Exhibiting at Bridal Shows

Bridal shows are great for business and can put you in front of hundreds to thousands of potential clients that are actively seeking wedding vendors, venues, & planners. As a wedding planner, using bridal shows as a tool for gaining clientele is a great way to quickly fill up your schedule with weddings. Here are some great tips for preparing for a bridal show or expo:

Find the Right Show to Exhibit at:

Many larger cities have a number of different shows throughout the year and each show can be ran by a different company. Some companies may hold two or three shows a year whereas some may only do one. The best bet is to first visit a show held by each company to see which one brings in the biggest crowd, offers the most to vendors, and is held at the best time of year (January, February, or September, October).

Once you have found a show that interests you, ask a few questions before paying your deposit. What is included in your fee (table, chairs, linens, etc)? How many vendors will be exhibiting at the show? How many of those vendors do the same thing that you do? How big is the booth area? When will you be allowed to set up? As a wedding planner, you will want to make sure that there are no more than 10 other wedding planners exhibiting or the cost may not be worth the reward of additional clients since there may be too much competition.

Make Your Booth Unique & Exciting:

You want your booth to stand out from the rest. It's best to find a location near an entrance or in a corner. Rent (or buy if you plan on exhibiting at a number of bridal shows) your own linens that are cohesive in color and theme with the rest of your booth. Invest in a sign. It doesn't have to be expensive, it just has to look nice and stand out. Balloons, lights, and plants often attract the attention of brides passing by. There will be a lot of vendors exhibiting at a bridal show so it's extremely important to stand out.

Have a Way to Capture Leads & Follow Up:

There are some great companies out there that help small businesses set up a campaign to capture lead information, and then follow up with them immediately by offering valuable free advice or tips to make a great impression. You can then begin a campaign (through emails & text messages) to build rapport with brides and grooms and keep your name at the top of their minds during their decision making process. Just because a bride and groom don't book on the day of the show, doesn't mean they won't. It's best to stay in contact with them, offering them great advice, free wedding planning worksheets, and even awesome discounts or promos to entice them to use your service. Check out 10x10 Marketing who specializes in wedding vendor marketing & follow-up campaigns for more information:
www.10x10marketing.com/pittsburgh/wedding-vendors
They are based in Pittsburgh but work with vendors all over the country.