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Be honest....Are bridal shows a waste of my time?

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Re: Be honest....Are bridal shows a waste of my time?

  • tcnobletcnoble member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    @chipmunk415 we got a $200 discount on both our DJ and Photobooth from a bridal show! It can be VERY worth it!!
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  • KerisaHarman21KerisaHarman21 member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    I think bridal shows are a great idea! Not every single vendor there is going to be overpriced for example I am going to be modeling dresses in an upcoming Salem, OR bridal show, the dresses I am modeling are from David's Bridal, I looked at the prices as I was trying them on and none of them were over $1,000. The most expensive one was $799. The bakeries that are there are self owned or are a big chain such as Roths and are definitely not expensive, But the biggest reason to go is because you can enter to win a wedding or wedding related items which helps your budget! And in the least you had a fun day with your girlfriends :)
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  • 88beautymarked88beautymarked member
    Third Anniversary 100 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper
    Free cake samples! Hello!

    But in all seriousness, it's a good opportunity to walk around with a camera and snap pics of ideas, try samples from caterers, get discounts, win prizes like dress or honeymoon. 
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  • Xandy417Xandy417 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Love Its
    I went to only one bridal show while I was planning my wedding. It was in Wisconsin where I live and at the time we were getting married in California. It was completely irrelevant for me since I couldn't use any of the vendors. When we changed our plans and decided to get married in Wisconsin I did wish I had paid more attention to things at the bridal show but I ended up finding most everything I needed through other sources.

    I am still of the opinion that it was a waste of time. You had to go around and talk to all of the vendors in order to be entered for the raffle which was a honeymoon give away or something like that. I didn't want to do that so I didn't bother. Most of the booths seemed to be about honeymoons and my FI and I had already decided we were not going to go on one so we could properly host our guests for the wedding.
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  • KaurisKauris member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I'm going to one this weekend, and this is how I asked my friends to go with me, "Anyone have any interest at all in going to a bridal show with me? I will need someone I can snark with. I will provide your ticket, a flask and lunch." All three said yes. So, worst case, we have some funny stories.
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  • Nov182015Nov182015 member
    25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    I am going to my first one this weekend, and then a second one in a few weeks. I'm excited, but kind of "meh" about it as well.
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  • CokezerofreakCokezerofreak member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    Hit and miss.  The first one I went to was terrible.  The others much better.  I really only found one vendor at a show but got some ideas.  I haven't gone in a few months.
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  • antotoantoto member
    500 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer
    I got really fantastic deals with all of my vendors because I met them at a show.  Not everything at shows are over the top (although many are) priced.  Plus it was just a fun bonding experience with one of my MOHs.
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  • 312Emily312Emily member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    thisismynickname said:

    I went to one in the Chicago suburbs, and I wished I'd chosen the same show IN Chicago instead because I didn't realize all the vendors would be from that particular local area. (We went to one near FI's hometown, but we're getting married in the city.)


    I took my mom, FMIL and FI and our moms bonded like white on rice, which is great. This particular show had a really awesome fashion show and I was able to really get a feel for the styles that FI liked and which he didn't. 

    All that being said, I totally wasn't paying attention to other brides. If you don't mind a threadjack, what kinds of things did you ladies overhear??
    I went to one in the burbs and was so unimpressed. The best one was the Oak Street Wedding Walk. So much swag, got a coupon for $500 off at Lester Lampert which we used for my band, and an amazing after party at Del Frisco's with food and drinks!
    image
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  • KerisaHarman21KerisaHarman21 member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its Name Dropper

    I actually modeled in a bridal show in Salem, Oregon last weekend and I can tell you first hand the dresses are not "expensive designer dresses" I personally modeled for Davids Bridal and then there were several locally owned boutiques with dresses in the show as well. And as for other vendors there its a great idea and a good way to ask questions and even get discounts for your services!

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  • CorlissMDRFCorlissMDRF member
    First Comment
    My fiancee and I went to a gay and lesbian wedding expo over the weekend and really enjoyed ourselves. We went in knowing that we only needed info on invitations, wedding cakes and flowers. We were disappointed to find only one florist and a plethora of officiants, but we had fun tasting food (because, hey, free food) and wandering around the venue. On the plus side, we found a company that does custom invitations who got super-excited about our renaissance theme and discovered that our favorite hometown superstar bakery, Charm City Cakes, doesn't actually charge the arm and a leg you'd expect to pay. So overall, it was a big success! 
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