Searching for the best suppliers in bridal fairs is challenging. After all, you will need the contributions of more than 10 suppliers to produce your dream wedding. Challenging though this task is, attending bridal fairs is an easy, fast, and economical way of sourcing your suppliers as all you need comes together under one roof. Here’s some advice so that you can maximize your visit:

• Check out bridal calendar announcements in newspapers, magazines, on the radio, etc.

• Organize your schedule for that day. Make sure to avoid letting your visit overlap with other errands so that you won’t be in a rush during the fair. You need to take your time in order to decide on what’s best for you.

• Find out whether there are any activities, bridal talks, and fashion shows lined up by the organizer so that you can take advantage of them.

• Avoid peak hours; get there early. A smaller crowd means suppliers have more time to attend to your needs.

• Collect all flyers and brochures handed to you by suppliers. Use them to compare packages and rates before you come to a decision.

• Find out if prizes are being given away by organizers and exhibitors, and take advantage of these.

• Have fun browsing each and every aisle!

Wylma R. Vittali

Founding Member, PAWP

896.2642

0917.842.4938

events_balloons@yahoo.com

Q: How do I get the best deal from my chosen suppliers at a bridal fair? How do I maximize the services of our suppliers in a way that would be fair to both parties?

To get the best out of your suppliers, you have to have a step-by-step plan of action before going off on your search. A bridal fair will give you first-hand information on suppliers which will serve as your basis for your final decision.

• Start by checking out their wares. Go around the exhibit area, collect all the brochures being handed out, and mentally mark the booths you will go back to.

• Read through the brochures of suppliers offering the same services before approaching any of the booths. This gives you a general idea of the price range and any added services the other suppliers are willing to give. This will be a big help to you as you go about interviewing your top three picks at the end of the process.

• Browse through suppliers’ past work, samples, brochures, list of past clients, etc. This gives you a clear picture of what kind of product you can expect if you choose to avail of their services. While at the booth, you can get a feel of the kind of people you’ll be working with as, most of the time, the people manning the exhibit spaces are the same people who will take care of you during your event.

• Compare the prices being offered for the same service/s. Give suppliers three different price ranges and see the add-on services as the prices go up. For example, for photography and videography: what will Php 60,000 – 70,000 cover? What about Php 80,000 – 90,000? How many digital or film-based cameras will they use? How many video cameras will they bring? How many prints will they give you? How long will you have them exclusively at your service? By doing this, you get a concrete idea of what suppliers are willing to do and provide you with during your event.

• Ask for possible discounts.

To maximize the services of your suppliers while remaining fair to them, make sure you have a contract detailing what they should deliver. Go over the contract with your supplier and discuss each point with them. Make sure you understand the extent and limitations of each item; for example, ask your florist if her/his package includes the matches, candles, and hair and boutonniere pins for the wedding ceremony. We sometimes take this for granted and later find out these items are not included in the fine print. So better clear things as early as possible rather than experience the problem on the day of the wedding.

Once all the contract details have been discussed, make sure the supplier sticks to it. How do you do that? Hire a good wedding planner to take all take care of these. A wedding planner will make sure you get your money’s worth from every supplier as long as it is stipulated in your contract. Fairness between you and your supplier is assured as there is an unbiased third party managing the entire affair.

We wish you the best of luck in your supplier hunt!

Voltaire M. Zalamea

Events and Concepts

Member, PAWP

09178139475

www.eventsandconcept.com

eventsandconcepts@yahoo.com

The Philippine Association of Wedding Planners (PAWP) will be holding "Wedding Planning Seminar Year 3" at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel on September 9-10, 2006. For more information, contact Jhay Delarmente at 534.3721 local 12123 or at jpcwi@info.com.ph.