Bridal Show Tricks & Scams Plus the Good Stuff - My Personal Experience

Jacques Catering

Ever since I got engaged I have been online and on Facebook looking up bridal shows. My mother and I have already been to several both big and small and they really are a lot of fun. Bridal shows and expos are commonly held in the winter months during the slow wedding season to entice brides with goods and services they might need for their big day. They also bring people in to taste free samples of cake and catering, look at gowns and invitations, and OF COURSE register to win for prizes! Some of the prizes they give away are AMAZING! The big sponsored bridal shows often give away $2,000 worth of wedding rings, $4,000 honeymoons, $2500 for photography, etc. 

HOWEVER, there are a TON of scams and schemes associated with some of these contests and things you sign up for. Most of these scams come from the big, nationally known companies and no so much with local mom and pop shops - but it is beyond annoying when it happens. Below I have listed some issues I have experienced with filling out forms for prizes, making appointments, and going to "extras" - as well as some good experiences at the end! If you want to skip to the actual "good stuff" scroll down; my best experiences were with Jamberry Nail Art and Macy's Sip & Scan Registry Event.

Apple Brides

David's Bridal

Oh, dearest David's Bridal - The biggest/most well known national bridal shop. They have incensed me and I have not even set foot into the store yet! Okay, for one, David's Bridal called my house probably a month after I became engaged. I had not really been looking for dresses on any site other than Pinterest so I was not sure how they got my number. Who knows, I probably filled out something fleetingly while being engrossed in Bride Day on TLC. At any rate, they called and wanted me to set up an appointment. I already found my gown, so I said I was not interested in looking for a dress yet and that was that...

Until I actually made an appointment with them...

I attended the Hendrick's County Bridal Show and David's Bridal had a booth. I spoke to the attendant about bridesmaids dresses because that is something I need to get on NOW since my girls will need to get their dresses on their own, and I will probably not see them before the wedding. The attendant also gave me a coupon to use when I come in just in case I find a reception dress for myself or something my mother could wear. I thought this was great and it would give me an opportunity to look at different styles and compare prices. The day after the bridal show, DB sent me an e-mail confirming the appointment and everything and I thought that was that. Until the phone calls started....

On the Monday following the bridal show I started getting phone calls from a 1-800 number regarding my fiance and I winning a bridal meal package from Dinner 4 Two. Since the call back number was a 1-800, I just knew it was a scam. When I put the number into a Google search, it came back with a TON of complaints. Apparently, in Indiana at least, every time you sign up for ANYTHING WITH DAVID'S BRIDAL - you register online for coupons, you make an appointment in person or online or at a bridal show, you buy something from them, you enter a contest, etc. THEY SELL YOUR INFORMATION. In Indiana, they sell it to Midwest Lifestyle/Dinner 4 Two - it is one of those things where you sit through a demonstration and they try to get you to buy stuff. I looked this up on MULTIPLE sites and I am 100% positive there is a direct correlation between David's Bridal and this phone scam. 

They called the house CONSTANTLY and my mother finally called them back and told them to stop calling or they would be reported. I do not think they have called back since. It is not technically a scam, but it can lure young, unsuspecting brides into buying a bunch of junk thinking they will win something great at the end. On one of the online complaint sites, a young woman was "conned" into buying $500 worth of pots and pans thinking she would win a luxury cruise honeymoon only to find later she would need to attend more "demonstrations" to eventually get anything. This is the same kind of deal you run into with those timeshare demonstrations - they do give you prizes but the "big gift" always comes with a catch. For example, with the Dinner 4 Two, I read a review where a bride did go - she did receive free cookware, but to "win the honeymoon" she would have had to pay the taxes on it, get her own airfare, and go on a specific date. This specific "scam" irked me the most because they would not stop calling the house.

Mary Kay

Mary Kay Cosmetics

My next grumble is with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Mary Kay has had a booth at every single bridal show I have attended so far. I always stop to pick up whatever one-use sample they are handing out because that sample is usually eyeshadow and I LOVE eyeshadow - but I do not buy or use Mary Kay as part of my normal makeup routine. I have also provided my info to win free products but I had never received a call back. However, since I was one of the first people through the door to attend the the Indy Wedding Ideas sponsored bridal show this winter, I won a "secret prize" and that prize was with Mary Kay. I thought I might win a hand lotion or something like that, but I won a WHOPPING $75 gift certificate! I was pretty excited because I knew I could get a lot of eyeshadow for that or a really nice lotion. 

I spoke to both attendants and we looked at some product they had but I did not use my certificate then. I got their cards and figured I would e-mail them later if I wanted to order something. Well, the following weekend we spoke to another MK consultant who had these fliers for National Make Over Day. Apparently, Mary Kay does this every year and it was described to us as a day where thousands of women come and get make-overs for free.

