Wedding Show Words of Wisdom

Wedding shows are fun, a great place to steal ideas and score some free stuff! If you get there 20 minutes before the doors open you'll find a sizable line of eager brides, bridesmaids, mothers, and sisters waiting to enter the wedding extravaganza and get their paws on the door prizes. They are always in limited supply and vary from tote bags filled with samples and coupons to gift cards for things like two free wedding rings! When you get in you will see an alarming amount of vendors from custom to designer formal wear, cake tastings, photo booths (This was my favorite because they give you a sample, so I always brought a bridemaid and we went crazy! And, some of the photo booths were custom made and were beautifully done up.**) , venues, catering, resorts, DJs and bands, and pretty much anything you could think of and a handful you wouldn't have. Also, you can check out the insides of some tricked out party buses and limos and get a 3-D look at some of the wedding dresses featured at the show! So, after you've made a loop and collected all the information from your favorite vendors, played in the photo booths, and entered about 100 drawings try to find a place to settle then go grab all the catering food and cake samples your arms can carry, sit, recharge, and consider and discuss what you're eating and what you saw that day. It's a lot of information all at once and it can be VERY overwhelming, so be prepared for that.

GOOD IDEAS: 

1. Bring at least one friend or bridesmaid or mother or someone to help out and keep you company and wear comfortable clothes and shoes!
2. Bring a bottle of water, a tote bag, & address/phone number/email/wedding date stickers to save yourself from hand cramps!!! 
3. Pass on large samples of food until later (or if you are hungry hit them all up first) because it's hard to juggle plates of food and gather information.
4. Pass on information you don't want or need. You'll be talking to a lot of people, but that doesn't even compare to the amount of people the vendors will talk to that day, so save everyone's time and breath by kindly saying that you're uninterested before they go on a 10 minute tangent.
5. Stay for the fashion show and drawings. The fashion show is usually at 1pm and seats are first come first serve, so get one about an hour before the show starts. The drawings are later around 2 or 3pm and winners will be announced over an intercom. 
6. If you cannot attend send someone to enter you in all the contests and get all the goodies!!
7. Have Fun!

 Upcoming Shows in the Saint Louis Area:  

The Wedding Show  Presented by St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine

WHEN    Jul 24, 2011, 11 am - 4 pm


WHERE   America's Center
                  701 Convention Plaza
                  St. Louis, MO

COST       $ 8
(Print a $2 off coupon online - Bride Registration) www.stlbrideandgroom.com/weddingShow

Gateway Bridal Show: Hosted by Sizzor Shak Salon and Wedding Spa
WHEN Jul 30, 2011,  1pm - 5pm WHERE Gateway Center 1 Gateway Dr. Collinsville, IL 62234 COST FREE!!	http://www.gatewaybridalshow.com/

				Villa Marie Bridal Fair   Hosted by Villa Marie Winery and Banquet Center   WHEN Jan 14, 2012,  11am - 5:00pm WHERE Villa Marie Winery and Banquet Center 6633 East Main Street Maryville, IL 62062 COST FREE for BRIDES : All others $5

**This photo booth wins my BEST SAINT LOUIS WEDDING PHOTO BOOTH for 2011 award. It's made of pages from romance novels and the colored pages are hand-dyed!! The people behind this beauty are PHOTOMATON, and I met them at the Off-White Indie Wedding Show last March. They are the coolest cats and can make some really magical scenes for your special day!
www.fauxto-booths.com