Toronto Bridal Shows this weekend + questions

petite+engineer

So both of the Bridal Shows are this weekend. I am planning on driving down to Toronto for them.

Can any past attendees please share any tips? 

Should I aim to go to both or just one? Which one? 

Should I bring cash to buy things?

Should I bring my fiance or will it be mostly women there?

How long should I give myself to go through the show?

Thanks!

Jewel224

Go to just one - they're typically the same with a lot of the same vendors. Go to whichever one is more convenient for you - I liked that the Mississauga one had free parking and if you purchase your ticket online you get it for less.  If you go to the downtown one, expect to pay $20 or more for parking.

Don't put your name down for everything - 'cause you will get calls later on.  I still get occassional calls and I went last year!

You can bring your FI, 'cause there are quite a few of them there.  But mine got bored 10 minutes after we arrived.  You're better off going with your girlfriends.

And you'll need at least 4-6 hours because you'll likely spend time talking to vendors and may go back to one or two of them for price comparison, if you do decide to book there.

ETA: I didn't buy much there, but used it mostly to get ideas for my wedding. 

petite+engineer

My MOH would like to come with me, but she has a commitment that day around 1pm. My current plan is to go downtown for the morning, so we can have our girls time, and then go to the Mississauga one with my mom in the afternoon. My parents live downtown, so parking isn't an issue for the Toronto show, we'll just take the TTC. Is this an okay plan?

My other option is to go the Toronto one on Saturday and the Mississauga one on Sunday.

Littlin

They will be almost exactly the same, so just go to one - honestly.  I would take your MOH or mom, and if your FI is brave, then him (but it is mostly women).  

They are most helpful if you want to book vendors on the spot for a great deal.  I also used a coupon for tuxes later on in the year that I got at the show, but that's about it.  They don't have much in terms of dresses or fashion, either.  I didn't find it that helpful, but others have gotten some great deals.

khkhskhkahjkwaehrkw

I'm going to the mississauga one this weekend. Got a deal on wagjag (check to see if it's still there...2 for 1).

Joanne1984

I have been to both the Mississauga show and the Toronto show. I prefer the Toronto one but there is the annoying issue of parking.  I have gone with both my FI and my girlfriends. Both enjoyed it. 

Plan on spending around 3 or 4 hours there and make sure that you go during a time where there is the fashion show (the times are listed online). It's my favorite part! You may spend a lot of time speaking to vendors. If at all possible, be ready with a list of specific questions, otherwise vendors will give you a lot of rough ideas and generalities. I found that when I knew what I wanted, they were able to give me more specific/realistic ideas and prices.

The show can be a great starting point. There are some good deals if you are willing to spend time working it all out on site. You can get some good ideas and meet vendors without booking appointments. I booked my limo company at the show. It was around $200 cheaper than I had seen on their website. 

petite+engineer

Thanks for the tips!

Now I have to come up with a list of questions for vendors. More work! 

Here is the wagjag link for everyone else, thanks for the tip! http://www.wagjag.com/?wagjag=36106

^ That shouldn't be a referral link, cause I don't have a wagjag account yet.

ladychambers83

FYI: If you pick up a copy of the Metro or 24hrs there's an ad for 2 for 1 admission to the Toronto show

I've been to the one in Toronto, but will be accompanying my girlfriend to the one in Mississauga on sat. I hope they have the same stuff, because I got some really nice goodies from the Toronto location heehee

*Be prepared for the constant emails afterward if you sign up for anything.
*wear comfortable shoes (lots of walking)

melfacto

Thanks for the FYI about the coupon, I was looking for one yesterday and couldn't find one online! Just got two from a co-workers 24 and Metro!

lionelgroulx679

The Toronto show has a special offer on their website:

SPECIAL OFFER: BRING A NON PERISHABLE FOOD ITEM AND RECIEVE 2 FOR 1 ADMISSION
VALID SEPTEMBER 9, 10, 11, 2011

http://www.canadasbridalshow.com/ticket_info.html

You may want to create a separate email account for wedding stuff, so you can close the account when you no longer need it and your regular email won't be cluttered.

petite+engineer

I attended both shows on the weekend. I thought I would write a review in case this helps someone attending the January shows.

I went to the Mississauga Show on Friday night. There was free parking, but it took a bit of driving around. I would be a little worried about finding parking on Saturday. If you are coming as a larger group, I recommend carpooling. In my opinion, this was the better of the two shows. It was smaller, but it had more of what I wanted. I got to try several cake vendors and talk to many photographers. It wasn't busy at all, and the host from Wedding SOS was giving a presentation on stage. As a nice touch, they had a "groom resting area". It was quieter and more laid back.

The second show in Toronto was bigger, and more targetted towards those who wanted a flashy wedding at a banquet hall. If you are looking for a flair bar, DJ, or flashy decor, I would suggest this show. I found this show to be a lot louder, our group had trouble hearing each other. This show also had a lot more venues and invitation vendors.

Here are my tips after attending the shows:

- Bring a smartphone and look up reviews of vendors before signing on the dotted line. We put down a deposit on a cake, but when we got home, discovered that they had terrible reviews. Live and learn...

- Get a second email address.

- You will constantly get hounded by registries (e.g. the bay, sears, home outfitters). I usually said "sorry, it's too early" and they left us alone.

- Throw out flyers from vendors you don't like immediately. Otherwise you'll forget which one is which when you get home.

- Don't believe everything a vendor tells you. One photographer at the Toronto show kept saying that he was the only one there who lets you keep the high-res images on DVD. Only one or two that I talked to charged an extra fee for that.

- Ask if they are the actual person you will be dealing with. A lot of times I thought I was talking to the wedding planner/photographer/designer, etc, but they were not there at that time.