So you went to a Bridal Show…Now What?

Posted on January 17, 2020 by Today's Bride

So you went to a Today’s Bride Wedding Show, fell in love with too many wedding gowns, tasted too many cake samples, and met some pretty amazing people. How can you use the information you learned and the contacts you made to your advantage? We can help with that.

Get Organized

It’s important to sort through your bag immediately while all the information is fresh. Write down your initial thoughts and impressions, things you liked and didn’t like, details you discussed, and the names of the vendors you spoke to. The longer you wait to do this, the harder it will be to remember details. You went to the show to meet awesome wedding professionals. If you can’t remember them, it’s all a waste.

Research Vendors

Once you’ve organized your stack of papers, it’s time to research. Compare prices, photo galleries, services, and years of experience. You may also want to check out their website, social media links, and some reviews. Creating an Excel document or downloading our printables can be extremely helpful at this point in your planning. They will clearly organize all of your information so you can easily compare and weigh the advantages and disadvantages.

Remember, it’s not always about the price. Did you feel like you connected with a vendor and that they truly understood your vision for your wedding day? Maybe one vendor was a little pricier, but also has years more experience and better reviews. When you’re hiring wedding professionals, make sure to choose the one that you are most comfortable working with.

Set Up Appointments

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of favorites, email or call them to set up a meeting and discuss important details. (Remember that magazine we gave you at the show? It will be extremely helpful in this step as it has pages of questions to ask vendors and spots to take notes!) If someone takes a long time to respond to you, doesn’t seem flexible or willing to accommodate your needs, or you just don’t get a good vibe from them, scratch them off your list and move on to the next one. Remember, trust your gut. If you feel like someone isn’t a good match, they probably aren’t. It’s a lot like finding your fiancé; it may take a lot of searching, but once you find the right vendor, it’ll be worth it.

Book your Vendor

Finally, book an appointment to sit down and sign that contract! After meeting them at the bridal show, contacting them, researching their experience and past weddings, and doing just a little bit of Facebook and Google stalking, it’s time to pull that trigger! That’s what attending our show was all about, right? Trust that you’ll make the right decision and that these experts can make your dream wedding a reality.

Once you’ve booked your vendor, communication is key! Here are some tips for making sure you’re getting your vision across.

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Hopefully, you had as great a time at the shows as we did. We loved getting to see all of the brides, grooms, moms, dads, and friends attending and meeting the best vendors Northeast Ohio has to offer.