During The Bridal Show, you fill out your contact information multiple times during the session. One tip is to take address labels with you which save the vendor from having to decipher your handwriting. A cheap alternative to printing your own is taking all the labels you get as a free thank you gift from donating to your favorite charity or doing business with certain companies. If you print your own, then make sure you include your e-mail address and phone number.
Another tip I have is creating your wedding's own e-mail address. You can get a ton of e-mail from just signing up with David's Bridal and TheKnot.com. Keeping all the e-mail in a one place will keep you more organized. If they let you have folders, then I recommend having separate folders for the different kinds of vendors.
Heath was upset about signing up for different "prizes" at each booth. I was rather delighted to give them my information and have the vendors contact me. I actually prefer for the vendors to call me. I have caller ID, so if I do not feel like talking to them I do not pick up the phone. Chances are, at least at the moment, if I gave them my contact number, then I do want to hear from them. Life is busy enough then calling each place individually to hear about their services. Another reason, I am happy to rely on e-mail.
The last few tips I have are regarding the shopping bags of information you are given. I set up with a filing system with all the information I was given-which is my typical method for anything. Each folder was labeled with a vendor or subject i.e. flowers, locations, apparel, etc. I made sure I wrote notes on each pamphlet I was given. I was much more specific than yummy cake and fabulous pictures. I wrote a comment that would help me remember, such as big picture of Charleston or the castle cake with the bride and groom. There was only one castle cake and very few pictures of Charleston. I also made note of the places I did not like. One photographer had 100 pictures of the bride to every 1 picture of the groom and another place had such horrible wedding cake, I was looking for a place to spit it out. I include these notes in with my folders to remind me that I did not like these vendors and do not need to waste my time researching them. One last thing-since I am advocating you take all pamphlets, please recycle after the wedding or after you have chosen that vendor.
Showing posts with label bridal show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bridal show. Show all posts
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Bridal Show
Well, today (and yesterday) were the first steps in my journey of planning a wedding. I guess I could say that they first step was actually meeting and dating Heath, but I have already blogged about that. In the next few days, I will probably create a new blog and add this post too it. I always figured my first step would be the proposal, however that has not happened yet. Since I know the ring has been purchased and Heath wants to get married in 2010, I needed all the time I could get.
This weekend Heath and I went to The Bridal Show in Raleigh, NC. It was a great event to go to, especially for a bride-to-be like me, who has no clue where to start. I have not been to any weddings in the Triangle, so I really am starting from scratch. Since my budget does not include enough for a wedding planner, I am on my own. Well, not completely on my own, Heath went with me both days, although he kept telling everyone he was the "made of honor." I have not figured out my budget, but I do have a ballpark figure in mind. I will post more, when I have an idea.
The purpose of this blog will be to chronicle planning a wedding with a limited budget and limited time. The time will be about nine or ten months, however if plans do not come together, then it could be over a year.
The Bridal Show was a great place to start. There were tons of vendors for flowers, cakes, locations, caterers, DJ's, appearal, and more. I registered for many prizes, which I know gets them my contact information, but will also give me a chance to win some necessary items. I have already received a $50 gift card for David's Bridal. Heath signed up with Men's Warehouse. While we obviously have to determine if they have what we want, we have chosen them at this time because all of the attendants and parents are out-of-town and coordinating schedules with our jobs and lifestyles is a headache. Heath and I attempted to win a Blu-Ray Player, but Heath did not act silly enough-I did my part by loading him down with make-up. We did win an engagement session with a free photo. I will be commenting on the session in days to come.
My hope is that others can use this website as a tool in helping plan their big days. I definitely want to recommend those that have been most helpful. I do not plan to blog negative things about vendors, however if I do have a bad experience, then I will post it as I seem relevant. If I do go and meet with a vendor and that vendor was great, but did not fit with what I needed, then I will mention the vender in my blog, with the positive things, so that other brides and grooms may have access to the information.
This weekend Heath and I went to The Bridal Show in Raleigh, NC. It was a great event to go to, especially for a bride-to-be like me, who has no clue where to start. I have not been to any weddings in the Triangle, so I really am starting from scratch. Since my budget does not include enough for a wedding planner, I am on my own. Well, not completely on my own, Heath went with me both days, although he kept telling everyone he was the "made of honor." I have not figured out my budget, but I do have a ballpark figure in mind. I will post more, when I have an idea.
The purpose of this blog will be to chronicle planning a wedding with a limited budget and limited time. The time will be about nine or ten months, however if plans do not come together, then it could be over a year.
The Bridal Show was a great place to start. There were tons of vendors for flowers, cakes, locations, caterers, DJ's, appearal, and more. I registered for many prizes, which I know gets them my contact information, but will also give me a chance to win some necessary items. I have already received a $50 gift card for David's Bridal. Heath signed up with Men's Warehouse. While we obviously have to determine if they have what we want, we have chosen them at this time because all of the attendants and parents are out-of-town and coordinating schedules with our jobs and lifestyles is a headache. Heath and I attempted to win a Blu-Ray Player, but Heath did not act silly enough-I did my part by loading him down with make-up. We did win an engagement session with a free photo. I will be commenting on the session in days to come.
My hope is that others can use this website as a tool in helping plan their big days. I definitely want to recommend those that have been most helpful. I do not plan to blog negative things about vendors, however if I do have a bad experience, then I will post it as I seem relevant. If I do go and meet with a vendor and that vendor was great, but did not fit with what I needed, then I will mention the vender in my blog, with the positive things, so that other brides and grooms may have access to the information.
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