Providence bridal expo this Sunday

berty2011

So is anyone going to the convention center expo this Sunday?. I heard alot of florist will be there. Also I am looking for a photographer and believe or not my dress! I also read there are a few bridal shops and a fashion show. My weight is not where I want it to be, but I need to do this soon and have been holding off. My mom and aunt will be coming. How crazy are these bridal expos?

KBinRI

It's busy, but not too crazy. I went last year and I just went a little later in the day. They had giveaway bags for the first X number of entrants but I wanted to skip the crowd and I later saw what they were and it was no big deal. There were a couple of fashion shows (these were my favorite part of every show I went to!)

My advice is to bring some water; they have concessions open there, but it's pricey. Also, if you haven't already, make a Yahoo or Gmail account just for your wedding and use that for every prize and giveaway entry form as well as all vendor contacts. Otherwise you will be swamped. I've been married for almost three months and I still get three or four e-mails a day in that account! If you can, make a few labels with your name, address, that e-mail address and your wedding date so you don't have to do a lot of writing. That said, I tried to limit the number of vendors I gave my info to and I'm thankful.

On the dress front, please go look now. Don't wait until you're the size you want to be. I waited so long because I'm plus sized and I dreaded dress shopping, but it was waaaay better than expected and all I did by waiting was limit myself to David's Bridal. I'm not saying DB is terrible, because I loved my dress, but I put it off so long that I knew there was no way I'd be able to order from another in time. Go find a dress that looks great at the size you are now. If you happen to lose weight over the next several months, it can always be altered. Trust me, you will feel beautiful on your wedding day no matter what size you are. I actually even like myself in most of the photos, which NEVER happens!

i2012do

First to the OP
I am going Sunday as well. My mom is super excited. I am not. I went to a smaller bridal show at Twin River just to "see" and kind of had my fill. (edit: I meant to say that it wasnt that bad there actually and not to busy btw. so im hoping sunday will be the same)
But I wanted my mom to meet our possible DJ who will be there (Victor)... etc

She is going insane and keeps reading articles over the phone of what to do what to expect. basically she keeps telling me to wear comfortable shoes-and shes right!

I agree, make an email address and labels if you can for Sunday- I did that for the other bridal show and it was a godsend...
also if you see a vendor and you know off the bat they are out of your price range or you just aren't interested...politely walk away. for the first half of the other show I went to I didint do that and I spent so much time talking to vendors I'd never use-- and having david's bridal chasing me to sign my name on a paper I didint want to sign.

Also, I have been engaged for some time now so I think that the feeling of the initial overwhelming excitement has worn off a bit-- so I am prepping myself to be hoisted back into that overwhelming excitment on Sunday because I am sure there are 10300 brides that got engaged over the holidays ... so I am mentally preparing myself and not letting myself get "carried away" w emotions.. if that makes sense...you make foolish choices--ie sign a limo company on the spot...when you get carried away in "Wedding disney land"

I as well, am in the same boat as you. I'm mostly looking for a florist and to meet with Victor again,plus some bakeries-- but Im not getting married till 2012.
Also, my 3 yrs dating my fiance has brought me on 10-15 lbs a year respectively. The restaurants, nights out, drinks, lazy nights on the couch, his deployment and moving to the burbs are all exucses for me not getting to the gym,,, err  so I have vowed not to look for a dress until I lose the weigh I packed on--which will take Months of dedication and hard work

I have been looking online, but also, I am being realistic that with 8-9 months to go to my wedding-- I WILL look for a dress (that is this winter) whatever weight I am...


So my 2nd thought in this long post is that KB_RI you are amazing. I read that post and I totally resonated with you. I am dreading dress shopping- osmething a lot of brides look forward to. I am not in the mood to show off the parts of my body I've learned to "hide"w/ clothing.
But I have to say. first of all, your photos are beautiful of you in your gown- and I think you looked great. Plus I appreciate your honest advice. I know this is sappy- but reading that post made me feel like Im not the "only" one that feels like this and made me feel so warm n fuzzy today.
thank you!

