Love & Lace Bridal Show 2014

Ashtin Rae's Floral & Decor

This past weekend my mother and I attended the Love & Lace Bridal show sponsored by Indy Wedding Ideas. The event was held at Pipers at the Marriott which was a rather nice facility. They have grand rooms with chandeliers but the best part was the atrium room that featured a lovely pond. 

The above picture I took of Ashtin Rae's Floral & Decor. I was somewhat bummed because they were the ONLY vendor at the expo that had flowers. I must admit that my favorite part about going to bridal shows is looking at tablescapes and flowers. This show however was rather heavy on the photographers. They had so many in fact that I had a difficult time remembering who was who.

Ace Rentals

One of the most helpful vendors we came across was Ace Rentals. They had a very small display showing the nice chairs they rent (beautifully adorned with flowers I might add), BUT Lisa who was the representative for Ace said they rent linens. Our venue does NOT provide linens of any kind so we were milling over the possibility of buying linens or renting them. Their prices seemed to be quite reasonable and they rent other things like tents, tables, concession stands, etc. We do not really have any decent places to rent items in Anderson so I was having a hard time trying to figure out where to rent from since we knew we would have to find a company in Indy. I have not gotten so far as to find out of they do delivery or set up from Ace, but Lisa was very helpful in her e-mails regarding making an appointment in the future to look at swatches.

Indayani Baked Goods

I must admit, a GREAT display makes a world of difference at a bridal show. Indayani Baked Goods presented the most DELECTABLE spread of glorious treats - oh it was gorgeous! They also had a ton of different treats - macarons, mini pies, chocolate dipped pretzels, cookies, etc. All are gourmet as well. I believe they have a physical store located in Indianapolis, but they also have a great Etsy site and they can be found on Facebook. They had by far the most impressive display in my opinion. You could also tell it was very well received by the visitors, and it was a company that I had never heard of before.

Indayani Baked goods

This photo is also of the Indayani Baked Goods spread, and this could be a fabulous inspiration of how you can do a treat table at your wedding. I think the "tower" pictured is a croquembouche but I am not sure. Croquembouche are becoming the new cupcakes in terms of having non-traditional cakes at weddings. I am actually milling over the idea of doing this with A Slice of Heaven Cakery's famous cake balls, which we will be serving at our wedding.

The Riley Party Barn

I was surprised that Riley's Party Barn had a booth at the expo since they are from Anderson. I must admit, I have heard several not-so-good stories about parties held at this facility in the past. Apparently, the previous manager was a relative who really did not put a great deal of work into marketing the barn or helping people book it for weddings. However, a wonderful young man named Blake is now managing the rentals of the barn. We will be attending an open house next week to check it out, because it might be a great space for family reunions, open houses for graduations, or other events. They do not have what I would call a "scenic" area for an outdoor ceremony, but Blake indicated that they have put a lot of money into bringing the barn up to snuff with other wedding venues. I will post pictures when we go for sure because there are NOT many facilities like this in Anderson at all.

Visit Hendricks County

It really is a shame that Anderson/Madison County does not have what Hendricks County has in terms of services for visitors and couples planning a wedding. Visit Hendricks County is BY FAR the most helpful service I have ever seen for tourism. Not only did they have a specific booth to illustrate wedding facilities located in the county, but the representative said that I can go to their website or call them and they can provide recommendations for food, catering, lodging, rentals, florists, etc. AS A FREE SERVICE. Seriously?! Yes! This is taken from their website: "Let us help with your wedding plans. From finding your perfect wedding reception location, to discounted room blocks at Hendricks County lodging facilities, to offering free welcome bags for your out-of-town guests, we can help make your wedding planning a breeze. Best of all, our services are complimentary." 

