Are Wedding Expos Worth It?

I’ve never went went with a vendor at a wedding expo. In fact, events like that gave me more anxiety and stress.

We go mostly for the free stuff, but we did find our photographer at a wedding expo! If you're worried about spam emails you can always make an email account just to put down for stuff like that that you don't check all the time.

It was a fun thing to do when daughter first got engaged, but she didn't hire anyone and I think she only interviewed one vendor we met at the expo (and quickly realized they weren't what she was looking for). In hindsight, we realized the really good vendors have no need/time to waste a Saturday or Sunday at an expo -- they are booked and working a wedding, and get more than enough business through word-of-mouth referrals. It seemed a lot of the vendors are just starting out or are big "brokers" who just book ANY photographer/dj/whatever to cover your event. However, the BEST ADVICE we received related to the entire wedding planning process was to create an email for wedding-related stuff and ONLY give that out at expos and to vendors -- it's made it so much easier to manage all the wedding related communication and quickly eliminate the huge quantity of spam. Also, based on this forum, it seems virtually everyone who attends "wins" some kind of a sweepstakes (they didn't necessarily enter...) that involves a time share, pots & pans demonstration, or MaryKay.... Assume it's true that "there's no such thing as a 'free lunch'"!

I went to an inexpensive one and found it fun because I didn't go in with expectations other than free food samples! I ended up getting a discount with a vendor I was already interested in because they did a bridal show discount. It was half off the venue fee so it was a huge win.

I found my DJ/Photog/Officiant combo through an events company- I hadn't considered an all in one company before- and also got some discounts. A lot of places may push for day of decisions to get discounts which I hated, but I found a few that emailed out discounts to attendees after!

One thing I wish I did was create a separate wedding email to hand out freely. It's worth it to browse the offers that come out following the show without the on-site pressure.

Another pro is fun ideas. We saw a few we didn't use but only for budget reasons. they had a super fun steel drum band that would have been a cool cocktail hour thing and a gelato cart that would have also been great.

View Quoted Comment Agreed.

OP, I don’t think you’re missing anything if you don’t go to one

I have been warned about them not being all that great because I had one coming up I couldn't go too and was sad

I did go to an open house though which was free and it felt like a mini expo which was helpful! They actually had prizes where FH and I both won two different prizes!

You may not miss out on anything not going o one. I went To one just to see and we ended up finding a caterer that we absolutely love. They are even giving us a free appetizer for the cocktail hour for booking through the expo.

I’m going to one Sunday this post made me get a bit excited for it? I did talk to one vendor about going and they said they’re fun

I went to an expo a few weekends ago and personally I thought it was a great time they had an open bar and you entered to win giveaways from a lot of vendors (I actually won an all inclusive 2 night stay in the Bahamas and a big clock!) as far as booking the vendors goes sometimes it’s worth it! I found where I’ll be renting my grooms tux and I entered a registry that I found there my friend that also went booked her photographer and cake there. I do recommend making a wedding dedicated email but be sure to check it because they send coupons that are pretty useful! If you’re newly engaged or have some vendors to book still it really is a great way to see your options all in one place

I would say it's an overwhelming environment for sure, and since I had already booked an all-inclusive venue, I was really only looking at miscellaneous vendors (photo booth, snack bars, etc), florists (my venue doesn't include personal flowers), and potential photographers. I ended up not really finding any of those that I liked, BUT I did set dress appointments with places I otherwise never would have heard of.

I went to 1 and there were no vendors we were interested in. Luckily the day after we decided on venue and maybe a month later our venue's event coordinator told us about their open house. I think that would be very beneficial instead of a bridal expo.

You aren't missing out.

I came home with a bunch of paper & junk, looked through it twice. Still in my closet and I didn't use anyone I met there,

I've been to 2. One 2017 (our wedding was supposed to be Sept 2018) and one at the beginning of this month. In 2017 I met my DJ there and the one this month I met a potential day of coordinator. I didn't go with her but she was a good person to meet.

If nothing else, it's fun to do with your girls (my FH came this time), free food, and we got free caricature drawings and stuff like that. I don't think you'd miss anything special if you didn't go though!!