You Went to Bridal Expo – Now What?

Bridal Expo 2010 was held in Calgary today! It was a wonderful gathering of some of the more prominent wedding vendors from Calgary and surrounding areas all under one roof. There was much to see, many deals to be had, and tons of décor ideas. The brides came by the hundreds, many accompanied by grooms, mothers, and close friends. While it was great to see so many of you, I know a number of you mentioned feeling overwhelmed at times with such an overload of information. Here’s how to make the most effective use of your time at Bridal Expo:

1. You collected bags, brochures, and business cards by the armloads. Make a point of going through them during the next couple of days while things are still relatively fresh in your mind. Make notes and put ones you want to follow up with in one pile. Sort through the others and either discard or keep as a possibility to follow up with at a later time. The longer you put it off and avoid it, the more it will all blur together. Get it done sooner rather than later!



Creative Weddings and Occasions Booth Bridal Expo 2010 – Romantic Fantasy – Photo courtesy of M. MacRae

2. Figure out what your biggest priorities are and contact a vendor or two to move forward and set-up a follow-up appointment. Bridal Expo is great, but it was too crazy to have a clear conversation and get a firm idea about services and cost. Find a mutually convenient time to sit down with your chosen vendor and get the information you require. 
3. You saw how many people were at Bridal Expo. All of them are getting married and are looking for vendors too! The sooner you book an appointment, the better chance you have of finding a vendor available on your wedding date. (The longer you wait, the longer you may have to wait for an appointment time as vendors’ schedules fill up fast. After all, we’re still in wedding season!)



Creative Weddings and Occasions Booth Bridal Expo 2010 – Romantic Fantasy – Photo courtesy of M. MacRae

4. Make a note of any décor ideas that you liked. It might have been related to colors, objects, centerpieces, or even a place card. Try to remember who had what and make notes. When you meet with a decorator, a description of what you liked makes it much easier to help put all of your ideas together into develop them into one cohesive vision.
5. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help! As a wedding planner, I have the great opportunity to work with a variety of vendors in and around the Calgary area. I know many of the quality vendors and can point you in the right directions right away. Even if you don’t think you need a full wedding planner, an hour-long phone call or appointment might be exactly what you need to send you on your way.



Creative Weddings and Occasions Booth Bridal Expo 2010 – Romantic Fantasy – Photo courtesy of M. MacRae.

There was a lot of information for engaged couples to process at Bridal Expo. It was a fabulous opportunity for you to meet a wide variety of wedding vendors and get a feel for some of their work, but now it’s time for the follow up in order to make the best use of your time.

If you need help, don’t hesitate to call us at 403-619-0528 or e-mail info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

Hints for Handling Bridal Expo 2010

Bridal Expo 2010 is coming! It’s the ideal place to check out what’s new and exciting in the world of weddings!

It’s a great opportunity for engaged couples to check out many of Calgary and other areas’ wedding vendors and learn more about the various products and services they offer. The show is this Sunday, September 12th at the Stampede's BMO Centre from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Runways shows occur at 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM showcasing the latest in bridal fashion for the bride and groom. Tickets will be available at the door, but can also be purchased ahead of time at any Bay or Home Outfitters location.

In order to make the most of your day, here are some strategies to help you:

1. Make a list of the specific vendors you're still looking for - musicians, photographers, florists,.... It will structure your day a bit more and make things a little less overwhelming if you have a plan in mind.
2. Wear comfortable shoes.
3. Bring a canvas bag or something for the numerous brochures, cards, and print materials that are distributed throughout the day.
4. Drink water and stay hydrated. Also keep a snack in your bag, like a granola bar or almonds, to help keep your energy levels up.
5. There are tons of contests and freebies to sign-up for. Print off a few sheets of labels with your contact information (name, phone number, e-mail, wedding date, ...) and this will save your hand from cramping up from filling out the entry forms individually.
6. Be cautious about buying your dress at the fair. Although there are some great deals offered, if the dress doesn't fit right you may end up spending more on alterations than you originally saved in the first place.
7. There will be some great deals offered at the fair. Don't be afraid of taking some time to carefully consider things before committing to a vendor. You don't want to get into a situation where you felt pressured to commit and then end up blowing a significant portion of your budget or signing a contract without doing some comparison shopping. Most quality vendors will be quite reasonable if you ask for some time to think, especially since they know that if they give you the time, there is a good chance you'll be back.
8. Speaking of specials, we'll have our own Bridal Expo Specials. More details will be available at the booth on Sunday, but the price specials will be available until October 15th, 2010.
9. Feel free to come by our booth and ask for advice about vendors. We can save you some time and help point you in the right direction of the person that might be exactly who you're looking for.
10. When you get home, sort through the collected material while the information is still fresh in your mind (within a day or two). Figure out what you want to keep, and what can go in the recycling bin.

We're in booth #56. We'd love to see you. We’re featuring some incredible table linens from Wildflower Linens as well as some fantastic floral ideas. Come on by for a “look-see” and also to let us know how your day is going! We’ll also have some new photo books showcasing some of our work from this past summer.

Most importantly, enjoy Bridal Expo 2010!

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.