Visit Hendricks County

I am getting married in Hendricks County and my jaw about hit the floor when I was told this information. I was fretting pretty badly because I have never spent any time in Hendricks County. My fiance has because he worked a job at their waste water treatment plant for quite some time, but I had never been there before. Now, I am actually really excited to be getting married here because it seems there is a lot of stuff to do in the area. They have a fabulous blog written by locals illustrating various hotspots in the county as well as lesser known haunts. For example I found out about McCloud Nature Park through the blog (as avid hikers my fiance and I have never heard about this park). We are totally going here in the spring and I am SUPER excited! 

Oh Happy Days Rentals

OK, back to the bridal show review... Another vendor I was extremely impressed with was Oh Happy Days Rentals. I was partial to this booth because all the stuff they had, I have pretty much the same stuff in storage. As a vintage dealer I have accumulated quite a haul of similar items - but it is refreshing to see it on display for practical use. All my stuff has been packed in boxes for years because I honestly do not know what to do with it. I must admit some of their items were REALLY adorable and whimsical. 

Oh Happy Days Rentals

They had baskets with mason jars to hold flowers - very unique for a centerpiece. They also had various arches available for rent they can rig with vintage chandeliers. They rent ALL kinds of stuff from doors, furniture, flower pots, watering cans, baskets, trunks, dishes, chairs, etc. You name it, they probably have it. Oh Happy Days will also be at the bridal expo we will be attending this Sunday so I will be sure to take more photos. 

Cakes by Cathy

The final display I was really impressed with was Cakes by Cathy. Cakes by Cathy needs no introduction. She is a multi-award winning cake artist located in Needham, Indiana. The cakes are art...it is simple as that. They had a MASSIVE display with over 10 different cake flavors to taste. I love coconut, so I tried Almond Joy. Oh-my-gosh it was so good! Their cakes are on the high end in terms of price, but obviously you ARE getting what you pay for here. If you want a cake your guests will remember for years to come, Cakes by Cathy is the place to go!

Cakes by Cathy

If you can dream it, Cathy and her team can make it. They had a huge book on display as well of many cakes they have made in the past. They had one that looked like an ambulance that was used as a grooms cake. Too cute! Although we have already found a wonderful baker, I would not hesitate for a second to recommend Cathy because I know she would do an impeccable job for any bride! I also have no doubts that she could make anything you could dream up or find on Pinterest.

Cakes by Cathy

Cakes by Cathy also had a GREAT idea in terms of cake display. They had all these little cakes inside bird cages! It was fabulous! Since we found such an elegant venue, we are tweaking our theme to reflect more of a woodland atmosphere. I am going to use a birdcage for our cards and I am milling over the idea of using branches for center pieces and hanging birds from them. This would be so cute for display, and you simply lift off the lid for cutting. 

Cakes by Cathy

This was a very long bridal show for us. We were early to arrive because we were not sure of how the parking would be handled since there was so much snow. We are glad we arrived early because the parking at Pipers was bizarre. There was a little lot in the front - with no outlet. So, we almost got stuck there. Then, the banquet facility is also an apartment complex so other guests had to park all the way in the back and walk in the snow to get inside. I wished they would have had a parking attendant out there because several people almost got stuck in the front lot since there was no way to get out once you got in. 

On a final note: Everyone who goes to these shows attends in hoping they will win a great prize. Well...I WON something! Inside the gift bags they handed out, we were told to look and see if we had a map with a prize card attached. Mine was for Mary Kay! I won a FABULOUS gift certificate for $75 to use towards makeup or a wedding trial. I think me and my mom are going to use it for a wedding trial just to see. I have never had anyone do my makeup before so it should be a lot of fun! 

I also got an e-mail saying I won an engagement photo session. I was beaming until I realized when you win a "photo session" this does not mean you win the photos. I was SO BUMMED when I e-mailed the photographer and asked about the photos because I was told that while we would get a single printed 8X10, if we wanted the digital photos it would be $300. Yea...sorry but I will not be forking over $300 for pictures taken of me and my fiance in hockey jerseys. My mom agreed that when the weather gets better we will go to Mounds Park and she can use my "fancy camera" to take pictures of us to use for our wedding website. From now on I WILL ASK photographers before I enter contests what "winning" a prize from them really means. I was really disappointed the session would not come with the photos.

