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Wedding Etiquette Forum

Bridal shows--are they all this bad?

Wow--my daughter and I just went to our first bridal show. We actually paid to get into this show!  It was awful. It was boring and crowded, and the DJ company that was showcased today was terrible. Their singers were older women trying to rock young music, and their male singer was barely average. You would think they'd at least do really well with mixing the music, but they were unprepared and talking among themselves, stopping and starting songs. This was their big chance to impress a huge bunch of brides LOOKING for DJ's, and they were horrible. In the fashion show, the gowns didn't fit the models and their bras were showing, some of the gowns were wrinkled, and tags were hanging off the veils. There were several decent prizes, but most "prizes" were nothing but money off a vendor's service. Has anyone else had experiences like this? Are they all this bad, lol? We are planning on going to another one next weekend...held at my daughter's venue. Not sure if we should bother, if they're all this awful. I mean, I really feel that they ought to make it free admission. All it is is a bunch of vendors making connections. We as consumers can do almost all of this online. They can't. 
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Re: Bridal shows--are they all this bad?

  • Yeah they are all terrible.

    At some bridal shows there are sacrifices of virgins. 
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  • which I am sure that is what your daughter is, so I would skip bridal shows all together. 
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  • Yes. They are all that bad, or at least pretty close.
  • What? I was agreeing with you! Bridal shows are the pits!
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  • Thank you, CurlsNpearls. I appreciate your answer. Rosie? Who are you? Isn't this board for the exchange of information by people who are planning weddings? 
  • Are you asking me to plan your wedding?

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  • I don't know- I've been to one or two are were awful BUT i've also been to a few really good ones. The one that my venue had had free drinks and buffets set out. I found my photographer there (who is a freakin artist). Some are good, some are okay, some are awful. It depends.
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  • Ugh! Thanks retreatbride...I was afraid of that. I hope my daughter didn't leave her number or email address with too many of them! 
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_bridal-shows-this-bad?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:4d2ee012-de95-4cc0-a9a1-e2d180df9442Post:0acff996-21c1-49b0-9fb5-2621b7c3750f">Re: Bridal shows--are they all this bad?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Are you asking me to plan your wedding?
    Posted by Rosie109[/QUOTE]

    I'm so confused.
  • I am the 59-year old mother of a 2013 bride looking for some information on The Knot. I am not someone who is interested in sparring with someone who fancies herself a comedian, or some kind of quasi-powerful 'old guard' of a message board. Thank the rest of you all for the info. I hope that some others will read my post and get a bit of info about bridal shows. Isn't that what this place is for?
  • Thanks, smartlypretty! Maybe we'll go to the one next week after all. We're still looking for a DJ,  photographer, florist, photobooth, makeup, hair...AAA!!! So much to do! My daughter did see 2 photographers today that were pretty good and she took their cards, so it wasn't a waste. We were just expecting more, maybe...
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_bridal-shows-this-bad?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4d2ee012-de95-4cc0-a9a1-e2d180df9442Post:4b74a4ea-fccb-45df-bd49-e243ef4a69a7">Re: Bridal shows--are they all this bad?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I am the 59-year old mother of a 2013 bride looking for some information on The Knot. I am not someone who is interested in sparring with someone who fancies herself a comedian, or some kind of quasi-powerful 'old guard' of a message board. Thank the rest of you all for the info. I hope that some others will read my post and get a bit of info about bridal shows. Isn't that what this place is for?
    Posted by tanyanubin[/QUOTE]
    lol u mad?

    y u mad, bro?

  • I went to ONE with my mother in law and hated it. I asked for my $$ back and got it. Never again. From that point forward, I relied on personal experience, word of mouth and Yelp reviews to help me find vendors.
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  • Hey, Tanya, she agreed with you.

    And it was funny.

    Maybe you should try not being biitchy to people for no reason.  It might get you farther in life.

  • edited January 2012
    "At some bridal shows there are sacrifices of virgins... which I am sure that is what your daughter is, so I would skip bridal shows all together." Thats agreeing with me? and it's funny? Sorry, I didn't see it that way, I saw it as very insulting, and an attack out of nowhere.  Thanks for your input, though, myusername
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_bridal-shows-this-bad?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4d2ee012-de95-4cc0-a9a1-e2d180df9442Post:bb17812e-72b7-48bc-b517-b96a422034af">Re: Bridal shows--are they all this bad?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Thanks, smartlypretty! Maybe we'll go to the one next week after all. We're still looking for a DJ,  photographer, florist, photobooth, makeup, hair...AAA!!! So much to do! My daughter did see 2 photographers today that were pretty good and she took their cards, so it wasn't a waste. We were just expecting more, maybe...
    Posted by tanyanubin[/QUOTE]

    Yeah, I've also found my ceremony musicians, invitation place, and florist. I've probably gone to about 6 of them. Two were awful- so that's about your odds. I'd just go- you can always leave quickly if it sucks. I've also heard that country clubs tend to be better.

    <div>You can come over to the September 2012 board!! The girls there are seriously great and super helpful.</div>
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  • edited January 2012
    We went to one when we were still looking for a DJ and a photographer.  We ended up going with one of the photographers that we met there (and were very happy with her work at our wedding) and would have gone with a DJ we had met if we didn't decide on a band instead.  I personally liked going around and interacting with people in person in an environment where it was easy to get away if we knew there was no way we were interested in that vendor.  DH and I went together, and while we had to pay, it was guys' night (or whatever they called it), so we only had to pay 1 admission.  

