Bridal expo- what to expect

If its like the bridal shows I've been to, it'll be full of vendors and giveaways! Be sure to make a separate wedding email address because you'll be writing it down on EVERYTHING. Have fun! You may get some good deals too, I got a discount on my venue and photographer through shows!

I was expecting a lot more from mine then what I actually got out of it.

If anything what I got out of it is what it really cost to have a wedding in my state (Florida)

When you go expect to be asked to be placed in a lot of drawings for different vendors and if its a vendor you really actually adore do it because it could turn out good for you.

I tasted a lot of basic food for the prices I was seeing. I will say I loved seeing the dresses and got the most out of the dresses and floral as far as styles I wanted.

I was so against going to one, but I'm happy I went. We booked our venue 2 weeks before their bridal expo and they gave us free tickets to it for booking. I was dreading the whole thing because it's just not me. Well I had a blast.

-Our caterer, catered the whole thing so we got to try to food before our actual menu tasting.

-We met our photographers there. They were tucked away in the corner and I spotted them and refused to talk to any other photographers but them.

-We met our DJ who also does videography and the photobooth. He remembered us from the expo so when we booked with him and we booked a huge package with him he gave us a massive discount.

-When we did our private meeting with the photographers I got a phone call from the venue saying I had one several of the door prizes. One included $500 off with one of the photographers who was there (who honestly had no right being in the business) and of course the photographers we picked said if we booked them they would honor that $500 off for us AND upgrade our package. Done deal right there!

-I won customer wedding bands up to $5,000 each.

-$1,500 off a honeymoon package (it's not somewhere we want to go and there is a deadline on it so we won't be using that)

-4 free nights at any Hilton of my choice anywhere in the world (ended up using it for my sisters college graduation in Philly and took a long weekend)

I won some other stuff as well. It's overwhelming but you might meet some vendors there you book

It's a lot of fun, it was a great family bonding time. I also won a bridal bouquet from the florist I'm using. We went to 2 different ones that were totally different. One was super laid back and gave you large lunch size samples. The other was supper hussel bustle and as soon as u walked in you were approached to buy something. Also, they gave you medicine cup size samples.SO, be aware some vendors can be very pushy, so if you are more of a passive personality (like me) make sure you go with a outspoken friend or family member who can wisk you away easily if necessary.

The expo's are generally pretty large and overwhelming. Generally there are tons of vendors (I personally enjoyed all of the tastings!). As others mentioned, make a wedding specific email, we did one and it's saved me from losing stuff in my personal inbox and keeping the junk email seperate. I didn't do this but I saw others come with pre-printed labels with their name, address, email and phone number - definitely over planning but I thought it was smart - you'll do a lot of filling out this information. Generally they give you bags (usually plastic) but I'd bring my own bag to dump all the cards and literature in just in case. Also, if there is a vendor that really interests you, mark on the card what you were specifically interested in so you can weed through the stuff you want to keep and the stuff that is just junk. ETA: typos using mobile

A WORD OF ADVICE- create and print a few sheets of address labels with your name, wedding date, email address (and phone number if you want), it will save you so much time instead of writing out everything, because you'll do that a lot.

The only worthwhile thing I got of the small expo I went to was $100 off my wedding dress, and unfortunately I was sick when our big expo was going on so I had to miss out. At that point though I had already booked all of my vendors/venues.

I've been to two and both were very helpful to me. I've booked 3 vendors (DOC, DJ and HMUA) through expos either that day or months after because of the wedding expo discounts...50% off DJ package, $500 off DOC package and 50% off HMUA trial. I also got $50 off coupon for any purchase at DB which I was able to use for my $79 undergarment, so visit that booth if you're interested in DB.

I second everyone else to make a email specific for this event. Even when you purchase your tickets online, use this new email. The host of the expo will give your email to ALL vendors, even ones you don't visit.

Be prepared to "win" a lot of "prizes" you will get a lot of phone calls or emails that you've won "A free engagement package" "Free make over" "Free confetti send off" But it's when you book their services, so it's not really free!

Stay for the raffle prizes, they usually give away grand prizes, great prizes and some smaller door prizes!

Fyi they also try to bully you into using them. I've found DJ's were especially annoying