Bride on a Budget - Small Town Florists Are The Way To Go

Lazy Daisy

When my mother and I attended the Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Show a few weekends ago it got me thinking about flowers and flower arraignments. I did another post about the gorgeous flowers local florists offered and I was surprised at how AFFORDABLE flowers can be when you purchase them from a small town florist. This is not to say flowers are cheap - because they are not. However, after attending a smaller bridal show in Muncie that featured florists from around my hometown and a large bridal show in Indianapolis, the prices between using a "mom and pop" shop and a major florist are HUGE. Realistically, the larger florists are going to be double what a small shop will charge you. Furthermore, I think you get a much better level of customer service with a smaller shop anyway.

Hand Tied Memories

There were two florists I spoke to at the Muncie bridal show. One was Lazy Daisy and the other was Hand Tied Memories. Lazy Daisy was amazing because they let you RENT their fabulous vases for FREE, and they seemed to be very easy going and accommodating. They had their bouquets wrapped in vintage handkerchiefs and were placed in Mason jars which is what attracted me to them in the first place.

Hand Tied Memories was also wonderful! Marta King and her shop had been recommended to me previously because she uses unconventional flowers to make her arrangements. This was a HUGE plus in my book! Furthermore, Marta told me that she strives to make the most of a brides budget. This was taken from her website: "We can price each item individually or as a package. After determining the flowers needed, I will figure out what to order to build your wedding. All flowers ordered for your wedding will be used for your wedding. Our brides often comment on the extras, or a surprise arrangement, because when we get done with every item that has been ordered, if there are flowers left over, we will create an additional floral surprise. We are not just selling flowers to someone for a wedding, we are creating a beautiful wedding with flowers." Most florists will NOT do this and will use extra/left over flowers to sell as bouquets in their shops for other events or needs. I was very pleased to learn Marta will do this for the brides!

Photo I took of a Lazy Daisy Bouquet

Another GREAT thing about small flower shops is they will tell you costs in a very straightforward manner. When I spoke to a big name florist at the Indy bridal show, both attendants would not even give me price points for the bouquets they had on display...they were polite but simply handed me a brochure and cards and was told to call and make an appointment. Another vendor who had a florist as part of their design group simply stated their flowers START at $2000 and go up from there - so in other words don't even bother calling them unless you plan on spending that and more. This was a bit discouraging because as a bride planning out a budget it would have been nice to know the prices of samples so I could have gotten a better idea of what certain things would cost....

No worries! The florists at Beautiful Beginnings were SUPER helpful and said they I could get a realistic price list on their websites. Both Lazy Daisy and Hand Tied Memories have average costs on their FAQ pages.

Hand Tied Memories

Both florists were comparable in pricing and both had very easy to understand pricing menus. Their pricing of course is probably for averages of all the brides they have provided a service, and I feel like they are accurate and realistic. Keep in mind some flowers like peony and calla lilies cost more than hydrangeas or roses.

For what I would need from:

Hand Tied Memories

Hand Tied Memories: A bridal bouquet, flowers for 3 bridesmaids, boutonnieres for 6 groomsmen, 2 mother's corsages, a boutonniere for my father in law, centerpieces for 16 tables (not sure of this number yet), and an altar arraignment would cost between $1855.00 on the high end to $711 on the low end.

Lazy Daisy - Pinterest

Lazy Daisy: A bridal bouquet, flowers for 3 bridesmaids, boutonnieres for 6 groomsmen, 2 mother's corsages, a boutonniere for my father in law, centerpieces for 16 tables (not sure of this number yet), and an altar arraignment would cost between $2330.00 on the high end to $725 on the low end.