Mary Kay

Well, the gift card I received had a specific consultants name on it - so I knew right then I would have to use the card through her. So, I sent her an e-mail and asked if she would be at the Makeover Day. Surprisingly, she said she would be there and it would be a "big, fun packed event", so I made an appointment. I figured I could at least redeem my gift card. Well, when we walked in - we were the only people in the room - well let me correct myself - we were the only people without a Mary Kay agenda in the room. They had all these trays with pea-sized dollops of various product and we were told to pick out a "makeover bag" that had sample sizes of products and a chart to follow for application.

The Pros:   I did like being able to try out different products like lotions and foundations.
                       It was sort of nice being the only people there, but it was a bit akward.
                       I did buy a lotion with my gift card and my mother got mascara and eyeshadow.
                       Our consultants were very nice and accommodating - they were not pushy with buying a product if we did not want it.

The Cons:  We were instructed to use exfoliant - which required us to SHARE A SINK in an adjacent hotel room - VERY awkward.
                      Our "make over" was self applied - we were provided with brushes and had to do it ourselves. This is not really my idea of a make-over.
                      It was awkward to be told there would be many females there and us be the only ones who came - there was a third consultant there that bought her sister and friend. But when we walked in we thought we were walking into a "buying scam" where you are harassed to buy product.

Overall, the "makeover experience" was fine, but not something I would have done if I had not won the gift card. THE BIGGEST PEEVE I had with all this was the "extra event" they wanted us to participate in the following Monday. When we first came in, they took before and then after pictures of "our makeovers". At the end of the event, they had us fill out a card on how well we thought it went, we were given a red raffle ticket, and asked to circle a product on this chart they gave us. This was not explained, and I did not know what this was for. I of course did not ask because I THOUGHT it was going to be a prize we could win based on the raffle ticket we were given. Instead, they took the charts back and the ticket and invited us to a second event where they promised prizes and a chance to win a $50 gift card. They also said this was what the before/after pictures were for. They said "all the photos from all the makeovers" would be there and we could vote on them and it would be a "big fun event for all the ladies who participated". I thought it would be another deal like the makeover day. BOY was I ever WRONG!

Card I received to invite us to the "Second Event"

On the Sunday before, I received several e-mails AND TEXT MESSAGES from the consultant we met with on Makeover Day to make sure we were coming. I said we were and I thought this would be a thing where we could walk in, vote on the photos, mill around, then leave. Nope! The thing started at 6:30 and we pulled into the venue at 6:45. Between 6:30-6:40 the consultant texted me wanting to know where we were...We walk in and it is a Mary Kay SALES PITCH - I should have known it was coming. We had to sit down to avoid being rude while they gave medals to sales consultants for like 20 minutes. We were then whisked into a room where the "regional manager" asked the small handful of guests if we wanted to become Mary Kay sellers too. This was why my consultant was so eager to get us to come - the more people Mary Kay hounds into becoming a consultant under them, the more likely they are to get a company car for free. Oh and the photos we were to vote on - there were only like 10 of them in the back of the room and the "voting" would not commence until after the guests listened to all the speeches.

This whole spiel was designed to keep us there from 6:30-8:30. My fiance was working late and I needed to get back to make him some dinner and my mother had to cancel an appointment to attend this with me. Had we known this was what it truly was, we would have NEVER gone. When I got home I looked this up online, and like the mess with David's Bridal selling information, it is apparently well known that these Mary Kay people do this kind of thing all the time. Some consultants it seems are WAY better than others, but if you get stuck with a dud of a consultant, you will have a bad time. I read on a forum about how one consultant basically held a group of bridesmaids hostage until someone bought something because the consultant rented a conference room on her own dime and "expected a rate of return". Another thing I noticed in the complaint forums is that many brides had the misconception that MARY KAY SELLERS ARE MAKEUP ARTISTS. They ARE NOT makeup artists! At the end of the night I sent an e-mail to the consultant explaining why we had to cut out early and she apologized for not explaining that it was a 100% sales pitch. I have not heard from her since, but she was a very nice person and I do understand that most Mary Kay sellers are stay-at-home moms who use the business to be able to work from home. Some of their products are very nice quality - however I would just order online if you wish to buy because the mark up IS FIFTY PERCENT if you buy from a consultant directly!

Stella & Dot

Stella & Dot

I knew about Stella & Dot long before I started attending bridal shows. I actually own some S&D jewelry that I have purchased second hand from garage sales. The problem with S&D is that like Mary Kay, it is a sales pitch where they try and get you to host "house parties" to basically coerce your friends and family into purchasing pretty, albeit expensive costume jewelry. Their jewelry is cute I will give them that, but just order it online. DO NOT get involved with a consultant at a bridal show unless you really want to do these parties because the E-MAILS WILL NOT STOP. I swear, I was getting 2-3 e-mails a week about selling and specials until I put them on the spam list. 

