My father, a wedding DJ, and I, an aspiring cake decorator, were just talking about bridal shows. A few years ago when my mother was a wedding planner, we put on about 6 bridal shows and have been vendors and in countless shows. We were talking about things we liked and disliked about bridal shows in our area and I would like to hear from others what you think either as a vendor or guest. Here are mine:

Likes
Networking with others in the industry
Talking to brides-to-be
Good entertainment
A lot of attendees
Day before booth set-up
Chairs to sit down in

Dislikes
Low attendence
People who aren't planning an event
Difficulties loading and unloading things for the booth

Hope to hear what you think

I love the displays and meeting everyone

I cant think of anything I dont like.

Love:

All the things the others said.

Dislike:
The people that state rather loudly to their companions while you're standing well within earshot. 'we/I/you could do that ourselves for half the price"


Like, hello, are you guys aware of the hours and actual SKILL that go into these things?

Obviously not.

I just pretend I havn't heard them and politely smile.

Just got home from the Wellington (capital of New Zealand) wedding show and it was great! Reieved 8 orders today, the most ever for 'on the day' sales at a wedding show. Am really pleased. Over 1000 flyers were taken, so hoping to get alot more in the coming months. Wooohooooo!

I like having lots of choices of vendors to look at. I hate when you go and have 1 cake vendor, 1 dj, etc.

I greatly dislike poor planning and advertising on the part of the planners. I went to one show when I first got started that a fellow decorator wes a vendor. This was halfway through the first day & only 6 people had shown besides me. She was devastated.

Likes: Love the fact of door prizes for the brides where they actually recieve something worth getting. I always donate in handmade bridal garters and give the bride her choice of color.

Love when they have a bridal catwalk and they use 'REAL" people and not just thin toothpicks of models. (not trying to offend anyone if your a model) Just not everyone is a size 2 in the world.

Love when you have plenty of vendors to choose from but we have a show every year where they section areas together for different parts of the city. Say if you live in the north side the vendors in one area are all from that area and they all help each other and not stab each other in the back. THen you have Sothside, East , and westside Vendors. This just lets people know they can get all their shopping done in one area and don't have to run all over town unless they want to. Also shows the different pricing structures for the bride. North side always have lower prices than South.

Love the smell of FRESH Flowers Love the elegant look when you walk in.

Love when they have an Bridal Tasting area set up for the brides to go sit and taste if they like. The wall along the end of all isles is set up for the Bride Tasting area where if she gets a sample and wants to sit and savor it. So many shows the brides stand at the booth and taste and it can get quite congested in a booth.. AS well on the tables it has tasting charts the bride can write down which cake she tasted with whom. It has two levels Liked 1-5 , Dislike 1-5 and it is a full sheet so the bride can make comments so she can go back and look at what she wrote because it can get over whelming and easy to forget whos cake you liked best. Just an extra step to make her special day easier.

Love when vendors offer advice freely! So many brides will ask questions that may seem stupid to us but it is very serious to them. IF you cant answer them at that time offer to take their email and write their question down and get back with them.. THis makes them feel you really care and great way to get that extra sale hopefully. I know booths get very busy but I always bring 2 other helpers with me and never have to hard of a time with it.

DISLIKE when you have pushy cheesy vendors and who downgrade other vendors. I hate when you have a vendor PUSH themselves on a bride when they aren't interested. Trying to stuff the brides baag full of brochures they really didnt want in the first place.

Dislike when DJ's turn their music so loud you cant hear yourself think. I think it is rude and makes it hard to hear your customers when they are visitng your booth. One show they have the Dj's music booths set up in a side room and they take turns busting the groove and the brides can dance if they like.. kinda a fun relax area! When its the Dj's turn the spotlight is on that one DJ and dark on the others. Yeah it seems like a lot work but it is always the favorite of the brides you hear them talk about the DJ room how much fun they had. Then each DJ has a table set up with one person on the main floor with brochures and sign ups.

Dislike when you have a vendor that is offering a sample and has no TRASHCAN .. Come on they ate the sample don't make them carry the trash around!

Dislike when a show turns grooms away and says For girls only well they found out quickly that was a no no. Even tho the grooms USUALLY don't come sometimes they get dragged in by the brides...lol I actually Love it when a bride and groom come gives him a chance to voice his opinion.
To see the boredom and the OMG what did I get myself into look..kinda like a deer in the head-like look is priceless...

ok I have a lot more likes and dislike I'm sure but I have written a book so I will stop for now!