(1888PressRelease)
November 20, 2007 - CINCINNATI – The season is upon us, and we don’t mean the holiday shopping season! Bridal season, the time when couples across the tri-State get engaged, is drawing near. This January, bridal shows will draw thousands of newly-engaged couples.
“Ironically, I book more clients after bridal shows because they leave them so overwhelmed,” said Kathy Piech-Lukas, president of Your Dream Day. “It’s important to know how to use all of the wedding planning tools out there to your advantage and understand exactly how they work.”
When going to a bridal show, Piech-Lukas suggests that you wear an outfit that has pockets. When you meet a vendor that you’d like to book or set up a private consultation with, put that vendor’s business card in your pocket. That way, it doesn’t get lost in the pile of literature you’ll pick up there. Go into the bridal show with a shopping list of what you need. Determine which wedding vendors and categories you’d like to book before you go in there and only visit those vendors. If you’ve already purchased your wedding dress, for example, there is no need to watch the fashion show. However, if you haven’t tasted cakes yet, you can sample dozens of cakes in less than an hour.
“I always recommend my clients go to a bridal show, if their timeline permits, to taste cakes. It’s the most efficient way to taste cakes from 10 different bakeries in one hour,” said Piech-Lukas.
Bridal shows and wedding magazines, such as The Knot Ohio, Southwest Ohio Weddings and Cincinnati Weddings, are a great way to get decorating ideas, create your timeline and manage your budget. Featured weddings in all of these magazines showcase some of the best work across the state and can give you, the bride, great decorating ideas. Your Dream Day offers a complimentary copy of each of these magazines with a free meet-and-greet consultation.
Piech-Lukas also advises brides to do your own research for your wedding vendors and don’t rely solely on a list from one of your vendors or an ad from a magazine. “Planning a wedding is an emotional time and an emotional purchase. For wedding vendors, it’s a business and their livelihood.”
Wedding vendors pay to be in print publications and listed on websites like The Knot, Cincinnati Weddings, Southwest Ohio Weddings, Perfect Wedding Guide, Bride and Groom Planner and the Wedding Day Planner. Although it may initially be by invitation only, vendors may pay hundreds of dollars, sometimes thousands, to exhibit at smaller bridal shows at reception halls, be on exclusive referral lists, or participate in a networking group for wedding vendors. Publications given to brides by reception halls, which have colorful advertisements, are also typically paid placements.
Non-biased surveys, like The Knot Best of Weddings, are your best resource for good wedding vendors. The Knot conducted a massive survey of 25,000 recent brides and grooms - the first of its kind - to capture detailed feedback on every wedding business that couples hired for their wedding celebration. Newlyweds were asked to rate their vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism, and to comment on their experiences. The resulting ratings - and detailed feedback - were aggregated by the editors of The Knot to create this one-of-a-kind publication highlighting the best wedding resources in each region according to local brides. The survey was administered by Harris Interactive. The Bride and Groom Planner also conducts a survey of its members at www.myweddingsurvey.com. All vendors, regardless of whether they advertise at the Bride and Groom Planner, are reviewed on the website. Cincinnati Magazine also conducts a "Best of City" survey which has awarded select wedding vendors, like Fabulous Bridal, the coveted award.
Your Dream Day, which is a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, the International Special Events Society, and the only wedding coordinating company that is a member of the Better Business Bureau, was named a pick in The Knot Best of Weddings 2007 and believes that these survey resources and referrals from your wedding planner, friends and family members are your best bet.
“Bridal consultants like Your Dream Day prescreen all 800+ vendors offering wedding services in the tri-State. We do not accept kickbacks from any vendor we refer to our clients. The Association of Bridal Consultants strongly frowns on its consultants accepting kickbacks. Referrals are made solely on budget, personality, and style fit for our clients. We want our clients to get the best bang for their buck and demonstrate why it’s a necessity, rather than a luxury, to have a wedding planner on your team of vendors. If we don’t demonstrate cost savings and time efficiency to our clients, we’re not doing our job.”
Upcoming Bridal Shows in the tri-State include:
Wendy's Bridal Show, January 5-6, 2008, Cincinnati Convention Center, 10 to 5 p.m., $10 per person.
Dayton Bridal Expo, January 5-6, 2008, Dayton Convention Center, $8 per person.
Cincinnati Wedding Showcase, January 12-13, 2008, 11 to 5 p.m., Sharonville Convention Center. $10 per person.
Dayton Hara Bridal Gala, January 19 & 20, 2008; 11 to 5 p.m. Hara Arena, Dayton.
Dayton Bridal Expo, January 27, 2008, Dayton Marriott, 12 to 5 p.m., $8 per person
BridalRama Winter Showcase, February 9 & 10, 2008, Cincinnati Convention Center. $10 at the door.
Wedding 101, taught by members of the Association of Bridal Consultants. December 7, 2007 and March 2, 2008. $25 per person. Pre-registration required.
