Eastlife February 2019

To the Fair
Why attend wedding fairs & how to get the
most out of them
Written by Katrina Otter
It’s that time of year again when there
are wedding fairs and open days taking
place every weekend and, if you’re recently
engaged, it’s really rather tempting to attend
as many as possible. However, are wedding
fairs worth it when everything is now online?
How do you make them work for you? And
how can they help you plan your wedding?
Answers below…
Firstly, making time to visit wedding fairs, especially when
you’re in the early stages of planning your wedding, is
definitely a good idea. Why? Well, there’s no substitute
quite like meeting suppliers face to face and, when
you’re new to the wedding world, wedding fairs can
be enlightening, packed full of inspiration and you’ll
hopefully come away with lots of ideas and even a
confirmed supplier or two.
Another reason to visit wedding fairs, particularly those
hosted at your chosen wedding venue, is that you often
get to see spaces dressed for weddings. This can be
incredibly helpful as you can see what works well at
your venue and you’ll be able to meet the suppliers who
know how to make the best of the space too. Use the
opportunity to speak to wedding pros who know your
venue inside out – this is your chance to ask those allimportant
questions!
Wedding fairs can also help you make savings because
some suppliers will offer discounts if you book them there
and then or will offer discount codes for you to use at
a later date. To make the most of these offers, do your
research before you go and find out which suppliers will
be there, researching them online ahead of your visit
so you’ll know beforehand whether they suit your style
and your budget. Then, if there are discounts on offer
on the day, you can make the most of them knowing
that the supplier in question is the right for you and your
wedding.
So, when there’s so much to see at wedding fairs, how do
you get the most out of them? Here are my top tips:
•
Know what you want to get from each fair you visit. Be
clear about your reasons for attending each fair. Are
you going to get inspiration, to see your venue again or
to seriously look for suppliers? What suppliers are you
looking for and what is your budget?
• Visit a range of fairs from smaller, local fairs to larger,
regional or national events. Also, look out for fairs that
best suit your style of wedding. There are now lots
of events that suit all styles of wedding so if you’re
planning a boho day for example, look for a fair that’s
right for you.
• Be comfortable! Wedding fairs, especially the larger
shows, will mean a lot of walking and sometimes a
venture outdoors too. Also, take a bottle of water as
fairs can get hot and dehydration is no fun at all.
• Make sure that you know all the logistical details in
advance. Double check the venue, opening times and
the entrance info too. Some fairs are free to enter but
require you to register online before you attend, others
need you to buy tickets in advance or on the door
whilst others are completely free.
• Do your research before you go. Find out which
suppliers will be there and times for any catwalk shows,
workshops or other events and then make sure that you
arrive with time to spare.
• Think about who you’re going to take with you. Do
you want to go with your partner, your parents or your
bridesmaids? This ultimately depends on what you’re
hoping to find – if you’re booking major suppliers, take
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