Photography Cameras

Various Photographers

Some photographers you meet once at a bridal show, you take their card, and never hear from them again. Others, you fill out a contest or something and they send you a courtesy "remember me?" e-mail, then that is it. Then there are others that use the contest you filled out for to bombard you with adverts, "coupons", or notices that you "won something." The first one of these I got I was so excited because I actually thought I won something. I got an e-mail saying I won a free engagement session. This was something I wanted but we did not budget for nor think was totally necessary. Engagement sessions are very expensive if you get them ala carte from a different photographer than who you will be using for your wedding - between $250-$500 usually. Most of the contests you sign up for with photographers at bridal expos are for "free" engagement sessions or boudoir photos. Well, the engagement session I won was just for the sitting - we would have to fork over $300 for the digital release and this did not include prints. Come to find out, this is how almost all of these photographer contests work - you really get nothing unless you book them for your wedding. I also had to fish for this information through several e-mails, and once they spilled the beans on how this all really worked, I never heard from them again. Since then I have "won", free Save the Date's with the purchase of a sitting (the time you still have to pay BY THE HOUR was in the fine print), "print credits" for boudoir shoots (but you have to pay for the glam up session and the sitting), a "deep discount" on either an engagement or boudoir session (the SAME discount was available in Groupon). You get the idea...

Jamberry Nails

Jamberry Nails

Okay, I must admit, this was fun! Jamberry Nails is just another one of those companies that sells "finger nail stickers". Yes, this is all they are. You can get them at Target, Walgreen's, CVS under various name brands, you can get them from artists on Etsy, or you can get them from specific companies like Jamberry. Again, like with Stella & Dot, if you want it, order it online and do not get wrapped up into a sales pitch about hosting a party unless you really want to. At the Hendricks County Bridal Show there were several young girls at a Jamberry booth that were really fun and they helped put a sticker on my nail. If you do these yourself, you will need help because it is somewhat of a process. But, they are really different and cute! I will probably get some of these from somewhere to include with my bridesmaids gifts since you can get them customized! Furthermore, these run between $8-$15 a set depending on where you order them from and one kit will do fingernails and your toes too! Luckily, I was not bombarded with any e-mails or phone calls from this company - but if you are it will be because they want you to host a house party. The fact that the vendor attendants were so helpful in explaining the product to me was what made me more interested in their product overall.

Wedding Bee

Macy's Sip & Scan

After the disappointing session with Mary Kay I was actually dreading the Macy's Sip & Scan event I signed up for in January. I thought to myself, oh no, this will be another sales pitch, or a thing to get me to sign up for a Macy's credit card, or something ridiculous. I signed up for this event at the first bridal show I ever attended and I had forgotten about it until I received a confirmation e-mail. The reason I signed up for it was because I was clueless about wedding registries and Macy's was not a store I would have ever considered signing up for since I only shop there at Christmas. My fiance was working late so I took my mom with me. I must admit, this was a TOTAL BLAST! It was simple too! You go in, they give you a scanner and a check list sheet, and tell you to have at it! They had a caterer passing out hors d'oeuvres and drinks, a DJ for the whole second floor, and they had like 10 consultants there to help you. They were ALL very knowledgeable and helpful and there were about 8 couples there to boot. It was so unexpected!

I scanned a TON of stuff I never thought I would need - but that in fact I would need. Like a hand mixer, an iron, a set of skillets, plates for Thankgiving, a new comforter, etc. They THEN tell you to have guests who will ultimately buying you a gift to wait until they get coupons in the mail/paper because they can stack coupons with the discount they already get for scanning the registry. Basically, your guests will be able to get you more for less money since there are discounts you can "stack" with the registry. They also gave me a TON of coupons I can use now, a $25 Restaurant.com gift card, a booklet with all this other information. It was really helpful! AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING. There is NO CATCH! I was actually so impressed that I plan on returning to the store probably several times to look at more items to add. Since my wedding is so far out, one of the attendants told me I can add clothing to my registry, then scan my own registry at the store, and get an extra percentage off on MY OWN PURCHASES. My mom can do this too. I was like WOW, and proceeded to scan 3 boxes of Kuerig cups so when the coupons come out in the mail, I can get more of a discount! There are actually so many perks to having a Macy's registry you, as a bride, would be foolish not to check it out. YOU CAN EVEN SCAN FURNITURE AND RUGS! You can scan lingerie for your bachelorette party, kitchen basics for your housewarming party, toasting glasses and serving items for your engagement party, pilsner and shot glasses for groomsmen gifts, etc. And the registry is good for quite some time after your wedding as well so you can purchase whatever extras you might need. It was so cool, I was really happy I attended. But again, this is something I would have never known about if it had not been at a bridal show.

The Verdict:

If you receive an offer at a bridal show GOOGLE IT! Odds are, if it is scammy in any way whatsoever, there will be a zillion posts about it somewhere. You can find complaints on most bridal sites as well or other blogs with posts dedicated to specific "scams". BUT, not everything is a scam or con! Like I initially stated, most contests sponsored by local "mom & pop" shops are legitimate and do not come with any sort of catch. Bakers are a great example. If you win a $100 cake - you win a $100 cake. A local bridal shop recently gave away a $600 gown - which could have been a wedding dress, mother of the bride dress, etc. as long as it was under $600 in store. A local restaurant gave away a rehearsal dinner for up to 20 people. Most of the contests you register for are legitimate, just be aware that some come with "catches" or might end up being total scams.

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.

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."