bells24412

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_providence-bridal-expo-this-sunday?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:122Discussion:6f70f757-a539-4576-bae9-3f0a57d3f650Post:6a9c2573-eba4-4395-afb5-30fe338a6081">Re: Providence bridal expo this Sunday</a>:
[QUOTE]First to the OP I am going Sunday as well. My mom is super excited. I am not. I went to a smaller bridal show at Twin River just to "see" and kind of had my fill. (edit: I meant to say that it wasnt that bad there actually and not to busy btw. so im hoping sunday will be the same) But I wanted my mom to meet our possible DJ who will be there (Victor)... etc She is going insane and keeps reading articles over the phone of what to do what to expect. basically she keeps telling me to wear comfortable shoes-and shes right! I agree, make an email address and labels if you can for Sunday- I did that for the other bridal show and it was a godsend... also if you see a vendor and you know off the bat they are out of your price range or you just aren't interested...politely walk away. for the first half of the other show I went to I didint do that and I spent so much time talking to vendors I'd never use-- and having david's bridal chasing me to sign my name on a paper I didint want to sign. Also, I have been engaged for some time now so I think that the feeling of the initial overwhelming excitement has worn off a bit-- so I am prepping myself to be hoisted back into that overwhelming excitment on Sunday because I am sure there are 10300 brides that got engaged over the holidays ... so I am mentally preparing myself and not letting myself get "carried away" w emotions.. if that makes sense...you make foolish choices--ie sign a limo company on the spot...when you get carried away in "Wedding disney land" I as well, am in the same boat as you. I'm mostly looking for a florist and to meet with Victor again,plus some bakeries-- but Im not getting married till 2012. Also, my 3 yrs dating my fiance has brought me on 10-15 lbs a year respectively. The restaurants, nights out, drinks, lazy nights on the couch, his deployment and moving to the burbs are all exucses for me not getting to the gym,,, err  so I have vowed not to look for a dress until I lose the weigh I packed on--which will take Months of dedication and hard work I have been looking online, but also, I am being realistic that with 8-9 months to go to my wedding-- I WILL look for a dress (that is this winter) whatever weight I am... So my 2nd thought in this long post is that KB_RI you are amazing. I read that post and I totally resonated with you. I am dreading dress shopping- osmething a lot of brides look forward to. I am not in the mood to show off the parts of my body I've learned to "hide"w/ clothing. But I have to say. first of all, your photos are beautiful of you in your gown- and I think you looked great. Plus I appreciate your honest advice. I know this is sappy- but reading that post made me feel like Im not the "only" one that feels like this and made me feel so warm n fuzzy today. thank you!
Posted by i2012do[/QUOTE]


I myself have Victor. He is such an awesome DJ. As for the wedding expo I went to Twin River myself and I found myself overwelmed. I heard this one is like ten times bigger but me and FH are mostly looking into a photogrpaher as well, and also to see Victor again

I hope I am not overwelmed by everything again now that I know what to expect.

berty2011

 Thanks and I love the fact that I am not the only plus size girl on this site. I did go dress shopping once. at Davids and really had no luck. I have been going online and looking at Maggie Sottero dresses.I love their dresses and the fact that they have the lace-up corsets.I am looking forward to the fashion show. I am glad they have so many vendors, but you are def. right about not giving emails to everyone. 

KBinRI

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_providence-bridal-expo-this-sunday?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:122Discussion:6f70f757-a539-4576-bae9-3f0a57d3f650Post:6a9c2573-eba4-4395-afb5-30fe338a6081">Re: Providence bridal expo this Sunday</a>:
[QUOTE]So my 2nd thought in this long post is that KB_RI you are amazing. I read that post and I totally resonated with you. I am dreading dress shopping- osmething a lot of brides look forward to. I am not in the mood to show off the parts of my body I've learned to "hide"w/ clothing. But I have to say. first of all, your photos are beautiful of you in your gown- and I think you looked great. Plus I appreciate your honest advice. I know this is sappy- but reading that post made me feel like Im not the "only" one that feels like this and made me feel so warm n fuzzy today. thank you!
Posted by i2012do[/QUOTE]

Awww, now<strong><em> I'm</em></strong> feeling all warm and fuzzy! I seriously, seriously dreaded it. Like "keep you up at night" kind of dread. I was active on my month board and all the girls were so excited about shopping and finding "the one" and all that and I would just sit there looking at their pics of them in their dresses and feel worse and worse. It wasn't just how I would look in the dress, but all the "what ifs" - What if there were no samples in my size? What if I had to be almost naked in front of some stranger in a dress shop to try them on? And, the longer I put it off, it became: What if I've now waited so long I can't find anything at all? Once I was there, I realized how ridiculous I had been! And I never, ever thought I'd wear a strapless dress, but there I was! You <em>will </em>find your dress and you will be gorgeous that day! (And you will never get enough of having people tell you how pretty you look all day! I wish I could have bottled that and put it aside to use on bad hair days!)
Thanks for your kind words! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />

