Get the Most Out of Bridal Shows

It’s almost that time of the year! Bridal Show season is just around the corner. Not surprising since 19% of all engagements take place in December. All other months are only 9% or less! (Source: Fairchild American Wedding Survey).

A Bridal Show is a great place to get started with your wedding plans. Held at various types of venues – including convention centers, banquet halls, even your local shopping mall -- they can be quite large (100 different vendors or more!) or much smaller, and more intimate (only 10-20 different vendors). But regardless of the size, the main purpose is still the same, you get a chance to take a sneak peek at the local professionals – see examples of their work, taste samples of cakes and foods, and collect vendor brochures and literature.

While tempting, now is not the time to get all of your planning done in a whirlwind of a few hours. You want to be a savvy shopper, and select just the right vendors for you. Before you go, here are some tips offered by Jean Neuhart, Professional Bridal Consultant, and owner of Weddings From The Heart, to make the trip easier, fun, and worthwhile.

Create a game plan. Which types of vendors you are most interested in? Are you looking for a DJ? Perhaps you still need a florist. Figure out the types of vendors you most want to see, then plan on visiting their booths first.

Things to bring: Pen and paper, (you’ll want to take notes). A tote bag (to carry all those flyers and brochures you’ll be picking up). Address labels (saves time filling out all those contest and door prize slips). Cash (to pay for admission and to purchase a light snack or beverage). Checkbook or credit card (in case you find the perfect vendor and want to put down a deposit).

Wear comfortable shoes. And if possible, leave your coat in the car. You’ll have enough to carry without having to lug around or wear a coat. And you’ll be that much happier if you’re comfortable. Also, wear clothing with pockets. When you come across a vendor that you especially want to remember, place his or her card in your pocket instead of in the tote bag where it can get mixed up with all of the other cards and flyers you’ll be getting.

Bring only one or two people with you. Have mom, your maid of honor, a bridesmaid, or fiancé come along. They can help you carry the brochures you’ve picked up, and you’ll have someone who knows you to bounce ideas off of. Just don’t bring a whole entourage. It’s harder to keep a large group together (you don’t want to be spending your time looking for who you came with!) Also, too many people will offer too many different opinions, which will be confusing, and not enjoyable at all.

Eat before the show. Not all shows offer snacks for purchase, and you don’t want to be walking around on an empty tummy! While there will be plenty of yummy samples of foods and cakes to try, this is not the place to load up your plate for a meal.

Take notes. Jot down pricing and package information, as well as your personal opinions. Is there anything about a vendors’ personality that stands out to you? Is he or she courteous and polite, or unfriendly and grumpy? Are they enjoying themselves, or do they seem to want to be somewhere else? After you get home and are sorting through that pile of flyers you’ve picked up, it will be hard to remember who was who. A few notes will help remind you who you’ll want to contact later, (and who you want to steer clear of!).

A popular portion of most bridal shows is the Fashion Show. If you’re like most brides, you’ll want to attend it, so find a seat early – at least 20-30 minutes before it starts. However, if you already have your gown, or otherwise aren’t planning on attending the fashion show, use this time to talk with the vendors you are most interested in. Things will be much more quiet and calm, and you’ll have a better chance at getting their undivided attention.

Don’t feel that you have to make a decision at the show. Sure, all of the vendors would love for you to sign on the dotted line right then, and may even offer a discount if you do. But wouldn’t you rather be a savvy shopper and take time to carefully look over everything and figure out which vendors will truly best suit the style of wedding you and your fiancé envision?

Before you decide to book someone, be very thorough. Carefully read everything (literature, samples, flyers, contract – EVERYTHING!!) before you sign and put down a deposit. Make sure what they offer is really right for your wedding vision, is what you and your fiancé really want, and that their terms are acceptable. Ask questions so there is a complete understanding between you and the vendor. You don’t want that ‘great deal’ to turn out to be a headache because you didn’t notice the "additional costs" or the "fine print".

So go and enjoy yourself! It’s just a bridal show!

by Jean Neuhart
Weddings from the Heart

Holiday Savings for Wedding Professionals.

To learn more about the 25% savings through the end of the year contact us.

Happy Holidays from WedAlert

We at WedAlert wish all of our brides, grooms, vendors, and our staff a happy Holiday Season, and a New Year filled with joy, laughter, good health, and prosperity.

May 2009 be a great year for you all.

"Cure for the Wedding Day Blues" Contest

We thought we would let you know that Behind the Veil, a New Jersey company that produces bi-annual bridal expos, is having a "Cure for the Wedding Day Blues" Contest.

Official Rules and Entry Form

Has the current economy forced you to change your wedding plans? If so, tell Behind the Veil your story. Enter their "Cure for the Wedding Day Blues Contest" for a chance to win your very own "Wedding Stimulus Package."

Win a "Free Wedding" valued over $20,000. Winner will be announced at their January 2009 bridal show. You must be present to win. Enter today; you can't afford not to!