As you can see, you can get into the high dollar with really expensive arraignments, or you can obviously cut costs dramatically by having something more modest. $700 for ALL that seemed very reasonable and is quite a savings from $2000. Keep in mind that some florists will charge extra for any vases or vessels for the flowers unless you buy your own (I will be purchasing my own). There are also delivery fees, deposits, set up/take down, tax, after wedding preservation and so on for flowers as well. Also plan on having an additional budget for "extras". For example, since our venue is a park, we will need to use real flower petals for the aisle. We also might need something for a flower girl, additional corsages for grandmothers, flowers for the cake/treats table, aisle pillar arraignments, and so on. Since we are planning the details of our wedding so far in advance we have not discussed specifics with a florist yet. But, to be safe I would say add an additional $300 to your floral budget just in case of extras that might crop up.

When and Where to Use Real and Fake Flowers in Your Wedding

Lazy Daisy - Pinterest

Brides on a budget are often confronted with this very dilemma: When and where is it appropriate to use fake or real flowers? Most brides looking to save money immediately think of using silks from the craft store for everything from bouquets to centerpieces. But, even when Hobby Lobby has their flowers half-off, their nicer roses are still $4-5 a piece and their premium "bunches" can still be $7-$10 each - even on sale.

Despite the fact that you would likely be separating the bunches to make 2-3 arrangements, it is easy to underestimate how many you will really need to make what you want. Also do not forget that you will have to buy a TON of florist tape and additional stems to make sure every piece is of equal length. I make wreaths as a hobby so I know how costly and time consuming it can be to make one. Realistically, I think making a centerpiece would cost just about the same as making a nice door wreath. I would guess on average each centerpiece would cost $30-60 to make. The last time I made wreaths, I made 5 for around $300 as an example.

Save on Crafts

DO NOT forget the extras you will need as well. You will need vases. If they are clear you will probably want vase filler because the stems of fake flowers almost never match and they look really fake even if the flowers look quite real. You will also probably need something weighted like stones for use in vases that are light weight (like galvanized aluminum) because fake flowers can be very top-heavy and will easily tip over. You could also get really fancy and put candles and things in with the flowers - which is an added expense to keep in mind. 

Also remember anything else you will be using along WITH your vases and flowers such as chargers, a table number, votive candles, bottles, pictures, and so on. Also keep a mental note or do a mock up at home at how much space all of this will really take up. It would be a shame to go all out and make a wide-topped arrangement only to find later you have no room or place for the table number or the table becomes too crowded with "stuff" in the middle.  
 

Hobby Lobby Tutorial

You might also need ribbon and pins to wrap the stems to keep them in a true "bunch". If you are using silk flowers for bridal and bridesmaids bouquets they will also need to be wrapped or painstakingly arranged into a nosegay to prevent them from falling apart. I found the Spring Sophistication pamphlet at my local Hobby Lobby (if you click on the link it has a very helpful image tutorial) that showed how to make a proper bridal bouquet - it is much more difficult and time consuming than you might think. 

Another thing that is a "peeve" of mine about fake flowers is that the heads can just fall off the stem. I also really get upset if I get a pre-made "bunch" and it has those weird Styrofoam balls that end up falling everywhere and making a mess. The last thing you want is for you to head down the aisle and a fake rose falls from your bouquet. From afar no one will be able to likely notice if your flowers are real or fake, but to have a silk flower head fall off mid aisle is pretty much a dead giveaway.

Adventures in Dressmaking

Do not forget you will also need boutonnieres for the groomsmen, fathers, and grandfathers of the bride and groom, corsages for the mothers and grandmothers, and something for a flower girl in addition to the bridal and attendants bouquets. You might also need flowers for your bridesmaids hair! And you cannot just stop at centerpieces for dining tables. You will need arraignments for a gift table, cake table, snack/treats table, pew/aisle, aisle end, altar or head pillars, arches, etc. Basically, if you just go to Pinterest and look at some really extravagant weddings, you can see just how out of hand the flower part of a wedding can become.

