right now. Pick one or two things you want to search for, and go to those types of vendors only. Than you can get information for those specific needs you're looking for, and then if you have time after hitting up those booths go to the next item on your list you might want to look into. Or when going to those third and under on your list needs you can just grab pamphlets for those vendors and review them in a non-crazed setting. Although, to be honest a lot of the time can easily be filled up by all of the free raffles at vendor tables and free samples (photobooth pictures, cake, and sometimes drinks or desserts).
So a quick bullet list for you...
Bridal shows are great because:
1. All of the vendors come to you in one location!
2. Many vendors give great discounts. Often you have to book THAT day... but here's a little secret -- if you sign up for information at their table they will email you extending the deadline of the deal for another week or two. I've only had this happen with local venues, but not chains.
3. You get to see/touch/feel examples of their product. Photographers have countless albums on display. Photobooth companies let you take your picture for free and you can see the product (and even better keep it). :) You cake taste-test cakes and sometimes even hors d'oeurves or desserts.
4. Who doesn't love raffles and prizes that you get to enter for free??
5. It's a fun bonding experience with whomever you decide to bring: mother, mother-in-law-to-be, bridesmaids, maid of honor, or fiance. Although I will warn, they are quite crowded, so I wouldn't go too crazy.
On a side note, to bullet number 5. My fiance has gone to all of the bridal shows with me except maybe 1. (I've probably gone to like 3 in Rochester, all of the ones in Syracuse, and 1 in Utica.) He is often 1 of a handful of fiances. Many don't want to go at all, and although he's tired of going to them by now he still soldiers on and attends with me. Often, it's because I'm looking at vendors and I want him there to give his thoughts/feedback if I decide to put money down at the show. I think he's also just a sucker for raffles/prizes.
In all of the shows I have attended, I have never won a prize given away by the show itself. However, a friend of mine has, which was pretty cool. I've been close (1 or 2 numbers away from my ticket... isn't that how it always is?).
But I have won quite a few vendor-specific prizes. We won a restaurant gift certificate to Rachel's Restaurant (located in the Sheraton). The food was delicious! A spa day for me plus up to 10 guests. I won't share the company name because this was a little sketchy in that they said they never picked a name, but because I decided to work with their company they wanted to offered it to me. I think I was just 1 of maybe 2 people whose business they got from the show. However, I had to use it within 2 months so I couldn't even use it for my bridal party right before the wedding or anything like that. My fiance won cuff links from Tuxedo Junction by spinning a wheel. I'm not sure if he just had to share his information to spin the wheel or put down a deposit, which was 100% refundable. I will talk about tuxes some other time though. So, not too shabby in the prize department I'd say. :)
So far from bridal shows, I found my wedding planner and DJ. I'm still searching for a florist, so perhaps tomorrow's bridal show will lead me to a florist.
Another quick suggestion I would make is that all the walking and holding things can be tiring, so if you have someone that needs a break send them off to the room where the fashion show will be held and have them hold some seats for you and your party. That room fills up quickly, and often many people have to stand around the perimeter of the room. It's a bit more enjoyable to NOT be one of those people. :)
Just try to relax and have fun! And good luck!!
~ A Rosey Bride
