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If you’re one of the thousands of brides who will be attending a bridal show in the upcoming weeks, a little bit of preparation can make all of the difference between a waste of time and a fruitful experience.  So many brides go to a show and spend hours and hours trying to talk to as many people as they can.  At the end of the day, all they have to show for it is a large bag of handouts that will eventually end up in the trash and very sore feet.  There are literally hundreds of vendors to talk to (at the show I’ll be doing this weekend, there’s about forty photographers alone!) and at the end of the day, everything is just a blur.  You can’t remember who you liked and who you didn’t.  But with a little research before hand, there’s no reason you can’t leave with some really good leads or even book vendors right there at the bridal show!

What I suggest is going to the bridal show’s website and looking at their list of vendors.  The one here in Raleigh is www.foreverbridal.net.  From that list, look at peoples’ websites and find vendors that seem like good possibilities.  Then email them and get their prices.  Narrow your list down to your top 3-5 in each of the categories you need to book and only visit those vendors at the show.  Now you won’t be wasting time weeding through those vendors that aren’t a good match.  You’ll already know that you like their style, that they offer what you’re looking for and that they fit your budget without having to stop at every booth to find that out.  If you’re looking for a photographer, a dj, a caterer and a florist, that’s still 20 booths to stop by, but that’s a manageable number.

If you’re attending the Wedding Show 2008 here in Raleigh on January 5-6, please stop by and say hello!  I’ll be there along with LauraLee, one of my brides from this past year, who will be happy to share her experience with you and answer any questions