How to be Successful at a Bridal Show

Wedding shows are still a great way to promote your wedding business.  However, a bridal show can be exhausting and frustrating. Your eyes ache from the bright lights, your feet hurt from the concrete floors, and you’re frustrated, because no bride seems interested in booking your services.

So what can you do to make your wedding show booth successful?

• To give it away or charge for it – Although brides go to wedding shows to get free samples, sometimes, (with an emphasis on sometimes) it pays not to give away too much for free.  Chatto Wright, who runs a salon in Chicago, charges for samples of her beauty products at shows. “Brides have more respect for what you are making when you charge for it,” she said. “The brides who walk through a show grabbing whatever they can are not good potential customers. I only give samples away if I see a bride with really problem skin, then I pull them aside, talk to them about their skin and offer some products to help them.”

• Do your research –  Select the best show for business development. Talk to wedding industry colleagues who have attended the same show before you make final plans.

• Set up a schedule – Wedding shows are perfect for networking as well as meeting new brides.  So make sure to schedule time to walk the floor to make contacts.

• Bring your friendliest employees –  You want high-energy, happy people in your booth. They must be well-groomed, attentive and not chewing gum, sitting or talking to each other.

What do you think?  What have you done that has made wedding shows successful for you?