Wedding Fairs- are they worth it?

ajdj

My OH proposed last week and we are right at the beginning of the planning stage, looking at a July 2015 date.

My OH has seen a banner advertising a wedding fair this weekend at a local venue. It's not a venue we would normally consider but thought it might be an idea to go and use it to gauge an idea of prices in our area.

My question really is are wedding fairs worth it? Are we likely to see pushy sales attempts and so called 'one off'/exclusive discounting?

Have other people found them useful or should we be sticking to tours of individual venues?

itsmethatswho

I found the first couple I went to quite interesting for ideas and to get a few business cards to help with comparing prices etc. I went to some last year (our wedding is early next year), many companies were pushy but as soon as I told them our wedding date they became disinterested. i found many wedding fairs had the same suppliers with the same products, so i don't go to them now. They are good for getting your ideas flowing and to get the wedding buzz

kyana

i recently went to a free, very small local one and was hesitant beforehand but found it very useful. it was good to talk to vendors face to face, i didn't find them too pushy and i was able to get information that i wouldn't have done otherwise and compare a few vendors almost side by side. plus free magazines which i wouldn't've paid for but enjoy flicking through now i have them

Trixsie1989

Yes they are definitely worth it it's good to see if your chosen venue looks the way you thought after it's done up as you may not like it. We actually went to one fair at a venue and ended up finding our actual venue from advertisements there. Some sales people are pushy but I've been giving them our date which is jan 2015 and they've all backed of considerately.we've booked everything now except the florist and cars and are going to a fair at our venue to see what deals are available. Even if you only go to one it's well worth it. Has anyone been to the national wedding show? Was thinking of going to it but as we've booked everything didn't see the point xxx

Tashatutuw

I have been to quite a few local wedding fairs and also went to the NEC National Wedding Show - I would recommend all. The National show is a bit rubbish on the whole for finding specific suppliers but AMAZING for inspiration, changing your ideas, potentially finding suppliers (depending on where you are and how far you will travel for something) and just generally giving a really amazing wedding buzz. We found an amazing company who make bridesmaid dresses, they have something like 40 years experience in the industry and have only recently started working from a home workshop rather than a shop - they were offering dresses tailor made for HALF the price a local dressmaker quoted me - we would never have found them on the internet as they are obscure and not well advertised but that saved us approx £400!

Trixie I had also booked almost everything when we went but I love the day and came back laden with magazines (at £1 each when usually £5 each - I got about 6), freebies, promo items... Really great day just for the experience.

Local wedding fairs have been useful to meet with suppliers, see what is available in your area, meet the people you are potentially dealing with before you even talk dates (one wedding car man started telling me off for not booking my car earlier as 'I could wear any old dress but I could not turn up in any old car'... Uhm, actually mate, I could go in a taxi for all I care so long as I look fabulous when I get there) so I found it useful. Definitely worth going to 2 - 3 at different locations to see what is around but more than that and it becomes a gauntlet of avoiding the people who overcharge for what they do or that you know you have talked to before/dismissed/booked that item already...

Stephb1986_2

I went to the national wedding show at the NEC last year it was !!!!!! there was just women in packs like hunting certainly not the type of place I would go to again.

I've been to a few other wedding shows one at the Gmex in Manchester that was a lot better more local suppliers.

Steph xx

Tashatutuw

Stephb1986 wrote: »

I went to the national wedding show at the NEC last year it was !!!!!! there was just women in packs like hunting certainly not the type of place I would go to again.

Which day did you go to Steph? I went last year and although I thought it was absolutely manic I didn't think it was that bad (packs of hunting women - although maybe I was lucky enough to be oblivious to that lol)

Stephb1986_2

Tashatutuw wrote: »

Which day did you go to Steph? I went last year and although I thought it was absolutely manic I didn't think it was that bad (packs of hunting women - although maybe I was lucky enough to be oblivious to that lol)

I went on a Saturday big mistake!! You couldn't get anywhere near most of the stands to have a look, women just charged at you like playing a rugby match! Maybe it's me because I don't like really busy places

thriftylass

I guess it depends on what you want your wedding to be. We get married this September. I just looked up some local venues online (hotels, castle etc) and then booked an appointment to have a look around and see what they offer in their package. Also for most other things we either know people (photographer, DJ) or do it ourselves (place cards, favours etc). I would never consider a dress from a wedding shop either as you just pay for the word wedding, so looked myself in high street stores and the internet. Same with flowers and decoration, we'll just go to a local florist and just won't mention the word wedding.

So me personally never saw the point in them

ajdj

Thanks for the replies!

I think the main reason for OH wanting to go is to get an idea of prices for various things as a starting point.

We've found out there's another one at a venue we do like on the same day, so going to head to that one and see what's what.

We are fairly close to the NEC but can't see us spending £16 each to go unless any free or discounted tickets crop up. Doesn't seem very MSE...

floss2

We only went to one: it was at the venue we quite fancied (which we booked 3 days later); we found my florist; DH chose his suit supplier; we tried lots of cakes & found our cake lady; we met the registrar we had an appointment with the next day; we found our photographer; and I found the lady who sold me my veil and made my tiara & earrings.

Most important, it clarified what we DIDN'T want