Going to a bridal expo alone

I hated the two I went to. I, personally think they are an absolute waste of time. Vendors are pushy AF. Make a separate email account and don't give out your phone number to anyone you're not genuinely interested in hearing from because the phone calls will not stop.

I am in the same boat have a bridal expo on the 30th. FH works and my MOH has a previous work engagement. She said she would try to squeeze it in but I said absolutely she works so hard she deserves just to go home and relax.

I signed up for one right after I got engaged...before I realized I was supposed to work that day...I already know which photographer I am going to use (gonna give two others time to present their work just in case I like something better), going venue shopping after the area gets cleaned up from the hurricane (but have already contacted all venues and the date we want is open)...

Now I'm second guessing getting the ticket with my best friend...Thinking I'll probably stay at work instead..

@Charis thanks for asking the question! Very helpful information!

I would wait until someone goes can go with you. Depending on the location it's really crowded and you would want to have someone to talk to.

If you know what you're looking for going in, I don't see a problem with going alone. FH and I went to one last fall and had already researched and prioritized the vendors we were interested in talking to. We got a discount for picking up a card from a local linen rental company that we ended up going with.

I do recommend using a junk email and not giving out your phone number. I didn't give any vendors my actual email until we went to contract, but I did end up blocking a few phone numbers that just wouldn't quit calling.

If you don't want to be pressured or brave the crowd, these kinds of things usually have a list of the vendors that will be there on their website that you can easily pull contacts from!

I've gone to some alone! They're not so bad or overwhelming if you make a game plan. I would either just go in order and skip those I know I don't need or when I was closer to booking all of my vendors, I would just circle the ones I absolutely needed to see and go straight there. If anything gets distracting I would pull out my phone to keep me from getting sucked in. A lot of the time I found that most tables already had a fair amount of interest so they weren't so in my face to talk to them.

Don't be put off by going alone. It's actually a good deterrent for signing up with anyone "I'll have to talk it over with FH before we make a decision. Thanks". We'd already figured out most of the vendors I was planning on hiring beforehand and we ended up getting discount coupons towards them at the expo so it worked out well for us, but other than that it's all a bit boring.

The vendors are definitely pushy. Just remember you can say no! I thought it was super helpful and even contacted a few of the vendors but I ended up going to others that weren't at the bridal show. It's worth going once (they had a wedding dress fashion show!) But I wouldn't go to another one.

I actually think it's better to go alone. You can spend as much time with vendors as you want without worrying about boring whoever's with you or feeling rushed.

Kinda sounds boring..

I went to one by myself for that same reason and it wasn't bad. I actually found my make up lady there

They're awful. I went to one and don't intend to ever go to another. Thank goodness my FH was there because I would have been eaten alive by the vendors. Just don't sign anything because you'll be harassed and expect phone calls saying you won a "free honeymoon" that are scams.

I hated the bridal expo I went to. FH and I laughed about how we felt like little fish in a pool of sharks. You couldn't walk 2 feet without having a super pushy vendor in your face.

My advice would be that if you go don't give out your number to anyone and create a wedding email address. We created one ***************@*****.*** and it was the best decision. Its easy to keep everything organized but also a way to keep the wedding spam emails out of my main account. ETA: the nice thing is they often have giveaways. I won a free uplighting package through our dj and my fh won a free night stay at a very expensive local hotel.

If you want to go I don't see why it would be a bad idea but as previous posters have said be prepared for your phone and email to be innedated with calls, emails, and texts because they will drive you crazy.

I signed up for a bridal expo. Got a free ticket. But didn't attend. The months after, maybe 2 months after the phone calls, texts, and emails that began with we met at the expo was insane.

I hated the one I went to. Pushy and useless, I'm still being called by vendors I didn't even talk to (the organizer must give out phone # and emails.) You can go alone and leave if you are uncomfortable.

I went to one with FH. he was supposed to work but ended up taking the day off. I was prepared to go alone, which would've been fine with me.

I ended up finding my photographer, dj & info on bridal shops. My venue was booked do I skipped over them.

I thought it was a great help with everything. Also won an over night stay at a local resort with no strings attached.

I went to one alone. I honestly felt so uncomfortable for some reason. I drove an hour to get there, ended up being there for 5 minutes and left.

But I went to two other 2 other expos with my mom and some bridesmaids and they were great lol.

Also I second the vendors harassing you thing. I am still getting phone calls and emails months later from vendors I didn't even talk to.

I went to all 3 of 4 by myself. The first one can be stressful if u do not know your budget and of its a huge one. I do t like crowds either, but after the first one it's not too bad

I went to two and think they're a good idea. The first one I went to I didn't have anything planned so it was really overwhelming because everyone wants to talk to you. If you have anything reserved already then you can focus in on what you're searching for. You might even see something you want to do at your wedding you hadn't thought about before. Plus, I just like going around trying samples of all the different catering haha!