Bridal Showcase this weekend in my town!

beckyboo27

I'm getting super excited about it!  I haven't done any "official" planning yet, but I'm hoping to get some ideas this weekend at the bridal showcase. I'm also dragging my fiance and mom along to help me out.  Yaay!

kellycatalo

woo have fun! i haven't been to any of these, but i have heard some stories from people saying they are very pushy to have you sign up for things. be careful who you give your name/address/email out to!

mamameech

I thought "OOOH someone from Ottawa/!?!" but no... lol
We have a Wedding Palace Bridal Show this weekend and I am definitely attending I have everything booked already but I could check out the jewelry and honeymoon info/freebies. Lots of great giveaways and prizes - and fashion shows! So fun!

Enjoy!

mamameech

Oh and you're best to create an email account JUST for the show. That way your personal account isn't bombarded with emails. And don't give you phone number unless you're really interested in being contacted.
I was at a show in October and they WILL contact you... repeatedly. Luckily I only gave my info to a couple, but that was enough to teach me my lesson lol

beckyboo27

Thank you for all the tips! I've never been to a bridal showcase before, so I have no idea how they work.  I will for sure set up an email account for all my wedding stuff.

mamameech

It's useful to bring little premade labels or business cards too to save you time filling out ballots

wcasar

I'm going to one this weekend near my area. It will be my first one. I was totally planning on giving them an older email address. Haven't figured out if I will give them my number or not. I really don't need anything else booked, but I at least want to see what's out there and get ideas.

adktd2boots

Unless your FI is super excited about going, I wouldn't drag him along.  I've worked at several when I worked for a florist, and the men looked so miserable.

beckyboo27

Hmm...good point.  I asked him if he wanted to go, and he said "Yeah, that's fine."  My mom volunteered to go, and I happily accepted because I have no clue what I'm doing.  I probably should have worded it a little better. Haha! Thanks.

SCogs18

I never really got spammed too badly from giving out my contact info.  I got maybe 5-8 calls and just as many e-mails.  I went with my mom and dad back in August and it was really helpful from back when I didn't have anything booked.  Now I don't have much left but I'm on the hunt for freebees, deals, linnens, and place cards/escort cards...

mcmeghan311

I'm going to my first one on Sunday.  I'm not excited about it, I'm just going with a friend who is getting married 9.22.  All I really need to look for is maybe a caterer, so I won't be giving out that much info.  *breathe*  lol

smartlypretty

I love bridal shows! Soooo much fun! I found that I didn't get spammed too too bad. I mean, if you gave your info to davids bridal you get the same spam. Be warned about people calling and saying you "won" something. If they want you to go anywhere like a hotel to pick it up- it's just a hard sell cooking demonstration. Just hang up

wcasar

How funny you mention that smartlypretty. I've been getting phone calls off and on for a couple months. It's so annoying. They keep telling me I won something but I've never entered a contest. Of course I never answer the phone so different girls keep leaving me their name and number to call back asap. Actually one of them even texted me. 

smartlypretty

Yeah its a total scam. One time I actually answered the phone and some woman who sounded reallly bored read a script for like 5 minutes. She even kept yawning. 

I actually did win something (for real) one time at a bridal show. Trust me, you will know when you actually won something. I won a free microdermabrasion and $500 off a laser hair treatment from a local spa here in center city (philadelphia). They left me a short voicemail stating exactly what I won and also left an email stating exactly who they were and what I won. Since they left their business name I was able to yelp them and see that this was for real. It was some high end spa in Rittenhouse. I went in for the free microdermadrasion. I never used the $500 off the laser (couldn't really afford the rest of it), but I didn't get a hard sell or anything. And can I say, microdermdreasions are AMAZING. My face was smooth as a baby's butt for a week or two. 

junebug19

I had so much fun at my first bridal show! I won 3 door prizes- one was free dance lessons for my FI and I & my friend won the grand prize- a honeymoon. Mammameech is right, premade labels are a timesaver, create a wedding only e-mail not just for the show but also for any vendors you request info from on TK, weddingwire.com or whatever as far as phone number, I only give out my landline # which we only use for our fax anyway so they can call it all they want. I got a few good ideas and thefashion shows were fun. Have fun- and let your FI stay home, I brought my FMIL instead and she had a great time getting to know my mom and grandmother & sisters.

kittybutton

Ours is this weekend too. It's called Bridal extravaganza. I've made my pre made labels. I will be attending with my bestie, she's getting married in May.