5 Tips for Attending Wedding Fairs

When you get engaged and you're still in the early stages of planning, attending some wedding fairs or a venue open day where suppliers will be, is a lovely thing to do together to help you with your planning. They are a great place to get lots of ideas, meet suppliers in person and see their offerings first hand whether that be products or services. If you chose a great one, you should come away feeling inspired and you may even find your dream team to work with on your wedding.

To help you make the most of the opportunity, I have five top tips to help you get the best out of attending. Here we go!

In your local area there will be lots of wedding fairs happening, they mostly run these events in the autumn and spring time as peak wedding season is in the summer so venues and suppliers have more time to be at these events. When you attend a local one, you will have more chance at finding local suppliers in your area. Which is awesome for supporting local business's and means you won't have to worry about paying extra for the suppliers travel expenses. So it's a win, win!

Not all fairs will be the right fit for you, so do some research before hand. If it is held in a wedding venue, have a think about the style of wedding you want to have and whether that venue matches the type of theme you want for yourself. So if it is set outside or in a marquee, ask yourself, are you an outdoor bride? If not, a wedding fair set in a hotel maybe a better fit for you. Venues generally look for suppliers to exhibit that fit their own vibe and aesthetic. So just consider this, as you don't want to waste your time in the wrong place.

You never know what treasures you going to find at a wedding fair, you will expect to have photographers, florists, stationery, cakes, and attire. But often there are things you never thought about before. Like entertainment, quirky food trucks, games, decorations, the list goes on! So it's a great approach to go with an open mind, and wait to be dazzled.

This is your chance to meet the people behind the business, so make the most of it. Find out what they are like and if they are easy to get on with. Ask them questions about their product or services to help you find out if you could work with them. Suppliers are there as they love meeting new couples and love chatting all about weddings!!

If you really love a supplier then leaving your contact details with them is a great idea. It can be very overwhelming at events like this, with enough information to fry your brain. And most suppliers don't want to bombard you with too much info at once! Leaving an email address is the perfect way to ask for a follow up from them. This way they can send you some more info on what they offer with maybe a brochure or a price list. I have a welcome series with my mailing list so when you join, I provide you with all you need to know on how to work with me, point you to helpful places to help you get started with planning and there's even a freebie included which I know you'll love. All so you can have fun while you plan.

So this is an after thought, that may just help you after the fair! Before you go through all the leaflets and business cards that you were given or picked up, take some time to think about the suppliers that truly impressed you from the get go. Was it their stall that drew you in, was it the way they chatted to you, or maybe it was their products you just loved? Whatever it was, make sure to put them at the top of your list, you're maybe well on your way to finding your dream team right there! Meeting suppliers in person is the best way to know who you will be working with. Obviously you need to love their products and services first and foremost. But your wedding experience wants to be an unforgettable one for all the right reasons. And usually this starts with your dream team.