9 Tips For Surviving Your First Wedding Fair

It’s that time of year again, folks. Wedding fairs and shows big and small are springing up all over the country to both inspire and terrify you, depending on your style. Here’s our tips for how to get the most of out your brides day out.

1. Put Your Team Together

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Wedding shows can be a really fun opportunity to delve into wedding planning with your partner, your mum or your bridesmaids, to get ideas and get excited, but they can also be overwhelming and stressful for some brides.

Make sure you invite people you know aren’t going to rile you with their opinions, or complain about how much their feet hurt when you’re only on your first lap of the venue (we’re looking at you, grooms).

2. Think Ahead

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There’s a lot to look at, especially at the big fairs like the National Wedding Show and it can be easy to get overwhelmed and distracted by all the pretty.

Make sure you get the most out of your visit by having a plan of which types of suppliers you want to talk to and tick them off your list first.

3. Check Your Coat (and bags)

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Honestly. No matter how cold it is outside, with all the people milling around and the goody bags you’ll be handed, you’ll be glad you checked your coat and your bag. Just remember your purse.

4. Don’t Arrive on a Full Stomach

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Free cake samples are hands down the best part of wedding shows, whether you’ve chosen your cake already or not. There’s bound to be tasty treats on offer somewhere in the building, and you don’t want to be too full to try any of it.

5. Take Care of Your Feet

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Comfortable shoes are a must. There isn’t a lot of seating in these joints, and when there is it’s usually limited or bagsied by bored grooms.

6. Get Your Hair Did

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It’s the weekend, sure you can rock up to these events with a messy ponytail or an unbrushed mane. But more often than not you’ll be drawn towards the veils and tiara section to try on all the pretties. So try to arrive with at least a low-tech version of the hair you’re imagining having on the day, so when your friends take photos of you in the veils and headdresses, you’ll have a better idea of exactly how it will look on the day.

7. Learn to Say No, Thank You

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Exhibitors and suppliers at these gigs are used to people saying no, so there’s no need to indulge that sweet photographer lady or Italian honeymoon rep in a lengthy chat if you’re really not interested. There’s plenty more to see, and you won’t hurt their feelings!

Be strong.

8. Don't Ask, Don't Get

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A big reason brides and couples come to wedding shows is because it’s a great way to speak to a bunch of suppliers face-to-face at the same time. Bargain hunter brides should use the opportunity to haggle direct with them, and you’ll find some will prove more than willing to do you a deal.

9. Bask In It

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Enjoy yourself! You get to be in a room full of people ready to congratulate you and ask about every single detail of the wedding because they are genuinely interested. Make the most of it!