The Bridal Show is Sunday, January 18, 2009
Show Time : 12.00pm - 7.00pm
Location: The DoubleTree Hotel - 2117 Route 4 Eastbound, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Behind The Veil presents the ultimate fun, exquisite, bridal experience. Plan your day in style and create the wedding of your dreams. Be pampered with fabulous door prizes, chic giveaways, product samples and take home packages all exclusive to Behind The Veil Bridal Expos. Pre-register now for advance tickets & get everything you need to make your wedding day as perfect as ever! It's a show you don't want to miss...Happy Planning!

Brides Pre-Register
Vendors Pre-Register

How to Wear Veil and Bridal Combs

This latest tip from Bobette Kyle-Wagner describes "How to Wear Veil and Bridal Combs"

For brides who have no previous experience with developing a wedding hairstyle or choosing a headpiece and veil (or deciding to go without), understanding how to attach and adorn the various components can be a challenge. In the twilight zone called wedding planning, the simple concept of a comb, for example, can take several forms.

In your everyday life, a comb is probably something to run through your hair in the morning taming nighttime tangles. Your hairdresser will certainly use that type of comb while creating your wedding hairstyle, but there are two other bridal versions you may need as well: a comb to attach the veil and one to decorate your hair. The choice is yours whether to have both versions, neither, or one to suffice for both uses.

The Veil Comb

When you buy a veil, it often comes attached to a basic comb. This veil comb is purely functional and will not be a visible part of your veil or hairstyle. It simply helps secure the veil to the top or back of your head. The advantage to using this type of comb with your veil is you can remove the veil after the ceremony while leaving your headpiece intact for the reception.

To place this type of comb, push it into your hair -- down if you are wearing your veil in back or toward the back of your head if you are wearing the veil on top -- so the hair covers the teeth and the veil hides the top of the comb. For a more solid base, insert with the comb angled then rotate backwards into place after the comb is in your hair. You can make the comb more secure, if needed, with bobby or hair pins.

These combs can be various widths and lengths and made of wire or plastic. Wire combs cost more than plastic, but are more versatile and can be pinned if necessary (as opposed to plastic, which is thicker and more cumbersome).

The Decorative Bridal Comb

Unlike the plain veil combs, decorative bridal combs are made to be seen. They can be a perfect accent for your veil, or add interest to your hairstyle if you go veil-less or remove the veil for the reception. The range of styles and sizes available make them versatile and can enhance most hairstyles, from classic to ornate. They can be simple, but elegant, depending on how they are decorated, but can also create a less formal look than some other headpieces.

Hair combs can be worn on the top, side, or back of the head. In the back, you can secure a large comb under a bunch of upswept curls, around a French twist, or beneath a low-set bun. On one or both sides, you can wear smaller combs for an elegant style, instead of a larger headpiece. Decorative combs can also be worn on the top to help hold the hair in place or function much as a tiara. In fact, you can even buy tiaras attached to combs instead of built into the typical band.

Tiara Combs

You have heard of tiaras and you have heard of combs, but you may not know that there are also tiara combs. These look like a tiara but hold your hair or veil in place like a comb. These decorative combs are made with the teeth positioned at an angle so the decorated part stands erect when attached to your hair from the front (as opposed to back or side combs, which are made with the decoration attached flat against or parallel to the teeth section).

Combining Veil and Decorative Combs

Some brides prefer to wear the veil and decorative comb as one piece. You can accomplish this by attaching the veil directly to a tiara or other top/back comb instead of to the plain veil comb. This reduces the number of pieces you must deal with when developing a hairstyle for the ceremony, but limits your options for the rest of the day. You will have to remove both your headpiece and veil or keep your veil intact throughout the evening.

Whichever type of combs you use, involve your hair stylist in the decision. He or she will most likely have valuable input into what sizes and types will most create the look you desire, while assuring your hair remains drop-dead gorgeous throughout the day and evening.

By Bobette Kyle-Wagner
http://www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com

Honeymoon Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Patricia Torres and Jose Molina of San Francisco, California.

They were the lucky winners of our most recent Honeymoon Giveaway, drawn on October 1, 2008.

Here is the what they said after being notified of their good fortune.

My fiancé and I met in Undergrad at Fresno State. We are both still students, pursuing a career in dentistry. After hearing from WedAlert about our new honeymoon, I couldn't help but be thankful. We were both extremely excited when we heard we won, since we had decided that a honeymoon abroad would be very hard to afford. I am personally a fan of WedAlert, it is currently helping me plan my wedding. It is the ultimate wedding site, and I encourage any bride-to-be, groom-to-be, or anybody to take a look and use it as a resource.

We are now offering our Honeymoon Giveaway 4 times a year!! That gives you and your Fiancé twice as many opportunites to win. WedAlert's next drawing for a Honeymoon Giveaway is on January 1, 2009. So Register now. Courtesy of askabouthoneymoons.com