Wedding fairs

Ianna

Hi fellow wedding fans!

Has anyone been to one? Was it worth the effort of going? Were there savings to be had?

Also how do you find out when they are? Random googling is failing me here.

Neeny82

Hi there,

my experience of wedding fayres is slightly limited as the first couple i went to I just did not like! I felt a little overwhelmed by everything and didn't think there was any significant savings to be had.

However my reception venue put on a quarterly bridal display evening and that was a different story. I felt that I could peruse at my leisure and they gave examples of different things that they offer. There was sparkling rose, pimms, tea & coffee, all complimentary, and set up in the grounds in a way to demonstrate how you may organise your drinks on arrival, lots of different entertainment throughout the evening, you could look at all the bedrooms and they even put on a BBQ which is what we are having instead of an evening buffett, (which again was complimentary).

On top of that was lots of local businesses which provide wedding services, giving you either a taster, or examples of what they offer and friendly chat about prices - no hard sell!!!

Sorry for waffling but I think what I'm trying to say is that my venue's small (ish) wedding fayre was much more useful than some of the big exhibitions that I attended when I first got engaged.

Hope this helps!

Horace

I have been to wedding fairs both large and small and use them as a resource to gain contacts for my own business as well as pinch ideas from other planners:rotfl: (we all do it).

Most of the venues will give you a goodie bag and you can sometimes pick up goodie bags along the way - I had one from John Lewis containing their wedding brochure and lots of samples of face cream and aftershave and perfume. You can have samples of cake, tastes of chocolate fountains, sits in cars and carriages (if they have a horse and carriage firm there). You will find that some suppliers will offer discounts if you order on the day or even hold competitions so that you can maybe win a wedding dress, a cake, a photographer or even the services of a professional wedding planner.

Smaller fairs are a lot nicer I think than the huge fair at the NEC which costs a lot to get into (small fairs in hotels are free) and there is so much to see and you get given loads of junk to lug around and you get sore feet - after a while all stands start to look the same because there is just an information overload.

kte

First one I went to I was overwhelmed as was at the beginning of wedding planning, but went to one on Sunday at my chosen venue. It was useful (if nothing else) to see what the place looked like with lots of people milling around, and to be able to wander through it at my leisure. None of the stands seemed to be obviously offering discounts if you book on the day (I've got most things booked so not a big deal). Did see a few useful companies though...but went away and looked on the website once I'd seen their names rather than try and talk too much there...

Minxy_Bella

I found my photographer and my cake maker at wedding fairs as it was lovely to be able to chat to people before making a decision.

suzybaby2001

We went to the NEC one last September and although it was quite a good day out, it was a complete cattle market and we couldn't stop to look at any stalls as you couldn't even get near them!

Another thing was that if you're having a money saving wedding like us (well, trying!) I actually got a bit down looking round all the things you can have at your reception, fireworks, candy bars, musicians etc as we can't afford to have any extras and it made me a bit sad. I did pick up a CD of music from one set of musicians though.

It was good to pick up some brochures and take them home to check the companies out on the web. We also entered loads of competitions to win your honeymoon.

sal-ad_daze

We've only been to one local one so far (daughter won't go to the big ones for most of the reasons above) and whilst we got some ideas it wasn't really much good for comparison as it was a 'federation' of local businesses involved in the wedding industry so there was actually no competition.
There is one in a couple of months at her venue so we're hoping that will be more productive!
You're right, googling isn't very productive I think you just need to keep an eye on local press and perhaps the websites of local venues.
Good luck!

Horace

sal-ad_daze wrote: »

We've only been to one local one so far (daughter won't go to the big ones for most of the reasons above) and whilst we got some ideas it wasn't really much good for comparison as it was a 'federation' of local businesses involved in the wedding industry so there was actually no competition.

That will be the same whatever fair that you go to - the venue will invite suppliers that they know and these invariably tend to be local businesses involved with the wedding industry (mind it would look a bit odd of they were involved in a different type of business altogether):D Instead of sticking to fairs at one venue try going to other fairs further afield as you are more likely to get a good selection of suppliers. Last year I attended fairs in Worcester, Bromsgrove and Cirencester as well as the huge wedding fair at the NEC which was like a cattle market but I came away with some good contacts.

Every fair that I have been too, I have been invited to participate in competitions to win things such as dresses etc but I never enter them because I think that it wouldnt be fair because I am not the person getting married.:D

Ianna

That's brilliant info guys thanks so much! Sounds like they can be useful but it's not worth going seriously out of my way to go. I'll keep an eye out and see if there's one that's convenient.

cuthbert_the_octopus

I hated the 1 and only fayre I went to - everyone kept hassling me!

It seemed to be full of ladies trying to sell invitations at high rates, the home made type!

However, I intend to go to one this weekend, as we dont have a photographer. And this way I can blitz it and then never again!

But maybe its because I am not a girly girl, and am not excited enough, according to my colleagues!

Horace

cuthbert_the_octopus wrote: »

I hated the 1 and only fayre I went to - everyone kept hassling me!

It seemed to be full of ladies trying to sell invitations at high rates, the home made type!

However, I intend to go to one this weekend, as we dont have a photographer. And this way I can blitz it and then never again!

But maybe its because I am not a girly girl, and am not excited enough, according to my colleagues!

No its not because you are not a girly girl. Some folks do hassle but the ones I have been too seem to be less pushy or maybe that's because I tell them that I am fact finding and not actually interested in getting married myself

The thing with fayres is to walk around and look, if someone starts hassling say that you are just looking don't give them any more information than that, if they persist then move away and go and look at something else.