Bridal Show Necessities for 2013

Bridal shows are a godsend for brides-to-be. You get to meet vendors, learn all about honeymoon packages and discounts, and spend the day formulating a picture of your ideal wedding. But bridal shows aren’t all fun and games. The stresses of meeting with every vendor on your list and collecting contact info can take a toll on an unorganized bride. To help you get the most from your next bridal show, we’ve compiled a list of must-haves to keep things flowing smoothly.

Organization, Organization, Organization

This one is at the top of the list for obvious reasons. Being organized is the only way a bride can keep track of every vendor she meets at a bridal show. Make a special bridal show binder that has tabs, folders, dividers, pockets, etc. This way you’ll have separate sections for each vendor. Possible categories could include the following:

• Wedding gowns

• Bridesmaids’ gowns

• Decorations

• Invitations

• Venues

• Cakes

• Transportation

Consider bringing pens or markers in different colors to note the vendors you were most impressed with. Create your own color-coding system so that there’s no confusion when you sit down to look over your binder. You may think you’ll be able to memorize the names, styles, and prices of the vendors you liked the most without writing them down. But you might be unpleasantly surprised. Most brides are already wearing dozens of wedding-planning hats, so make things easier on yourself by organizing your bridal show meet-and-greets down to the tee.

Time Management

Time management is the key to a successful bridal show. Many brides can get so lost conversing with a particular vendor that they forget about the other potential vendors waiting a few booths down. Wear a watch to avoid this problem. A cell phone does tell you the time, but it is less convenient to rummage in your purse or pocket, take your phone out, and press the screen button than it is to take a quick glance at your wrist. Remember to have a schedule. Set time limits for yourself. If you bring a bridal show team, set time limits for them as well. If you think a 15-minute maximum time at each booth is suitable, make sure your team knows that.

Also, print off address labels for vendors, rather than writing everything by hand. Not only will this make it easier for them to read your information, it will also save you tons of valuable time by already having your info printed and ready to go.

Comfort

Brides-to-be often forget the importance of being comfortable during a bridal show. Because it seems like such a glamorous event, many brides wear impractical clothing and fail to bring basic essentials, such as bottles of water. Make no mistake: Bridal shows can be a physically taxing experience for anyone. But this is especially true for a bride who is intent on finding the perfect car service, wedding gown, and cake in an eight-hour period.

Be kind to yourself; wear comfortable shoes and breathable fabrics, and don’t carry a heavy purse. Remember that you’ll be pushing your body to the limit trying to meet and converse with a number of vendors.

Image Credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Jonathan Fitch

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