Ali Express (Alibaba)

Always remember, your time is in fact worth something as well. You might think you are saving money by making many trips to the craft stores and holing up in your house for several back to back weekends making flower arraignments, but your time is worth something. Furthermore, say you do go ahead and make 25 centerpieces, 10 bouquets, 5 corsages, and 10 boutonnieres, where are you going to store all this? Keep in mind you cannot lay faux flower arraignments down on their sides or stack on top of each other because they will smash down and look horrible (fake hydrangeas smash very easily). You get into the same dilemma if you order really cheap fake flowers from shops online like Alibaba because they will come smashed and crumpled and look really fake and cheap.

Hand Tied Memories

 Ultimately, cost is going to be the primary determining factor in deciding whether to use real or fake flowers. I was dead set on using fake flowers for every aspect of my wedding to save money. But, when it did occur to me that if I had 20 tables that needed decorating, I would not have any place to store the arraignments once they were made. Furthermore, if each centerpiece cost $50 to make, that would be over $1000 for fake table decorations. After I discovered how reasonable some of the local florists could do arrangements ($35-$50) it suddenly did not seem as worth it to me to go to the trouble of buying and storing all these supplies.

After thinking about it for a while and comparing prices of real versus fake flowers and arraignments, this is what I concluded:

Hand Tied Memories

Bouquets: REAL!

After comparing prices between buying materials myself, the time it would take me to make them, and storage I decided I want real flowers for my bouquet and my attendants. Having only 3 bridesmaids will keep this cost very reasonable. I am also still debating making a brooch bouquet for myself to walk down the aisle with. These are extremely heavy however - and you will still need something to throw if you are going to do a bouquet toss. Brooch bouquets are amazing to use for photos and to display in your home after your wedding. But, I still would plan on having an additional bouquet since brooch bouquets can be so heavy, cumbersome, and fragile in some instances.

Red Heart Creations - Etsy

Boutonnieres: FAKE!

Buying real boutonnieres is a total waste of money in my opinion. Not only do the guys not care at all what is pinned on their lapel, but no one will pay any attention to them - unless of course you get crafty and make some really cool ones! There are gobs of tutorials available on Google or you can get them cheap from Etsy sellers if you are not very crafty. I also have seen first hand the issues with wilting that comes with boutonnieres. 

If it it hot and humid out, daisies and asters will wilt in 45 minutes and look like a blob. After about 3 hours of body heat, roses and tulips can start to open up and lose petals. I attended one wedding where the bride had about 10 boutonnieres made from small Gerbera daisies - they did not even make it to after ceremony photos without falling apart. Luckily, the fake Gerbera daisies on the market today are incredibly realistic and can be substituted and no one would be any the wiser!

Wedding Decors

Chair, Arch, & Aisle Decorations: FAKE!

It really does not make much sense to fork over a gob of cash for real flowers to use for the arch and aisle if they will only be visible for the duration of your ceremony. Furthermore, guests will likely never get close enough to the arch to tell the difference nor remember if the aisle flowers were real or fake after the fact. If you are having your ceremony and reception at the same place, you can have an usher bring the arrangements into your reception area after the ceremony for additional decorations as well. 

I have also seen some photos where brides put single flowers in the centers of chair bows or a sprig of lavender. If you are like me and will be making your own chair bows, you really need to go with fake flowers. You can save a lot of money by purchasing some "bunches" of fake flowers and getting 10-20 sprigs from one bunch. 

A Bride Beautiful

Flower Girl Petals: REAL!

For the sake of nature and cleanup - please do NOT use fake flower petals for your flower girl to throw. If you are getting married outside or at a park, fake flower petals are usually banned anyway because they blow away eventually and become trash since they do not bio-degrade. Yes, they make paper/tissue petals that are *supposed* to decompose but they really do not and you cannot use them in parks. Silk or paper petals might work better if you are getting married in a church since they can be swept up for disposal, but check with the rector to make sure before you buy one or the other.

