Not even kidding you, there are a TON of exhibitors at The Wedding Fair this weekend – 2016 is one of the biggest shows EVER! That means you’re going to be meeting a lot of people, collecting a lot of business cards and material, you’ll have plenty to think about and lost of exhibitors to follow up with. Still need tickets? CLICK HERE!
So. How can you keep it all straight? Although we’d all love to think that the file cabinet in our heads is in mint condition, I promise you – there is so much to see that recalling all the specifics might get tough. Where did I see that floral arrangement? Which bridal salon can I find that gown? Who was offering that discount?
As a pro (not an old pro, mind you) I’m going to share my top tips for keeping organized this weekend at The Wedding Fair – to sum it all up, it has a lot to do with sequencing.
- Use your camera for more than just photos Your camera can help you record a TON of information – more than might initially occur to you.
- Fashion Show: during the Fashion Show, bridal salons present some of their hottest gowns. At the beginning of each set, the name of the salon will appear on the screens that flank the stage. For every salon, take a photo of the name of the salon. That way, if you see a dress you LOVE, you can snap a photo of the dress, and you’ll know exactly where it came from – the name of the salon will come right before the dress! Be strict about capturing the name of each salon though!
- Booths: same goes for when you see something you love at a booth – before you take a photo of that gorgeous table display, take a photo of the company signage and then take the photo of the inspiration – again, that way you’ll know exactly who designed it and you can follow up accordingly.
- Sticky Notes Bear with me – it might sound a little finicky, but there’s method to my madness! When you chat with a vendor you think might work for your wedding, make sure you grab a brochure or postcard. Take a step away from the booth and jot down what you spoke about, who you spoke too, and any other pertinent information on the sticky. Attach the sticky (firmly!!) to the postcard so when you are reviewing the materials after the show, you can remember what you talked about with each vendor.
- Use (sassy!) files to keep paper organized By the time you finish the show, you are going to have handfuls of business cards, brochures, and postcards – keep them organized from the get go! Bring three file folders with you that you can file away your papers in – one for Potential Vendors (a little research needs to be done), one for Follow Up Vendors (to email within a week of the show) and one for Great Deals, so exhibitors who offered a fantastic deal on the day of the show that just might sway a decision for you (or at least deserves an conversation with your fianc ). I found these sassy folders for a few bucks at Home Sense – if you’re going to bring folders, they might as well be sassy!
- BONUS! At the show, each bride receives a canvas bag when they walk through the doors, which is the perfect place to tuck your file folders.
