Seven Reasons Why Wedding Shows Are Totally Underrated
As a former bride myself, I decided not to go to any wedding shows because it just felt overproduced and unauthentic. But I’m here to tell you why I was totally wrong. Sure, wedding shows of the past are known to be filled with cheugy vendors and things you don’t actually need (who let the MLMs in here, seriously?), but these days, you can find a good show if you know where to look, and the value you’ll get back far outweighs the price you pay to attend.
1. Wedding shows offer a one-stop shop for everything you could ever want or need at your wedding.
Most wedding shows focus on bringing in a variety of different vendors. First, you’ve got your essential services like venues, wedding attire, and photo/video. Those are probably the groups that are most represented at wedding shows, so you’re sure to get a good mix of price points, styles, and variety in these vendors. You can also find just about every other category of wedding-related stuff at a wedding show, like cake bakeries and catering, stationery, DJ’s, wedding planners, hair & makeup artists, etc. There’s also usually a handful of really niche options, like wedding day dog handlers, cigar lounges and budtending services, shoe embroiderers, wedding painters… the list goes on!
Not only are there so many options at a wedding show, but you can easily compare those options because all of the information you need is right there for you. No more sifting through 13256284 open tabs on your computer and having to make a literal spreadsheet to compare all the info that’s thrown at you!
2. You can gain SO MUCH inspiration from attending a wedding show.
I feel like you never really know what’s possible until you see it, and let’s face it, you’ve probably only been to a handful of pretty ordinary weddings in your life, right? The sky is honestly the limit with weddings, and wedding shows are a great opportunity to get ideas for your own wedding, especially if you’re like me and want to do something totally out of the box and true to who you are. Bonus points if you start networking with other couples and bounce ideas off of them, too!
3. Tangible, and sometimes edible, samples are there for you to check out.
Photographers will have albums and prints to look through, caterers and bakers will have tons of food and drink, and you can actually sit in the chairs you might be renting for your wedding day. And let me tell you, from a photographer’s point of view, printed photos just hit different, so it’s a totally different experience than just checking out a photographer’s portfolio or Instagram page. I’m sure all the other vendors could say the same for their services and products, too!
4. You can get a true vibe check on your potential vendors.
Actually liking your vendors as people and giving them 100% of your trust is arguably the most important piece of choosing a vendor. You’ll be able to vibe check every single vendor there so you’re only booking the ones who align with your vision and tossing out the ones that don’t.
Imagine having to have a video consult with every single vendor you’re considering to see if you actually want to hire them–that would take literal days. But at a wedding show, it only takes a few hours to chat with the vendors you’re looking to hire.
5. Some vendors offer an exclusive offer or discount on their services if you book with them at the show.
If you’re ready to book at the show, you’ll get some incredible perks in terms of discounts or free add-ons to your chosen package from most vendors. The money you spend on your wedding can really add up, so these discounts can be so helpful to stretch your budget and get everything you want… and maybe even some extra services you didn’t know you wanted.
6. Get ready for all the free stuff, including super valuable giveaways!
Everyone knows you get a CRAP TON of swag at wedding shows, but not many realize that just about every vendor does some kind of giveaway for attendees, and they’re usually pretty valuable. I typically aim to give away around $1000 of services at each wedding show I attend!
7. Wedding shows offer a unique bonding experience for you and your crew.
Bring your VIPs with you and make a day out of it! As far as I’m concerned, anywhere there’s food, drink, and people watching, it’s gonna be a good time if you have your friends there. You’ll get some valuable opinions from others if you’ve having trouble deciding, which should take a huge mental burden off your shoulders. Wedding planning is hard, so any way to make it more fun is a plus!
All of these reasons are why I’m so excited to be a vendor at the Off White Wedding Show coming up on March 3rd, 2024 at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis!
According to their website, Off White is “a semi-annual, indie wedding show for the modern couple. Unlike the big-box bridal shows you might be used to, Off White focuses on unique & truly personal service.” Does it get any better than that?
Allissa Reimer, the mastermind behind this entire show, was featured on KSDK this week. You can see the segment here!
I’m offering 10% off all of my wedding packages AND I’ll be giving away one bridal boudoir session and one bridal portrait session!
I’ll be the first to tell you that I NEVER offer discounts at any other time of year other than at wedding shows.
I have FIVE PAIRS of tickets to giveaway to a few lucky couples who want to come by and say hi, so head on over to my Instagram page to see the details and enter the ticket giveaway!
And if you come by my booth, mention that you read this blog, and ask me about the “Bee Brook Special,” I have a super special extra giveaway for you!
Make sure to grab your tickets here before they’re all gone!
See you at the show! ♥
