The Survivors’ Guide to the Wedding Fair

It’s no longer a secret, visiting a bridal fair will be tiring, most of the time it will prove to be a waste of time, so you will surely wonder why go to a bridal fair or how to make it a less stressful experience.

This year I was able to see firsthand how much things have changed and whether the relationship between exhibitors and visitors has improved in some way. My curiosity was to see if the people who come looking for things for their wedding are informed and educated about the choices they have to make. I therefore accepted Eventi Bianchi’s invitation to participate together in the Mariage Fest. The conclusions are different, as were the visitors I noticed.

I spoke to several couples who seemed slightly lost in space. I also met customers who came after the wedding rings and I noticed, from the area where the exit was made, the exhausted faces of many future brides looking for the dress or the restaurant to have free data in 2016.

This guide could be summarized in one step:

Understand exactly why you go to the fair, look for exactly the suppliers you need, with the research done at home, you go directly to the goal and avoid anything else.

I will try to be happier and share the above steps based on the types of experiences you may have, depending on the things you are looking for at the wedding fair.

Wedding dress (or groom’s costume)

I don’t see anything wrong with going to see wedding dresses at the fair. You have the opportunity to spend an hour or less and understand the offerings of more than ten shops and workshops. What should you do to not cry from tiredness and frustration afterwards?

Search for exhibitors in advance, follow their collections, make a selection. There is no point in stopping for a quarter of an hour at each stand. Then go and fasten the clothes of the selected stands. Yes, it’s a good opportunity to get hands-on and see what the materials are, whether it creates a feeling of comfort or, on the contrary, frightens to the touch. Talk to the person at the booth and ask them when you can do it a test schedule in more relaxed conditions.

Yes, I advise you not to try on the clothes directly at the fair, unless you come from another city for this. Because time is short, because it is crowded, because the clothes on display will be tried on by ten people before you, because in any case you will not be able to reach a conclusion on the spot. So there’s no point wasting time with the test, when you could use it to ask the booth consultant the following:

• where the clothes are made and how long delivery or order fulfillment takes
• What changes can be made to the models on display (standard clothes, brought from abroad, rarely change, those made for us by local stylists are often easier to combine in various ways).
• What advance payment is required for the purchase

The discount offered at the fair will often also be valid the following week. It is possible that other discounts may appear subsequently for the previous year’s collections.

At costumes, things are the same. Except that for many gentlemen it is possible to be one for the first time when they are able to purchase an event suit or even a tailor-made one. Therefore, it is all the more important to look at cuts, materials and color combinations.

rings

Rings are the easiest item to buy at the wedding fair and, from my point of view, among the few which is really worth it. Also, try to do a little research on the displays, see where the prices might be placed. The acquisition process will take place on the seen-folded-ordered model. A positive experience, with immediate satisfaction 🙂

Restaurant/Wedding Hall

This is where things get quite complicated. As far as trade fair stands are concerned, restaurants have the greatest disadvantage and the weakest representation of the services they want to sell. Because they sell a place that they can’t do in an 8m2 stand and a menu that obviously can’t be seen. Therefore, restaurants often limit themselves to showing up with a table set in their «style», possibly with something of their own logistics (glasses, plates, chairs, table fronts) and with flowers that they think their future customers will like.

If you’re desperate for the last available Saturday, then it’s worth talking to people from the stands. It’s just that you can’t get the full picture, because you won’t be talking to the event manager, nor to F&B Manager, but to a sales representative or even a specially paid hostess.

The «survivor» of the wedding fair will go straight to his favorite restaurant and try to get it the best pricethe highest reduction, if the date is free. And he will take care of completing the signing of the contract immediately after the fair, with a personal visit on site!

Flowers and decorations

A visit to the wedding fair can be inspirational for couples on small budgets who have no idea how to get started with decorating (it’s hard for me to believe that there are still brides who haven’t discovered Pinterest, but they say so). But it won’t be the place where you start with an offer for your wedding flowers. All specific details of your event will be best discussed in a separate meeting, where you will receive proper attention Customized prices on some concrete proposals.

Most serious flowers come with new conceptual proposals and show them because they have the necessary resources, not because they would be suitable for all types of weddings this year.

Feast your eyes, take photos and put a business card in your pocket, because it might come in handy later!

Photos, videos, music (and other services)

Regardless of your priorities, one of the things mentioned above is the most important thing for your wedding (quality music, stunning photos or a clip cinematic). I think that the place to choose the most important services is not at the fair, but with a good online search, meetings and discussions in person, followed by a decision that has to do with person who provide the service and not with the price/offer presented at the fair.

However, if you find yourself in the situation of believing that another path no longer exists, due to lack of time or financial restrictions, I suggest you take a look at the stand and the albums that accompanied them. To understand who they are and what they offer. And only then are you interested in prices. Wear a human discussion, avoid becoming a flyer depository. Because otherwise you will be left with nothing but the impression of having wasted your time.

Finally, I’ll show you the Eventi Bianchi stand at Mariage Fest 2016, which was appreciated and praised by everyone, which I can’t help but enjoy!

Photo: Vali Goaga / WEDMAG –www.valigoaga.ro