Wedding fairs - slight rant

svmitche

I've been to two over the past couple of months, one a big one and one hosted by the venue I think we are going to go with, but you're right, because we don't yet have a date, for a combination of reasons, people weren't really interested. Also, given that we want to be a bit MSE about the whole thing, they were not really relevant as everything was so expensive!!!

The only useful thing was that I could have a look at our prospective venue up close without having to book a tour with the wedding co-ordinator on our own!

Horace

Most wedding fairs are like that - I visit them occasionally to get new suppliers..even I get grabbed and asked when I am getting married and would I like to enter a competition to win a dress, venue or whatever - you should see the looks of horror when I say that I am a wedding planner and that it wouldnt be fair for me to enter.

I havent visited any this year although I have been asked if I want to book a stand as far ahead as next year. The only wedding fair that I want to go to this year is the gay wedding one because I want to see live statues that can be hired etc. I doubt that I will exhibit at one again after the fiasco last year which was a complete waste of time and money - the organisers arranged for a bride to get married at the venue whilst the fair was going on, this was really tacky and the people that visited werent interested in getting married they were there to see the wedding.

I usually say that I am just looking - or I am looking for my brother (I dont have a brother) and if I get a good response then I will come clean and exchange business cards, if I get the hard sell then I walk away.

bigmomma051204

I think the trouble with most wedding fayres is that the suppliers who have stands there, are generally the more expensive and commercial ones... and the reason you won't find any cheaper and smaller individual traders?? Because as a wedding supplier you have to be making alot of money to be able to afford a stand at the big wedding fayres!! I spoke to one lady recently who makes cakes.... she told me she didn't even go to the smaller local hotel wedding fayres as they wanted to charge her £550 to have a stand there for 3 hours! Ouchio! :eek:

Horace

£550 is a bit steep - I havent heard that, they are usually around £200 plus VAT or less if you are like me and negotiate them down:rotfl:

Really wedding fairs are places to go for ideas and not necessarily to buy.

Dizzie77

I have organised a number of wedding fairs - all of mine have been charity ones, and the exhibitors are asked to make a contribution (suggested £50) for the Charity - I specifically target new and smaller companies that traditionally wouldn't be able to afford to exhibit at the larger events.

My wedding fairs are still advertised in the local papers, and the exhibitors always tell potential customers that they will be there so that they can meet in person.

Most exhibitors are much friendlier, as they are smaller and just trying to find their feet really.

I have been to a couple of the BIG professional ones and quite honestly felt uncomfortable there (like Horace, only there to get contacts!!)
Don't be put off though - you can still get some brilliant ideas, and it gives you a really good idea of what the people are like....!!!

talulahbeige_2

They do come in handy though, even tho most of my wedding is booked I went to one at my venue just to be nosey really. As it's not local we also combined it with meeting our chair cover lady to pay her our deposit and agree a sash colour.
We arrived early and got chatting to the lady who had a stall doing chair covers, i asked prices etc and she said that if we booked today she could do it for £3 a chair including dressing on the day. We were about to pay £3.75 to the lady we had already privisionally booked with, so we rang her and said that the lady at the fair could do it for £3 and if she could match that we would still go with her. She matched it without batting an eyelid! So we saved nearly £100

Gemmzie

We're going to our first one this weekend, I hope it's a good one, I don't want to put OH off

catsy_2

does anybody know of any good ones in berkshire area? I'm in Maidenhead and would like to go to one soon but a bit worried after all that's been said here

dollymix84

Hi all - this is my first post!

Catsy - type in bucks/berks wedding magazine into google (I can't post the link).

I'm not actually engaged - yet - hopefully soon - but love looking at this site, it often lists local wedding fairs on it. My friend won quite a few competitions on there as well - worth a try!:)

minerva_windsong

greenmoneysaver wrote: »

I went to my one and only wedding fair about 1 month ago, when I mentioned I was getting married in July THIS year there was looks of shock and awe!

There's a hotel up the road from me that does a lot of wedding fairs, normally around this time of year (presumably for people looking to get married next spring/summer). My sister went to one - she got married in December that same year - and got the looks of, "Ooh, really?"

Although nothing quite tops the time my mum and I went to one on my other sister's behalf to get ideas, and everyone thought I was the bride (I was only about 15 at the time)...