    I would imagine that Maine bridal shows might be different from New Jersey bridal shows.  (No offense to NJ, I say this as a person from the tri-state area, but it's just an observation.)

    ETA: I saw that PP suggested you check out other boards here.  You might want to ask this question on your local board if you want ideas on what bridal shows might actually be worth going to.  
  • I was at a bridal show yesterday. And it was great. Lots and lots of great information and great vendors. Of course there were the awful vendors, and I only gave my email and phone numbers to vendors I was interested in...

    This particular show has a really good reputation though.
  • I went to one, and they assaulted me with papers and flyers because I was required to wear the "Bride" sticker in order to get free samples. Free samples, meaning coupons for 15% off $1000 services. I did not enjoy myself. They aren't meant to be a fun party time. They're meant to sell you things. I did enjoy the fashion show at mine, though. The one thing I would say is that I wasn't expecting them to actually stop me (a few grabbed me, that was fun) and try and get me to come to their tables. I'll stop at your table if I like what I see. This one table actually was asked to pack up and leave because they reduced several brides to tears by telling them they were doomed because they weren't far enough into the planning process. I wouldn't recommend them, but I also would say, if you go expect it just to be a vendorfest.
  • That's probably a good idea, Jessica. Thanks for your kind words, Smartlypretty. Yikes--This is not a very friendly place!  
  • I went to the local one twice and it was fine. I didn't go to the fashion show though, so maybe that was worse, haha. It is pretty much just vendors. It was nice to see them all in the same place, see samples of their work, and see if they had any deals. My friend booked her reception at the expo because they were waiving the rental fee (which is $2000) if she booked that day. She already knew it's where she wanted to have it, otherwise I would have suggested she look around more. So if you know what you want, you may get some good deals.

    Sometimes you can win fun stuff. I go mostly just to get ideas. And I've put my email into drawings and only got one or two emails from the vendors. I think I got a couple things in the mail but that was it. But I guess if you sign up for every single booth at a bigger expo than I was at, I could see that clogging up your email!
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  • I had a nice time at a Bridal Show two weeks ago, and plan to go to another one in February.  It was a vendor fest, but I knew it would be a vendor fest.  There were some that were bad and I knew I didn't want to use them, and others that were good and I gladly jotted down their name.  Sure, I get a lot of junk mail, but I sent it to an e-mail set up for junk mail that I can wade through and see what is interesting.  

    I guess it really depends on what your'e looking for:  I read up on my event and it represented itself pretty well.  And, if nothing else, it gives me and my FI some fun stuff to do together, sparking new discussions and such.  
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_bridal-shows-this-bad?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4d2ee012-de95-4cc0-a9a1-e2d180df9442Post:4833d7f3-0261-48d2-9496-863d976b53c2">Re: Bridal shows--are they all this bad?</a>:
    [QUOTE]That's probably a good idea, Jessica. Thanks for your kind words, Smartlypretty. Yikes--This is not a very friendly place!  
    Posted by tanyanubin[/QUOTE]

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  • littlemisscutie-  today's show didn't reduce anyone to tears...although my daughter's poor fiance was close! lolol--he sure won't be going to another one of these! The way they made the brides see every vendor was by having them carry around a sheet that every vendor had to check off in order for the bride to be eligible for the 'grand prize'. And you are so right--the 'prizes' really amounted to coupons. I think we'll give this one more shot...
  • edited January 2012
    I'm just too old for nonsense, lol. I would like information here. And to give information when I have some. That's all. Games don't interest me. 
  • I went to one with my FMIL and I regret it. First she paid for both of us to attend and they didn't even have much of an array of vendors.  Just venues and photographers, which I had booked already.  The food samples were good but that's it.  They sold my information and I am bombarded with emails.  Also sold my information to some timeshare company and they kept calling me.  Finally, I let my FI mess with them on the phone and he got them to hang up on him and they stopped calling me.
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  • Oh, no! glad they stopped! I suspect my daughter will get some calls and emails. Our first show was a learning experience, but this whole thread can help other brides avoid lots of mistakes---thanks everyone for all the great info!
  • edited January 2012
    My MOHs took me to one. It was fun seeing everything, but the photographers were insane vultures! 

    Congrats on your engagement!
    Thanks.
    Do you have a photographer?
    No. I just got engaged 3 weeks ago.
    Oh! I can't believe you don't have one....*proceeded to read me (verbatim) their brochure*

    I loved the free food from caterers, but everything else was eh.
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  • I have been to a few down here in NOLA that were a lot of fun. I've never paid to go to one - I usually get free entrance through TK emails. I even got my cake pulls at one of the shows.

    I'm going to one this Sunday that I attended last year with one of my BMs and loved. The food was great and the vendors were professional, even if the DJ sucked. I also was able to make an appointment with DB and got a coupon for $300 off my dress. I didn't buy one last year since my wedding was so far off, but I did go to my appointment anyway and found a dress that may be The One. Since my wedding is this November I will probably take advantage of the coupon this time. 

    I'm also hoping that one of the videographers from last year is there again this year. His videos were excellent, but I lost his contact card and had trouble finding him on Google because he was still pretty new.
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