Bridal Expo

kaitlyn142

There's a bridal expo in my city next weekend. Has anyone been to one? Are they worth going to? Since I'm not gettng married in this city, I can't use any of the florist/venue/bakery exhibits.

If I do go, would it be weird to take my FI? I don't have any female friends in this area, and going by myself sounds boring.

midgetthemighty

You can take FI. I've been to one and they're a lot of fun. You can taste cake, sometimes champagne and play in the photo booths. You even get the pictures. I also had them play with my hair and makeup for free. Totally go!

chelseakopperud

You can for sure take FI! I am going to two this month!!

gregamywedding

I have been to 2 in my area. They were both fun, but neither were any kind of help. DFW is so big and neither of the shows were near where I live. So I could not use any of the vendors. By the time there was one in my area I didn't go because I already had all my vendors picked. If you have never been to one I say go. It is a really neat experience. You can bring FI with you. There are other guys there, but just so you know unless he is one of those guys that are super into wedding planning he will be bored.

CvilleClaire

Mine loved the high end one we went to last year.  The food and cake was great.  We went home with a box of cake from one baker and a prize. 

I went with girlfriends to one of the more cheesy ones (you know, the first 100 people win a free thing that they have to sit in a hotel ballroom for three hours to get).  I got more cake and a few snacks.  The fashion show was like a church fashion show, which was fine, but not as professional as the fashion show at the high end bridal show.

I used my real name at the high end show and only got a few "thanks for coming" emails.  I used a fake name and email address at the second show. 

Jean6912

Fi and I have been to a bunch they are fun, and there are usually prizes. Some have large door prizes and each vendor table usually has you put your info into a box and they pick a winner at the end. I went to one where the bowl company was there and they gave the first 100 visitors to the table a free bamboo chip bowl.

ncd5015

I haven't been to any but I think I might go to a couple this month!

franklissa

There is only one once a year where I live. It is in February. We plan on going although we already have everything booked. I couldn't imagine going with anyone but my fiance - but we have done eveerything together for the wedding with the exception of him seeing me in my dress of course.

Zimsgirl

They're not worth it if you're not getting married in the city. I went to one here at school with friends just for the heck of it and I had all my vendors booked and wouldn't use any of them anyways because they weren't in my area. I won stuff from Royal Prestige Dinner for two but can't use it til I'm 21

Cassandra999

They are useful if you are looking at vendors in that area.  If you are not, you could still go and look for ideas on decor/favors/flowers etc.  I'm going to one this weekend.  I would suggest setting up another email address for it.  there will be lots of drawings etc, if you register for them you end up with a lot of junk mail. 

You could totally bring FI.  Mine said he would go if I couldnt find any girl friends to go with me.

MMRoberts11

I've been to more than I care to admit between myself and all my friends.  Plus I worked a few doing modeling stuff as well as helping my FI.

You can definitely bring your FI with you.  He'll appreciate the cake samples and appetizers that many offer.
Feel free to talk to the vendors and get some ideas.  Definitely make stickers with your names, address, wedding date, phone number, and email if you want to sign up for stuff and/or have vendors contact you.  With that, if you can make a new email address for wedding stuff - you'll get a lot of spam emails from vendors. 
Though you may not be able to use many of the vendors there you can get ideas of pictures you want to take, cakes you like, centerpieces, etc.  I don't know how far your wedding location is from there but some of the vendors if you need any still and really like their work will travel. 

kaitlyn142

Based on what you guys say, we'll probably go then. FI is very long suffering about this type of thing, but since I firmly believe the wedding is not supposed to be a surprise party for him, he's involved in all the decision making anyway.

jrp279

I would go just to say you got to experience it before the wedding.  I would surely bring FI! 

courtneyclare103

If you're still looking for vendors, I'd go. Otherwise, I'd probably skip it. While you do get free cake and food samples and sometimes free champagne, they're usually (at least here) pretty crowded and sometimes crammed. I went to a bunch during the first year I was engaged when I was still booking vendors, but I haven't been to one since the spring because I wouldn't really have a purpose in going other than the freebies. But it could be a fun night out for the two of y'all--free snacks and maybe champagne!

laurabub

Seems like I'm the only one who hates going to these things.  Though (not thinking clearly) gave out my phone number on a few of the vendor questionaires/prize things.

DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER!!!    you'll regret going if you do that.  PP's have a great idea to make a new email for the spam you'll get.  Who knows maybe you'll win a prize or two.

I feel pressured when I go to wedding shows and it makes me uncomfortable.  I guess that is another reason I don't like going.  Also, some of the shows charge a fee to get in.

amonis

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_bridal-expo?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:6ae5c841-3953-402a-8ec2-7ce882d37746Post:9245875b-544e-4c9c-9ed6-0c2b24132754">Re: Bridal Expo</a>:
[QUOTE]Based on what you guys say, we'll probably go then. FI is very long suffering about this type of thing, but sin<strong>ce I firmly believe the wedding is not supposed to be a surprise party for him</strong>, he's involved in all the decision making anyway.
Posted by kaitlyn142[/QUOTE]

<div>haha this made me laugh.</div>

sweetcanadian1979

I took my fiance last year & my son, was fine, i had most vendors booked already then. I am going with my girls this year, we are going to the city the day before dress shopping & spending the night, will be fun. 

DrPB2b13

It really depends on the show, whether it's worth going or not.  I've been to a couple in my area, and some of the things given away included hair accessories and full beach buckets with champagne, as well as local dinners for 2, overnight stays at local hotels, and even a discounted honeymoon.  It was also great to talk with different vendors, even ones I'd already booked, because they can give you some great insight into things to think about for your own wedding - they might offer something you'll want to ask your own vendors about, or spark a question you've forgotten to ask so far.

And the cake is SO GOOD!

melntaitt

I've been to some of the shows and it really wasn't too bad; I felt bad for my poor FI who was one of the 4 men there not in a vendor booth. I live in a pretty small town and none of the vendors I ended up using. I was working with the bridal salon that hosted the event long before I went to the expo, but other than that, none of the vendors were very useful.

I will tell you that they are fun; I sipped champagne, tasted cake, played in extravagant limos and sampled wine from all over the Fingerlakes. I'm not complaining, but I wish for all the fun I had I could have used the vendor services.

kaitlyn142

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_bridal-expo?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:6ae5c841-3953-402a-8ec2-7ce882d37746Post:43187a92-0ff6-475b-91fd-7e580a876ada">Re: Bridal Expo</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Bridal Expo : haha this made me laugh.
Posted by amonis[/QUOTE]

I'm afraid I can't take credit for the line, but I can't remember where I picked it up from!

julianahenao881

totally go!!!! i been to a few with FI and we loved them....im going to one next weekend