Getting married is an exciting time for any couple, but the preparations can be stressful, too. Here are a few tips to help prepare you for the wedding fair experience, so you can remain stress-free and make the most out of it!
It may sound obvious, but once you've decided where you'd like to get married in terms of geographical area, visit wedding fairs local to that area. Most stallholders probably won't travel around the country, so you'll need to meet vendors who supply your specific area. There would be nothing worse than building up a great relationship with a supplier and setting your heart on them, only to find they won't be able to help with your wedding as you're getting married too far away.
Your friends are a great resource when it comes to making contacts. Ask them for recommendations on which wedding fairs were the best and which to avoid. Not only will they have been in the same position as you once, so will know what to look for as a bride-to-be, but they also know you really well so should be able to suggest what will and won't appeal to you.
As your friends are able to provide so many insights, take them along with you! Friends, family and bridesmaids are all great for bouncing ideas off and generally getting excited with! Perhaps you could take them to one wedding fair and your fiancé to another, to at least make him feel like he's included in the decision making process! The important thing is not to go alone - taking someone with you can help make it more fun, but they can also act as the voice of reason to stop you from making any rash purchases!
When you arrive at a wedding fair, make the most of it by getting involved. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the stallholders and sample their wares. After all, they are there to make your Big Day perfect, so you need to find out exactly what they can offer you. It is a great opportunity to meet suppliers, so make appointments to speak with them at a later date to discuss your requirements further!
There are likely to be some stalls offering discounts specifically for that wedding fair, so if you're interested in something, take advantage as these discounts can save you a lot of money. However, be sure to take some cash or a card with you as you may be required to pay a deposit at the fair.
Whether ot not you decide to make any bookings on the day, it is still a good idea to make a shortlist of vendors who you're interested in contacting after the show. If you're happy for them to contact you directly then give them your details; taking along pre-printed address labels is sensible, proactive and efficient! You could even create a specific email account for everything wedding-related, in order to keep all your correspondance in one place.
Don't forget to take a camera! There may be something which you'd like to research later, or there may be something which has sparked your imagination - either way, if something captures your interest, you'll be gutted if you don't have a picture to refer back to. You could take a digital camera, although the camera on your mobile phone will probably suffice. Capturing ideas like this is the perfect way to jog your memory at a later date.
Wedding fairs can be exhausting, so don't go to too many! Around three is a sensible number - any more and you could start suffering from 'Bridal Fair Burnout'! Everything you've seen will start to blend into one so you'll end up being counter-productive; sometimes, less is more. In order to look after yourself as much as possible, make sure you wear comfortable shoes to your wedding fairs, as you'll be on your feet all day. The idea is not to be boring or cramp your style, but to look after yourself as you need to be in tip-top shape for your Big Day.
Most importantly, just have fun! This is an exciting, happy time for you so enjoy yourself. Everyone you meet will be trying to take some of the stress out of the planning for you, so you can sit back and have a great time!