18 replies to this topic

[mylovelyday]

Hi

I see lots of wedding fayres around and have been to some but have found that its mainly wedding cars, outfits and photographers. There doesnt seem to be much of the smaller details such as table decorations, favors etc.

So my question is have you been to any and did you think they were worth going to when planning your wedding?

Many Thanks

Helen

[Gav]

mylovelyday, on 25 February 2011 - 08:44, said:

Hi

I see lots of wedding fayres around and have been to some but have found that its mainly wedding cars, outfits and photographers. There doesnt seem to be much of the smaller details such as table decorations, favors etc.

So my question is have you been to any and did you think they were worth going to when planning your wedding?

Many Thanks

Helen

I've been to a few that had people showing favours, table 'tut', bridal party presents and all kinds of bit 'n' pieces, but to be honest I only went looking to pinch ideas; they were all far too expensive.

[KelsMrs2B]

i've not been to any wedding fayres as they've all been places i can't get to (We don't drive and costs a fortune on the buses)

[elouise86]

I went to a fair few when I was bridesmaid for a friend...and to be honest I found like you they were all cars/photographers mainly and not much in the way of the little touches. Since we've been planning our wedding we have only been to one (at the venue we are getting married at) and that was mainly so we could see how they can set up the ceremony and reception rooms...altho they did have flowers stalls and favour ideas which was nice!

Edited by elouise86, 25 February 2011 - 10:23.

[crystalvelvet]

The reason that they tend to be full of the larger items is purely the price to attend as a trader.
They can be incredibly expensive and to a large item sucjh as photography, car etc, a few bookings will easily cover the cost, but to a favour maker, etc they would have to make an awful lot of bookings to cover the costs.

[PaulineC]

Yes I agree, the fees can work out very expensive and for us smaller businesses it would not justify us going to the wedding fayres. There are so many I would like to go to but with prices as high as £100, £200 and £300 plus its too much to pay out with no guarantee of getting any bookings.

My first wedding fayre had a great variety of vendors but the only trouble was that there was hardly anybody that came through the door due to poor organisation so was not worth anybody's time or effort.

I am doing one in April at a hotel who contacted me and asked if I would like a free table! Of course I have said yes as the most I can lose is my time


Pauline

[crystalvelvet]

Now, if people were offering me free tables, I'd be there like a shot!!

[mylovelyday]

Thanks for the replies, as a small business i'm also reluctant to spend £100 on a table but did think it may help just to promote by business in the local area and get some traffic to my website.

ts not easy to work out which are going to be the best wedding fayres to attend as the promoters all shout about theres as being the best. Our local one which i couldnt attend was poorly turned out so i was glad i couldnt make it in the end.

thanks!

Helen

[crystalvelvet]

Often wedding venues will have several fairs a year and it is worth visiting first to have a look around and get a feel ofr it.

[Gav]

I'm surprised more venues don't have free places. Surely by having a fayre with plenty of exhibitors, they stand a better chance of getting bookings themselves?
In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think it's daft that they ever charge.

[sara82]

Personally, I went to quite a few wedding fayres whilst I was planning my wedding and I found them pretty useful. If I was in your position, I'd try to find out which local venues are the most popular (especially the larger ones that can handle 4/5+ weddings a weekend) and ask if you can get a deal on a table at their next wedding fayre. It's in their interest to have plenty of exhibitors, so definitely worth a try. Some venues recommend particular suppliers too, so you could maybe find out how to get onto their 'list'? My venue gave me a huge list of local suppliers covering everything from dress shops to florists and chair cover hire companies. I'd imagine this would bring in a bit of extra business, but I have no idea if the suppliers had to pay to be on the list.

[Gav]

Having said previously that I just went to the fayres to pinch ideas, we went to one on Saturday because a photographer friend of Sam's was showing their and we wanted to talk to him; There was a fashion show from a newly opened local shop and one of the flower-girl dresses was about perfect. It's more expensive than we were planning to spend (and we need 2), but the only cheaper ones we've seen (that are suitable) were off the shelf and would probably need adjustments. These are made to fit and it's all included.
The other bonus is that my eldest daughter is re-using her prom dress (more like a slinky, satin cocktail dress - being a size 6, she can get away with it ), so we're taking them all next Saturday and the shop are matching the red in the new dresses to her dress, doing the adjustments she needs and providing a matching belt/sash for Sam's dress.
I guess it's easier to be sure of generating business if you get in everyone's faces with a show of some kind?

Just another thought for you, whilst talking to the owner, she mentioned that she always calls into radio talk shows (Jeremy Vine - R2 etc) and regardless of the subject, always manages to relate it to her new shop - "Well, having just opened my wedding dress shop, blah, blah blah; and she's had some business through that.

[mylovelyday]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone - not sure i have the nerve to ring a radio show lol.

I havent thought of targetting actually venues to see if they have supplier lists to get on those so thats a great idea thanks - that will be my job at the weekend.

I might give a fayre a go and see how i get on - just need to get a move on as wedding season is fast approaching !

[mattfoden]

Personally we went to only one wedding fayre- the one in Olympia (I forget its name), but we found it a bit overwhelming to be honest.. In the end we just ended up researching all of our wedding ideas and suppliers online using Google...... there's so much info out there on the internet (sometimes too much!!)- That said, I do think that fayres are good to give you some general ideas :-)

[TheGroomsWord]

I think theyare good for ideas and almost like a sounding board, ie you can talk to a few different people about what your plans are and sometimes they have a few ideas.

[magdalena]

mylovelyday, on 25 February 2011 - 08:44, said:

Hi

I see lots of wedding fayres around and have been to some but have found that its mainly wedding cars, outfits and photographers. There doesnt seem to be much of the smaller details such as table decorations, favors etc.

So my question is have you been to any and did you think they were worth going to when planning your wedding?

Many Thanks

Helen

Hi:) I went to a few wed fayres but I must say I'm a bit disappointed with them. Everything was extremely expensive and the main focus was on flowers and photographers. Only a few wedding dresses and no lingerie.

[AJTImages]

Im still undecided about wedding fairs and whether it is worth it, after reading this it might be an idea to incorperate some of the smaller items that you wouldnt normally see there along with my photography though hmmmmmmmm.

[Kirsty]

Hey, I do agree that some wedding fayres just have cars,photographers and not many little details. However, i do think that they are worth going to as they give you lots of ideas. I have a stand at wedding fayres i offer bridal make up and other beauty treatments and also jewellery. I think more wedding fayres ought to have stands with the smaller parts to a wedding as i found those were the bits i found hard to sort out. People who hand make favors etc are usually beautiful and different.
Kirsty xx

[harribo]

Never been to a wedding faye, literally done almost all of the sourcing for my mrs, all through online services for everything including music and wedding photographers etc - anyone else relied soley on the internet to source their wedding suppliers? and if so was it cheaper to do it online, or find them all in person?

Edited by harribo, 26 January 2012 - 12:04.