You’re getting married but don’t have time to scout from one shop to another for potential suppliers for your wedding. The solution to that problem? Visit a bridal fair! It’s practically a one-stop-shop for all your wedding needs. Visiting one will surely save you precious time and gas by going to just one location to canvass and book.
The biggest one held bi-annually in Manila is the Wedding Expo which opens today at the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio. If you are planning to visit, try to go early as there are more than a hundred exhibitors (including us!) in this event alone. Bring your fiancé. Tell him that the event is just like a TranShow, only it’s for weddings. If you get there and he complains, let him see the Jaguars and limos displayed outside the tent. Do drop by the WeddingsAtWork.com booth, as we will launch and distribute FREE copies of the 3rd edition of “The W@W Wedding Primer” to all soon-to-wed couples.
Your first visit
If it’s your first time attending such an event, below are some tips to make your initial visit to a bridal fair worthwhile and enjoyable.
ADMISSION. Entry to bridal fairs are usually FREE to all soon-to-weds. You can either pre-register or simply walk-in. Some may charge a minimal fee for non-marrying guests.
PLAN AHEAD. Get the schedule of activities about the bridal fair as early as you can.
EARLY BIRD. It would be best to visit the fair as soon as it opens in the morning since it is usually when the fair ground is least crowded, the freebies more abundant and the exhibitors less busy.
FOLLOW A ROUTE. Use the layout/floor plan whenever available. Try not to skip an aisle. Go around and just come back to a favored supplier afterwards. You don’t want to be closing a deal with a supplier only to find out later there’s a better deal on the other side.
• PICK UP EVERYTHING. Take all the flyers, cards etc. that an exhibitor may hand you. The more information you have, the better you can decide. We need not tell you to take those freebies!
• THROW NOTHING. Exhibitors spend a lot on the advertising/marketing materials they give out during fairs. It is painful for any supplier to see their flyers or business cards just lying around the floor. The least you can do is keep it with you while you are still in the fair. You can sort through these later at home and decide if you need the information or not.• WED INFO LABELS. Instead of manually signing each and every supplier’s guest book, you may opt for Wedding Info Labels to save you time and keep your focus while talking to the supplier. A computer print-out of sticker labels with all the pertinent info about you and your wedding will do. You may follow this format:
John Albert Rana & Bennette Co
October 26, 1998
EDSA Shrine/Illustrado
P.O. Box 233, Greenhills, San Juan, MM 1502
John - 0917.811.1026; Benz - 0917.850.1026
mail@WeddingsAtWork.com
• BEYOND THE FAIR GROUNDS. Be mindful of the people handing you their leaflets and business cards
beyond the perimeters of the fair. Legitimate exhibitors would be found within the bridal fair hall not outside.
• DON’T TAKE PICTURES. If you find a particular product/arrangement to your liking, take a mental note but
never a photograph. No matter how simple, it is still someone else’s idea.
• MIND YOUR BELONGINGS. While every event organizer provides ample security for the sake of all exhibitors and guests during the bridal fair, it is always best that you take extra care of your belongings.
• MAKE THE MOST OF THE DAY. You may want to stay not just for the bridal exhibits but for the other activities lined up for the day. Some fairs have hourly raffles that require the winners to claim the prize.
Some host relevant bridal talks/seminars to provide couples with more information on planning their wedding. Others mount a grand bridal show as the evening’s main event.
• REASSESS INITIAL BUDGET. After your first bridal fair visit, you are probably still overwhelmed with the
experience. Sit down with your fiancé and reassess your initial budget. You should now have a more realistic
idea on how much to allot for each supplier.
Erratum
In our column last month (“Romancing with Chocolates” 02/05/05), the contact number listed under Theobroma was inaccurate. The correct number is 842-6265.
prep talkback: Send comments and queries to P.O. Box 233, Greenhills, San Jaun 1502, email: mail@WeddingsAtWork.com or visit: www.WeddingsAtWork.com
