Bridal Shows - Vendor tips & attendee feedback

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Judy Stark on October 21, 2009 at 5:27am

I have totally done a paradigm shift with respect to exhibiting at bridal show, and I've been doing them, large and small for 8 years.. I wasn't getting much out of them and they were hit and miss. I exhibited at what was supposed to be THE BIG BRIDAL SHOW in our city, but only 75 brides attended. 22 of those brides-29% registered to schedule a visit at our salon and we didn't even do the fashion show. Considering that the norm is only about 5%, this is a fantastic response! But, it does take a lot of work. Just because you have a fabulous booth display, there isn't a built-in guarantee brides will flock to your booth or even want to talk to you. Your beautiful booth display might not even be sending the message. If you live or can travel to the Central California Area, together with two very successful wedding professionals who follow the same step-by-step Bridal Show Success Program are sharing this with other wedding professionals at a 2-hour seminar on December 2, from 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m. for only $45 - beverages and appetizers included, as well as dedicated time to network with other wedding professionals.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Buena Vista Luxury Villas on December 21, 2009 at 5:40am

Obviously we prefer travel oriented shows and we tend to do better at larger shows than smaller ones. Though I could always use suggestions as to which show other vendors find useful!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wedding Clickers Bridal Shows on December 21, 2009 at 5:45am

As a Bridal Show host,

I find it to be helpful to all brides, whether it is a small "hotel" bridal show with 75-90 vendors or a large convention bridal show of 100+ vendors. Any show is extremely helpful to an engaged couple.

Most of the times brides and grooms, don't know all the possibilities of weddings. Having something new and exciting, comparing transportation options right on the spot. See fashion shows and being able to see which style fits what body type best!

The display of the booth, Yes does get the attention quicker and better to a bride, but it is about your enthusiastic and your presentation and stance that helps them decide and gets them to contact you after wards!

You can have the best display at the show, but if your personality "sucks" then you might not book that many brides!

Invite the brides and grooms to have a sit down and to discuss and "experiences" all the possibilities you have for them.

Larger convention shows give you more opportunity to make it fun for the bride and groom, I know at our shows we have 3 fashions shows, 12 major prize giveaways, offer to put the vehicles (limos) inside the building, give vendors more booth space, and so much more! Price might be higher but it is extremely worth it!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by A Day To Remember on December 28, 2009 at 3:05pm

Ironically, I added a blog entry earlier this morning on this subject, although it was geared more to help our brides. http://daytorememberblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/bridal-extravaganza.html

As a vendor, it is hard to determine what does and doesn't work for you, as results are not usually immediate. I continue to do the show because in the long run, it not only benefits me, but it keeps me in the radar with brides.

We do offer more than one service, so that is a HUGE draw for us. I plan on doing a different marketing strategy to see how that pans out.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by HoustonBride on October 26, 2010 at 6:13pm

What a great blog with wonderful tips. Thanks for exhibiting with us and promoting our show.
Bridal Extravaganza Show

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Erin with Providence Place on February 8, 2010 at 5:51am

As a bridal show owner and coordinator I agree with what everyone is saying. I absolutely hated the shows where you felt as thought you were hardly getting a moment with the bride and her party and if you did, you just got dumped in their already overloaded bag of other information. When we designed our show we did a ton of research first to see how brides and vendors were feeling about their experiences.
We learned this: both brides and vendors wanted to attend show- most were sadly disappointed with their shared experiences. They said these things:
it was too expensive for the return on investment,
it was too crowded,
too overwhelming,
the vendors acted like they didn't care or they were like vultures trying to get your business,
I forgot who I spoke to,
it was exhausting,
and the list goes on and on.

So, in response to those words, we have tried to change the face of the show world by making it less trade show like and more fun. We refuse to have the event in a huge trade show hall. They are too big, cold and set a horrible tone for the vendors to display. We have chosen hotels that have something to offer aesthetically, so that the visit to the event is already enjoyable. And when you add the details of fine booth design to that atmosphere, it already sets the tone for the show.
We also treat our vendors like kings! We know that its our vendors that make our industry what it is, and that they have chosen to advertise through our show- so we honor that with a networking cocktail hour on us and then end of the show, free loading and unloading assistance and breakfast upon arrival. When I was an exhibitor at other people's shows i hated how they made me feel as though I was almost a burden to them. I will not allow my vendors to fell that way. I a, so excited to have them at our show and we show that in as many ways as possible.

We also try to use basic knowledge of the human psyche with our attendees. We give them free prizes when they enter, we greet them with a ton of smiles and hospitality and congratulation on their upcoming nuptials and then we have food vendors giving away treats like catering samples and cake as the first booths. Everyone loves to feel special, appreciated and well fed, so that is what we do! Our brides end up spending hours at our show, not becuase there are so many booths to visit but becuase it is actually a fun day! (to note: we only accept 60 vendors and we limist each category so that there is no overload on any one type of vendor.)