Depending on where you get your flowers, rose petals can either be somewhat pricey - or really cheap. If your local grocery store has a floral department, sometimes they will just give you left over petals for free if you call them ahead of time. If you use a florist for your center pieces, often they will give you all the extra petals removed from your arrangements. Also, you do NOT have to use rose petals...  If you are getting married in the fall you can have your flower girls throw autumn leaves from your yard, or they can toss fern fronds, daisy petals, shamrocks, etc.

Oh Joy

Hair Up-Do Flowers: FAKE! 

If you want your bridesmaids to have flowers in their hair, fake flowers are much easier to work with. Silk flowers will not wilt or lose moisture. If it is humid out, real flowers will eventually wilt and begin to fall apart. This is not so much an issue if you just want something like Baby's Breath, but lilies, daisies, and other delicate flowers might be an issue. You also do not have any issues with accidental stem breakage when using fake flowers. I have only been to one wedding where the bride had real flowers in her hair. They looked gorgeous, but the stamens of the lilies got yellow stuff all over the shoulder of her dress and she could not wait until the ceremony was over to get them out of her hair because they itched so bad.

Weddinggomania

Centerpieces: BOTH!

Brides have become extremely creative with centerpieces in recent years. Some are opting not to even use flowers at all - floating candles, twigs, feathers, pine cones, stones, etc. There are SO many options now, brides should not feel compelled to use ONLY real flowers for centerpieces. What I think I will do is use a combination of fake roses (with burlap and glitter), real accent flowers, real greenery, and preserved sticks for my center pieces. My arrangements will not be tall, so that helps keep things simple. I will also probably use single stem flowers in bottles around the cake table and at the head table. Going all out with massive centerpieces made from real flowers can set you back $100 a piece. By using cheap fillers like twigs or Baby's Breath mixed in with a few real flowers can make them very budget friendly.

Brocade Designs

Corsages: REAL!

Not all brides do this, but I think it is extremely important to make sure you have lovely corsages for the mothers and grandmothers in attendance at your wedding. Do not skimp and just do a single rosette either - they should look much more substantial than boutonnieres. Trust me, your mother-in-law will remember her corsage, especially if it is quite nice! If you make your own boutonnieres, you will have quite a savings there to splurge a bit more on corsages if need be.

Tips For Attending Bridal Shows

This past weekend my mother and I attended the Indy Bridal Show & Wedding Expo at the Ritz Charles. I had no idea what to expect because this was the first bridal show I had ever been too. I guess I more or less expected it to be like a flea market - a lot of people milling around collecting items and so fourth. However, the atmosphere was totally different than what you get at a flea market and there were some challenges we ran into along the way. 

Here are some tips for you to consider when you go to your first bridal show!

First off, we had a difficult time locating the venue for the show. For some reason, I was under the impression that the Ritz Charles was a hotel - when in fact it is a wedding venue that you can rent out in Carmel, Indiana. It was tucked away in a business building lot off Meridian - the snow and road construction was challenging as well. Anyway, we got there about an hour after the event began and they were PACKED. Not only was the lot almost totally full, but you could hardly walk inside. I would suggest you try to arrive at the show/expo as soon as they open to avoid massive crowds. 

This venue had a coat check and although it was only 15 degrees out and we had to walk clear across the parking lot, I wished about 20 minutes in I would have checked my coat. With that many people milling around it was about 80 degrees in there and I was about to melt into a puddle. Not only was my puffy coat cumbersome, but I also had my massive purse and my professional camera with me. So, I was so weighted down that it was very difficult to move around and take items being passed out. I would suggest you wear a light jacket and brave the cold because the venue will be quite warm if it is crowded. You might want to also opt for a cross-body shoulder bag for ease of moving in a crowd.

