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You’re WRONG about wedding fairs: 6 reasons why it’s worth going to wedding shows
Stress-free wedding planningStress-free wedding planning: wedding planning

You’re WRONG about wedding fairs: 6 reasons why it’s worth going to wedding shows

By Mell 26th of October, 2019

I speak to a lot of couples who say they’ve never been to a wedding fair like it’s a badge of honour – like they’ve avoided the horrors of war.

But wedding fairs are a fantastic way to get ideas, suppliers, and discounts for your wedding. Before you decide they’re not for you, it’s worth considering…

There are different types of wedding fair – and some might be exactly what you’re after

When people think about wedding fairs, they often picture sprawling expos, hot and packed with too many couples, trying to fight their way through flashy displays set up to sell expensive things you don’t need. Like Comic-Con for lace nerds.

But, while big exhibitions do exist, they’re not overcrowded convention halls, filled with dubious stag do salesmen. (Gavin and Stacey lied to you. Gavin and Stacey lied to us all.)

And you know what we have to say about dubious stag do salesmen… Gavin and Stacey, BBC

And they’re not the only type of fair.

Big exhibitions

Great for big brands and choice

Big exhibitions are often put on by well-known wedding magazines, like Brides, in conference halls and exhibition centres.

They showcase expensive brands – Vera Wang dresses, Moet champagne – but they also seek out smaller suppliers that look unique and interesting.

There are a lot of stands at a big exhibition and some of them aren’t really related to weddings, like teeth whitening services and perfumes. But you’ll also see interesting venues, stationery, outfits, and cakes. And plenty of each.

The larger space means big exhibitions can showcase vendors from the same industry; if three hundred vendors are exhibiting, having twenty photographers just gives you choice. You can see different styles and price points. Smaller wedding fairs will never host more than two or three companies in the same line of work, to stop it feeling same-y. So, if you want to see options, big wedding fairs can be useful.

Funky, independent fairs

Curated suppliers that fit a style

Independent fairs, like Most Curious, Un-Wedding, and Chosen, are put on by people who run wedding fairs for a living; they care about finding the perfect suppliers and putting on a show people will enjoy.

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A post shared by THE UN-WEDDING SHOW 🖤 2019 (@the_un_wedding_show) on Sep 5, 2019 at 8:55am PDT

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A post shared by Becky Hoh-Hale (@mostcuriouswedfair) on Sep 27, 2019 at 7:23am PDT

Independent fairs curate their suppliers carefully. With far less suppliers than the big exhibitions – between 20 and 150 – they take care to showcase a range of different suppliers.

They often seek out new, interesting ideas, unearthing ideas and small wedding businesses you might not have come across before, like audio guestbooks and custom favours. They’re a great way to discover new ideas and get inspiration for a wedding unique to you.

A day out at an independent fair can be a day out, with food and drinks, as well as fashion shows, workshops, talks, and live music.

Local fairs hosted by wedding venues

Great for finding small, local suppliers

Wedding venues regularly put on wedding fairs, showcasing their preferred suppliers. They tend to be smaller events – often under thirty suppliers – but they’re a great way to find people you need to be close to the venue, like florists and cake makers, to avoid big delivery charges.

With less space available to exhibit wedding suppliers, local fairs will usually focus on those most weddings will have – stationers, florists, bakers, photographers… You won’t find any ideas you won’t already have thought of, but you will find reliable, recommended suppliers, familiar with your venue.

Wedding businesses give out exclusive discounts and freebies at wedding fairs

It’s no secret that weddings can be expensive. In 2019, the average wedding cost over £31,000! So it’s worth considering anything that can get you money off or free extras.

Most wedding suppliers will run a special offer at wedding fairs. Some will give you a big discount for putting down a deposit on the day. Some will give you a discount just for coming to the fair. Some will run competitions to win their services. And some will put in a bonus, like a free engagement photoshoot, if you book them in the weeks after the fair.

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A post shared by ⚡️Lex Fleming ⚡️ (@lexflemingphoto) on Mar 4, 2019 at 7:08am PST

It makes sense for wedding suppliers – they want to know how awesome couples are finding them, so they know if their marketing is working! – but it makes sense for you, too. If you spend £10 on a wedding fair ticket and save £200 on your ideal photographer, you’ve freed up budget to spend on another part of your wedding. Or a no-wedding-talk date night!

Wedding fairs announce most of their exhibitors in advance, promoting them on Instagram and Facebook, and linking to them from their websites. Have a look at the wedding suppliers who’ll be exhibiting a week or two before the fair. If anyone catches your interest, it’s likely worth getting a ticket; at worst, you’ve had a nice day out with your partner or your friends. At best, you find your dream wedding suppliers and save money on them.

You can get FREE tickets

Most wedding fairs give their exhibitors free tickets, to get them talking up and promoting the fair.

Have a look at upcoming exhibitors on Instagram, or check the stories of the fair account itself. If there are free tickets available, they’ll be promoting their prize draw in the weeks before the fair. In the time it takes the kettle to boil, you could follow, comment, and win tickets to go to a fair for free!