DansBride52911

i'm going too (my last hurrah) with my sis/moh - she just got engaged over christmas!
so, it's like a passing of the torch

all of our vendors are booked but i just want to go...maybe win some things? who knows.

and i'm a victor from partytime bride too! will be fun to chat with some of our vendors that will be there...we booked viking trolley and i'll get to see the trolley for the first time.

bells24412

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_providence-bridal-expo-this-sunday?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:122Discussion:6f70f757-a539-4576-bae9-3f0a57d3f650Post:704cb92e-6fb4-499d-bdc3-6c2dad0d7bb1">Re: Providence bridal expo this Sunday</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Providence bridal expo this Sunday : Awww, now I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy! I seriously, seriously dreaded it. Like "keep you up at night" kind of dread. I was active on my month board and all the girls were so excited about shopping and finding "the one" and all that and I would just sit there looking at their pics of them in their dresses and feel worse and worse. It wasn't just how I would look in the dress, but all the "what ifs" - What if there were no samples in my size? What if I had to be almost naked in front of some stranger in a dress shop to try them on? And, the longer I put it off, it became: What if I've now waited so long I can't find anything at all? Once I was there, I realized how ridiculous I had been! And I never, ever thought I'd wear a strapless dress, but there I was! You will find your dress and you will be gorgeous that day! (And you will never get enough of having people tell you how pretty you look all day! I wish I could have bottled that and put it aside to use on bad hair days!) Thanks for your kind words!
Posted by KBinRI[/QUOTE]


When I went to go look at dresses and try dresses on I fell in love with one that was a sample size and did not fit me. I was so discouraged and gave up on the whole finding a wedding dress process so, I too, know what that feels like. I was so uncomfortable getting undressed in front of a complete stranger. I am feel self concious of my body so this whole experience made it even worse. But you are right you fight through it all and you find "your" dress. No matter what you will look beautiful on your wedding day!

Congrats!!

amygirl78

Thank you SO much for the advice about the Labels and new email addres for the Wedding Vendors.
I too am planning on going this Sunday but I have learned from the Twin River and Crowne Plaza Expos NOT to bring such a large team w/ me. This time its just me and my MOH and we are going to take our sweet time through what we hear is the biggest wedding expo for RI.
Hopefully I can finsish up some loose ends that I thought I would have completed by now. Bakeries, Hair and Makeup are my TOP priorities on Sunday!

Happy Wedding Planning!!!!

DeliteSmith

Do you girls know about this dress shop?

http://www.botticelliri.com/

Have fun at the expo!  I went last year and would go again if I still needed vendors.  Definitely make a wedding email, and wear comfy shoes, the fashion shows are a nice chance to sit and take a break and look at the info in your bags. 

amygirl78

I went to Botticelli today w/ my future mother in law and the staff there was FABOULOUS! Not only were they super welcoming, they offered us champagne when we came in! Its was early and it didn't go with the dunkin coffe i had, so I had to pass. However we DID find my future mother in law a dress there.
checked that off the list~

i2012do

hope everyone that went had fun!1

I forgot my labels at home!!!! Im so angry!!! I had to write out my name a hundred times

but i did get to let my mom have some of  her way and talk to vendors I would have normall skipped (anxiety was fairly low haha)...
we had a lot of fun actually

and my mom met victor and really liked him

and.... i saw soooo many gorgeous flowers

AND after we went to lunch-- and there ws a newbie who was at the restaurant and we started chatting and I reccommend that she come on the KNOT boards-- and meet and interact with all you wonderful ladies
so i hope we have a newbie joining,,like tonight!!

Sophiemom

I have to agree that I had an amazing experience at Botticelli's in North Providence.  They ARE fabulous & they had BEAUTIFUL dresses and nothing smaller than a size 16W and nothing pricier than $1500.  They spent almost 2 hours with me & my dress was so amazing that people STILL rave about it to me!  I think I surprised them that a plus size girl could be so beautiful???

I would recommend them to ANYONE!  I can't wait to take my daughter there some day!  BTW- they don't just carry bridal gowns and MOB gowns, they also carry cute casual dresses & clothing!  I bought LOTS of fun stuff for my honemoon too! 

Definately a WARM FUZZY experience!! 

www.BotticelliRI.com