We have lots of other ways that we make the day fun: a bar, wandering bridal show that lasts all day and moves throughout the event, we have our "grooms, dads and guys get in free policy", and we actually mingle all day with the brides and vendors, asking them how they are doing, getting things that might be needed and trying to serve our vendors and brides in any way.
Our shows have become such a success that 6 major Hilton Hotels in this areas have decided to forgo the bigger shows and do only our smaller shows. WE have actually had vendors booking weddings on site with brides becuase the brides and their guests feel comfortable in spending time in each booth talking and planning their weddings. I think the record for onsite booked weddings was 3 and we had another vendor that came back to us saying that they had 20 booking after the show.
Moral of the story: choose shows that want to increase the validity and class of the wedding industry through excellent service to both you and the bride. Some of these shows are making killing financially, but they lose the heart and soul of what we are all about!
Hope this helps!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judy Stark on October 27, 2010 at 9:37am

Great information. Why did you select the wandering fashion show versus the standard runway fashion show?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Merry Sherman on February 8, 2010 at 10:52am

I have done both big and small. The one I like best is the one I am participating in in March. The vendors participate in a wedding give-a-away and the brides stay all day and are willing to talk to the vendors, not just collect freebees and brochures. I have any bride who speaks with me or my assistant fill out a form completely, brides name, grooms name, address, contact phone, both birthdays and of course the wedding date and shower dates if known. Those who fill it out completely receive a gift (no strings attached). This show it is a 4 x 6 picture frame for the refrig, wrapped nicely with a bow. Their completed form in put into a drawing for a wedding supply basket. I have friends in other business who give me wedding supplies with their card attached and make a very large basket. These are not businesses who would normally participate in a bridal show, but with services a bride & groom could use later on. When we have time at the show one of my assistants, makes an excel sheet with all the information and address envelopes to each bride and groom we have spoken with and the next day I send them a card thanking them for stopping by my booth and ask if there is any questions they may have about cakes that I didn't answer. In about 2 weeks, I send out a flyer by constant connect with a special i.e. free anniversary tier if purchased by ...... I send the bride and groom birthday cards for the next 2 years. I print these all off on my computer so for the cost of stamp and envelope, I get them to remember me. Even if I don't get to do the wedding cake, I may get to do cakes for family birthdays, anniversaries, baby shower, etc.
Once they are on my e-mail list they will get monthly e-mails with invites to follow my blog which has a lot of wedding ideas, but cake information. I make sure that my website and phone number is on everything. Oh by the way both me and my assistant write notes on the cards i.e. likes pillars, red is their color, etc. And don't be afraid to write this on the form in front of them, it makes them know you are listening to them and you care. I then mention that on the next day follow up card. I am lucky I have two great assistants, I'm a little predius they are my granddaughters, One will talk with the brides, the other is kind of shy and does the computer stuff and keeps my sample tray filled. Ofcouse I give sample, the taste of the cake is the most important, a cake can look good, but if no one eats it, it was a waste of money. My samples are bite size heart cupcakes.

My booth is set up simple, but beautiful. I decorate a cake (using stiform) different for each show, and make a groom cake. with an 8" table the wedding cake is set in the center with the groom's cake to the right of the cake. Cards, drawing bowl and gift basket on left of cake. I have tried fancy and simple and simple is much better.

Good luck everyone.
Merry, Cake designer extraordinaire, Cakes Especially 4 You

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Helen Rodriguez on February 9, 2010 at 5:45pm

HELLO! and thank you for sending all this important information. Well as a vendor I like all and any place that would be accessible to everyone and also affordable because this days everyone is struggling to survive this economy and it is amazingly outrageous how the mayor companies, supermarkets, all this department stores and big chains of warehouses are not taking this in consideration and keep raising prices with no mercy. We are all living to survive and to keep families safe, Physical, spiritual, emotional and psychologically healthy.
For me to stop and chat with a vendor I would do it for or because as manners to chat with everyone; second, to educate myself on and with the work that person is doing or has developed; and the interest on my tastes and the type of work that person(s) does.
I hope my opinion would help you in some ways and hoping to hear from you soon. Thank You, HELEN

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bernadette Manzano on April 12, 2010 at 8:38am

I'm an Event Planner and have never had a booth at a show for some of the reasons that have already been stated, such as the fact that I provide a service. I would probably partner up with my recommended/preferred vendors to possibly split the cost of the booth by displaying their work (photos, flower displays, rentals, fabrics, lighting) but I be the representative of what exclusive special offers and discounts I can provide using these vendors. That way I can talk up the vendors to potential brides and communicate why I as a partner have chosen them as a preferred vendor. Some event planners may volunteer to do a mini seminar for brides on upcoming trends, ways to save money, how to deal with sticky situations, or knowledge on wedding traditions and what do they mean.

I have been going to bridal shows a lot lately as there is no way to know each and every vendor. I enjoy getting face to face time, introducing myself, handing out my own card, seeing their work, and how they react with potential brides. I find them very informative.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brandy Blackford on October 19, 2010 at 4:44am

As a vendor I have much more success at the smaller open houses and private tastings. As an attendee, don't shove papers in my face, let me come to you. I'm much more likely to remember a friendly face and smile versus a vacant look and a piece of paper.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by The Wedding Salon on October 27, 2010 at 6:15am

The Wedding Salon NYC Showcase will be taking place on Nov 15th.
We have an impressive resume of past clients such as Sylvia Weinstock, Colin Cowie, and David Tutera.

Our shows are produced to emulate $1,000,000 weddings so your client interactions will have
the utmost class. Vendor and attendee registrations are in full swing.

To contact our team call (212) 631-7777 or email michael@weddingsalon.com

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page