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A post shared by Dan Corbett (@storyandcolour) on Jan 5, 2019 at 9:53am PST

See real examples of work to rule wedding suppliers in (or out!) quickly

No matter how long you spend pruning Pinterest or trawling Trustpilot, you can’t know what something will look and feel like from pictures.

There’s a big difference between reading a paper GSM weight and holding an invitation in your hands. And, no matter how good a bakery sounds online, you need to sample their cakes before you know if it’s what you want to serve to your guests.

Only wedding fairs give you the chance to see (and touch and taste!) physical examples of what you’ll be getting, so you know if it’s what you want.

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A post shared by Photobot.Co (@photobotco) on Feb 15, 2019 at 10:35am PST

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A post shared by Dream cake maker (@tinysarahscakes) on Jul 25, 2019 at 9:27am PDT

You can get a vibe for the people you’re going to spend your wedding day with

It’s important to get along with the people who are helping to make your wedding.

Maybe you don’t need to be best mates with your cake maker or stationer (though you still want to know they get you), but it’s important that the people you’re going to be with on the day – your photographer, your celebrant, your wedding planner – are people you get along with.

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A post shared by Creative Planners (@perfectlyplanned4you) on Jul 17, 2019 at 11:05pm PDT

It’s important that you know they’re on the same page and understand what you want the day to be. It’s important that you know you can trust them.

At a wedding fair, you have the chance to meet people face-to-face. You can chat through your ideas and see who’s genuinely excited to make them happen for you. You can get a vibe on if they’re someone you’re going to want at your wedding in a way a website and Instagram feed never can.

Things might not have thought of or known to search for

Your wedding is about you. It should have your hobbies and humour and style in it – nothing should be there because that’s what you have at weddings. (Something I’ve ranted about at length before and will again!)

Wedding fairs are a fantastic way to unearth those ingenious ideas, unique products, and things that make your day feel like you.

I wish I’d known about Humble Crumble’s alcoholic crumble, for a perfect winter dessert, or The Big Red Box’s audio guest book when I was organising my wedding; but they’re such new, different ideas, there’s no way to know how to search for them.

Wedding fairs are the best way to discover the ideas and people that will help make your wedding shine.

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A post shared by ✨ Humble Crumble ✨ (@humblecrumblelondon) on Sep 22, 2019 at 11:05am PDT

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A post shared by The Big Red Box (@thebigredbox.co) on Oct 3, 2019 at 6:42am PDT

Convinced?

Of course you are! Come natter nuptials with us at the Most Curious Wedding Fair on the 7th-9th of February, or the Chosen Wedding Fair on the 29th of March!

Top photo by Sally Rose Wedding Photography.

What do you think?

Agree? Disagree? Pistols at dawn? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Have your say

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'Vibe' is a perfectly valid reason and you know itGavin and Stacey lied to us allIf nothing else do it for the cake (advice for life)Wedding fairWedding planning mistakes
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Mell

After planning, designing, and coding her own wedding, Mell started Gettin' Hitched Rocks to help awesome couples stay WHELMED through the wedding planning process, with clever websites that do the work for them.

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About Gettin’ Hitched Rocks

About Gettin’ Hitched Rocks

Hi! I'm Mell.

I started Gettin’ Hitched Rocks to keep you whelmed while you plan your wedding, with wedding websites that do the wedmin for you and send automatic RSVP reminders to the people who need them, and matching stationery, so you can carry the design you love, with your personality shining through in every detail, across every part of your wedding, from save the dates to thank yous — and everything inbetween!