Be prepared to answer questions! Every vendor you encounter will ask you if you have a date set, a venue, a caterer, a theme, a photographer, a budget, a head count, etc. Even if that is not what the vendor offers, they will ask you to ascertain if you still need services they do offer. For me, it was hard because we are doing two ceremonies - one this year and one next year. The one this year will only require a cake and photographer, but the one next year will need everything. It was interesting overhearing some conversations between other brides and vendors - most vendors were booked for this year so basically unless you were planning a wedding for the following year, they likely would not be able to help you. I would suggest when you go to these expos and shows that you take a list with you of services or items you do need for your wedding, that way the vendor attendants can better assist you.

Take an extra bag with you for ALL the cards, brochures, flyers, coupons, etc. you will be receiving! We were SO laden down with stuff after the first 15-20 vendors we had to stop to scoop up a bag being handed out by Men's Warehouse to hold all the stuff! In speaking of all the adverts you will receive, keep a pen in hand to write down what you liked or disliked about a particular vendor! We thought about this and had a plan to write down information on the backs of business cards, but we were so overwhelmed so quickly that we forgot to notate some of the cards. This will become a problem if you really liked one vendor and particularly disliked another...I ran into this problem and it is a bit embarrassing. 

One caterer offered a sample of this cheese spread that was to DIE for - oh my it was delicious and I am considering ordering it for my wedding...However, I mixed their card up with another caterer that offered a particularly unappetizing sample. It took me 30 minutes of searching online to figure out who was who by scouring menus. You might also want to make sure you make a notation on things you disliked in case a friend, bridesmaid, or family member eagerly suggests one of those vendors at some point in time so you can quickly say, "you already met with that vendor" and decided against them. No one has to know your "meeting" with that vendor consisted of tasting or viewing a sample at a bridal show. But, showing you have knowledge will create a respectable buffer between you and the person touting a vendor you were not very fond of.  

Be prepared to receive a dozen or more e-mails less than a day after you attend the event from every - single - vendor for which you filled out a raffle ticket or contest. One of the main reasons brides go to these expos is to register to win amazing prizes and contests. I would probably die if I won a free photo shoot, custom invitations, or candy bar station. However, by signing up for these kinds of things you are being added into their mailing list. I did not think about this at all when I gave my "normal" e-mail address instead of giving my "resume" address. The reason why I did not give my lesser used e-mail was because if I did win a prize, I would want to know as soon as possible. I know I would have forgotten to check my alternate e-mails and in doing so, I might have missed out on a prize. I actually did not sign up for any contests for travel prizes for this very reason. In 2011 or 2012, I signed up for a free trip at a hockey game and for over a year they would randomly call my cell phone wanting me to buy a time share or some other damn thing I don't want.

Have a plan in mind of what to tell EVERYONE who offers a service that you either have already booked, cannot afford, do not need, or do not like! This is somewhat of a peeve for me - I do not want to come across as being snooty - or cheap, but remain polite in letting someone down. I know how easy it is at things like expos to upturn your nose at a particular vendor. But, you can just come across as being a total queen bee, and I do not want to come across that way. For example, I love professional flower arrangements but I already know I will not be able to afford them for my wedding. My brother is actually going to grow many of the flowers for me in his backyard, and any supplementary flowers that are needed I will be purchasing from the grocery store. So, when the florists were trying to woo me I quickly said that my wonderful brother, the gardener, would be providing the flowers.

