Magical Music will be displaying at a Bridal Show at the Cleveland Mall in Shelby, NC this Saturday, January 30 from Noon til 4 PM. If you or someone you know has a wedding in their future, encourage them to attend to see a variety of merchandise and services available for their wedding day.
Just as vendors prepare for a bridal show, those attending as consumers also need to prepare.
• Come armed with computer-generated labels with your name, mailing address, email and phone number. Many vendors require this information in order to register for prizes given away during the show. By providing this information on computer-generated labels, you avoid developing writer’s cramp. Also, many vendors will offer time-sensitive offers after the show. If you make it difficult for these vendors to contact you, you could potentially miss out on savings or upgrades. Finally, when you print your labels, use an easily-readable font or else your post-show offers don’t get delivered because someone had read your address or email incorrectly.
• Depending on the flow of attendees, take time to talk with vendors with whom you are interested. While price is certainly a concern, you DO NOT want to begin a conversation with “How Much Do You Charge?” A vendor who will quote a price without first considering the demands of the event as well as your desired outcome will probably deliver a “cookie-cutter service”. Your wedding will be no different than any other wedding that vendor has serviced. You deserve better. Instead of starting off on the price factor, find out why this vendor is unique and how they can help you reach your desired vision for your wedding. A great source for interviewing wedding entertainment for instance is the American Disc Jockey Association. Find out more at www.adja.org.
• Pick up literature in the form of brochures, info packs or at least business cards. A wealth of information can be obtained just by marketing materials a vendor dispenses at a bridal show. Sort the collected material within a couple of days of the show. Compare the quality of material: It either impresses you and catches your interest or it does not. The quality of the marketing materials will tell you volumes when it comes to the quality that vendor places on his/her merchandise or services.
• Bring your checkbook! Though most brides attend wedding shows researching vendors for the future, remember these vendors have limited availability. Most brides hold their weddings on Saturdays. Personally, if I work every weekend, I only have 52 potential availabilities per year – with thousands of brides in the state exchanging vows in 2010, chances are if you delay in reserving a vendor, another bride will beat you to the punch.