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It's awkward getting your RSVPs back on time. You It's awkward getting your RSVPs back on time. You don't want to chase up every guest - and frankly you've got better things to do, like binge Bridgerton (again) - but it's important to get your final headcount across to your venue, your caterer, and your stationer.⁠
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If you handle your RSVPs on a wedding website, it can automatically send out email and SMS reminders - just to the people who need them - when it starts getting close to your deadline.⁠
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An automatic reminder to RSVP isn't embarrassing the way being pulled up by the couple is - and it encourages quicker answers, since your guests can RSVP then and there on their phone, as soon as they read the message.⁠
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Check out our wedding website demo to see how a wedding website can keep you WHELMED while you plan your wedding.⁠
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(Link in bio.)
An order of service gives you a space to explain n An order of service gives you a space to explain not just what will happen at your wedding ceremony (and how many biscuits your guests will need to bribe their kids with, to keep them quiet) but what its significance is; why a reading matters to you, or why you picked a song to enter to.⁠
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And it's a space to introduce people to your wedding party, and your partner, if they might not know them well.⁠
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It's a chance to give people information they might need - whether that's the fact you're having a phone-free wedding or the wifi password. (No judgement.)⁠
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And it's something your friends from different walks of life can chat about as they get to know one another, and take home with them as a souvenir of your day.⁠
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Find out more about orders of service and the other on-the-day wedding stationery that can help organise your wedding on our blog.⁠
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It's one thing to say you should have whatever you It's one thing to say you should have whatever you want at your wedding - and another not to worry you'll be judged for your unconventional choices.⁠
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A reader wrote into our advice column, asking if they should have the quirky entrance music they want at their wedding and risk starting the day on the wrong foot, with judgey comments from extended family, or compromise to avoid spending the day worrying what everyone thinks of them.⁠
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Check out our blog for our advice on bringing personality into your day when you're facing criticism you can't shake off.⁠
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This February, we're giving 5% of every sale we ma This February, we're giving 5% of every sale we make to Inquest.⁠
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Inquest hold the government to account for state-related deaths, like death in police custody and the Grenfell Tower fire. ⁠
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They campaign for changes in policy to end institutional racism, expose failings and prevent preventable deaths. ⁠
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Check them out and the wonderful work they do. And if you know any charities or non-profits who could use a little extra support, let us know in the comments!⁠
The thought of starting a gift registry makes a lo The thought of starting a gift registry makes a lot of people cringe. You don’t want to come across as greedy and you don’t want people to feel obligated to buy you anything.⁠
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But - people will feel obligated regardless! People go all out for weddings. They like to push the boat out with expensive presents, to celebrate the milestone and to celebrate their friendship with you. And they'd much rather get you something you want.⁠
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So don't be afraid to ask for it. Even if it's cash.⁠
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It’s only a big deal if you make it one. Have a line in your invitation or wedding website explaining that all you want is your friends’ company but, if they do want to get you something, you’re registered at such-and-such. Or explain that you’d appreciate some money towards your honeymoon or to buy some furniture for your home.⁠
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You can use wording like:⁠
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‘You absolutely, positively, definitely, and definitively don't need to get us anything to celebrate our wedding. We just want everyone to show up and have a good time. Honestly.⁠
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‘But, if you would like to get us something, we've put together a little wishlist of what we need here.’ ⁠
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Or, if you really don’t want a gift registry, say so. (Or people will buy you a present anyway!)⁠
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‘We’ve been living together for a while now and have everything we need - all we want is for you to celebrate with us!’ ⁠
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And if you want more wedding planning tips and non-cringey wording examples, we have a free email series on how to plan a stress-free wedding at staywhelmed.com. (Link in bio.)
Save the date cards are one of the most useful too Save the date cards are one of the most useful tools you have to help plan your wedding; they give you time to THINK.⁠
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There's a lot to organise for a wedding - and a lot you can't do more than 12 months in advance. But leave it too late to send out your invitations and your friends might not be able to go!⁠
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With a save the date, all you need to have decided on is... well, the date. You can tell everyone all the nitty gritty details later - without worrying they might make other plans in the meantime.⁠
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Check out our range of save the dates on our shop, or get in touch to get something made just for you.⁠ (Link in bio.)
Let's talk about the unglamorous side of weddings. Let's talk about the unglamorous side of weddings.⁠
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The side that isn't in glossy magazines or on Pinterest. Where we completely misjudge things. Or forget them. Or wish we'd done things differently.⁠
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When I got married, the best advice I got was from my married friends, telling me the pitfalls they'd fallen into so I could avoid them.⁠
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That's why I decided to start a series of interviews with real couples, not just talking about the good parts of the day but the bad bits, too. The bits they'd do differently if they could.⁠
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Like Deby, who advises all of her friends to do everything they'll do on the day (within reason!) while they try on their wedding outfits: hug, walk, dance, bend over... Her dress was too loose and she reckons she ruined a lot of good photos, shoving her hand down her strapless top to avoid an accidental Janet Jackon impersonation!⁠
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Check out our interview with Deby and our other couples on our blog to find out what ideas you should steal - and what you should avoid! (Link in bio.)
Every month, we donate 5% of every sale we make to Every month, we donate 5% of every sale we make to charity. This January, we're supporting @womens_aid, who do invaluable work to help families who've suffered domestic abuse.⁠
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Check them out and the wonderful work they do. And if you know any charities or non-profits who could use a little extra support, let us know in the comments!
With the New Year on the horizon, it's a good time With the New Year on the horizon, it's a good time to talk traditions.⁠
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We can put far too much importance on tradition for tradition's sake - especially when it comes to weddings. It can be difficult to feel you can push back on history and on other people's expectations of what a wedding looks like.⁠
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If there are things you like, that will make the day feel more special and weighty to you, of course you should include them. But don't feel obligated to do anything because that's the way it's done, or that's what your parents recommend, or that's what you saw at someone else's wedding.⁠
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Don't have a first dance if it will make you feel awkward. Don't have a sit-down three-course wedding breakfast if your favourite thing to eat is finger sandwiches.⁠
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For tips and advice on how to push back and have the wedding you want, check out our free wedding planning course on StayWhelmed.com (link in bio), or check out our blog for advice on making wedding traditions your own.

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