For some reason if you say a family member or close friend will be providing a service, the vendors will drop the subject. Whereas if you "ho-hum" on the subject they will continue their pitch and you may feel uncomfortable. We were cornered by some gentlemen who were trying to peddle live bands and DJs. The music aspect of the wedding I am totally leaving up to my fiance because quite frankly, it is something that is not important to me at all and it is something I know nothing about (acoustics, PA systems, speakers, what?). When I accidentally let it slip that the reason why it was up to my fiance was because we probably could not afford anything fancy, they were quick to produce more literature on their "affordable packages and discounts". I was really at a loss for words, so I felt compelled to discuss music packages with these people as to not be rude - since I did open the door in regards to affordability. You have to think the only reason the vendors are there is to drum up business. The only reasons why I was there was to get ideas, register for prizes, and taste free cake.

The Verdict:

As a bride-to-be I plan on going to EVERY bridal show and expo I possibly can! Why? It is honestly silly not to! Think about it...bridal shows offer prizes for products and services you will likely need for your wedding. So, it's not like you are signing up to win a humungous pig smoker at a Colts game that won't even fit though your fence gate. You are signing up to win things like a $500 engagement photo package, $200 worth of gourmet cupcakes, $1000 towards rings, free tux rentals for the groomsmen, and so on. The prizes offered at bridal shows are good prizes and the odds are in your favor. Unless you are a bride, groom, or mother/father of either party you cannot sign up for prizes. Therefore, the contestant pool is automatically very limited so you really do have a very good chance at winning a prize. It also helps to take your fiance with you! In the sea of women I saw on Sunday, I saw only 3 grooms. But, if you take your man with you, you BOTH can register separately. I am taking my fiance with me to the bridal show happening this Sunday so we can taste cake from a local baker together. If your future husband balks at the idea of going to a wedding expo with you - just mention the free food and cake and he will be all about it! 

To fully take advantage of bridal shows, it is best to start looking at expo schedules right after you get engaged so you can go to as many as possible. Shows provide great booths to glean ideas or determine costs. Expos are also a great way for a couple to start putting together a budget as well if they really do not have an idea of where to start. For me, I was curious about invitations because I was dead set on making my own. However, I did want to know if it would be cheaper to have them made for me - trust me it is cheaper to make your own...Cake was another thing I was in the air about. I am not a big sweets eater and I am not very keen on cake. Well, after consuming the most delicious piece of confectionery I have ever eaten in my life at the bridal show I am rethinking my initial plan - which was to get sheet cakes from Marsh.

Bridal shows and expos are designed to be fun outings for brides, grooms, and their families. So go without a set plan, and plan on spending about 1-2 hours at the expo depending on how many vendors are there. Wear comfortable shoes and breathable fabrics. Have a thought on things you really might need ideas on and know what will be automatic "passes". My automatic passes were on travel and for limo/carriage services because I already knew I would not need these services. Prepare to offer your contact information for things you might want to discuss with a vendor later on and understand you will need to provide e-mail addresses and phone numbers to register for prizes. If you run into an overly enthusiastic vendor, be prepared to say the following:  

And no, none of these are true but it would be funny...

"My brother, the English gardener, will be providing the flowers."
"My father's cousin was related to Ansel Adams and he will be taking our photographs."
"My grandmother worked for MGM and was a consultant with Helen Rose who made Grace Kelly's dress. She will be making mine from antique lace as well."
"We are getting my aunt on loan from Wolfgang Puck to create a massive culinary spread."
"My fiance is a model for Tom Ford couture, so the tuxedos should look okay."
"Sorry, we do not need a limousine, my uncle is flying us to the venue in his helicopter."
"Oh, the bridesmaids will actually be wearing suits and ties and the groomsmen will be in dresses! Won't that be funny!?"
"You know that show Cake Wars? Well one of those shows was done for us to see who would be making the cake."
"We actually will not be serving food on plates. We will be using a slingshot from across the room and people will take turns receiving air delivered appetizers - very avant garde and on trend for 2015."
"The wedding will take place in the lake - not on the lake but actually in it - guests will be seated in inner-tubes"
"We trained 100 carrier pigeons to deliver the invitations to save money on postage."
"We will not need salon services because all the ladies will be wearing Bride of Frankenstein wigs."