Winter’s biggest and best wedding show is this weekend at the beautiful and luxurious Grand America Hotel! There are many, many reasons for attending the show as it is a one-day, one-stop wedding shopping experience and all at one amazing convenient location!
This show will provide the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in one-of-a-kind show specials, incentives, and giveaways, including a Men’s ring giveaway at our first ever Cake Dive and an amazing Honeymoon Getaway! Attending this show can save countless hours of searching online and traveling around the state while also greatly reducing the stress associated with planning a wedding! Utah’s best wedding professionals will be on hand and their will be fashion shows, prizes, live music, and MORE!
That being said, here are a few key tips and advice that we HIGHLY recommend you do when attending the Winter Bridal Extravaganza.
1. Arrive early
Those that arrive first to the bridal shows automatically receive some of the coolest prizes. The Upcoming Bridal Extravaganza at The Grand America is giving away a 2 night getaway to the first 150 brides who arrive! Not a bad deal for just showing up early. Many times brides show up towards the end of the show thinking they will just check it out. Little did they realize there is so much to do and see that they wish they would have arrived earlier.
Parking - The Grand America is conveniently located downtown but it isn’t in the middle of all the confusion. There is plenty of parking in The Grand America’s parking garage. However, you can also avoid the parking garage and its parking fees by parking across the street for FREE at the Little America. Another suggestion is to take Trax. The Trax line stops directly in Front of The Grand America. Even better if you were to go somewhere else downtown The Grand America stop is part of the FREE FAIR zone in down town Salt Lake. So if you wanted to park at The Gateway and then come on over, you could do so at no cost on TRAX.
2. Pre-register before the show
Save time by registering before the show. Registration only takes a few minutes and will save you from having to fill out a registration form at the show. While the line to get in may seem long before the show starts, once the doors open, those who are already registered and checked in are simply able to walk in. Make sure those attending the show with you pre-register online as well. There are separate check in tables for those brides and guests who are pre-registered and those who still need to register and pay. Click Here To Pre Register.
3. Bring your friends
Bringing your friends to the bridal show will help them feel involved and also give you a chance to bounce ideas back and forth. Many brides bring their maids of honor and their bridesmaids to help them with decisions. Many others will bring their mothers or mothers-in-law as this helps them feel more a part of the planning process. Plus, in many cases they are the ones paying for it all.
4. Contact info labels
Wedding vendors will often have drawings for prizes at their booths. Instead of having to fill out multiple forms with your contact info, prepare some electronic labels before the bridal show. Information to include: your name, address, phone number, wedding date and email address. This is something that will really help you as you go through the show. Trust us on this one, you will be so glad you did this.
5. Bring a notebook and pen
Bring a notebook and pen so you can take notes. Write down contact info of vendors you talked to or thoughts you have while attending the bridal show. You will visit with a lot of vendors. Make sure you write down things that really jump out and impress you. Realize that if you don’t write it down you could likely forget something important. There are many times where we get phone calls from brides after the show asking who the vendors were in the show because they didn’t take down any notes.
6. Take Pictures
Bringing a simple digital camera or having your phone with picture taking capabilities with you will allow you to quickly snap a shot of some of the great things you want to remember from the show. Did you see a great dress during a bridal fashion show? Maybe there is a great cake from a wedding cake designer. This will allow you to go back and see some of the things that impressed you the most.
A Wedding At The Grand America Display
7. Know your budget
Setting your wedding budget and knowing who is responsible for each thing will help you make decisions and know what you are looking for while attending the show. Shows tend to feature vendors of all kinds that fit into many different wedding budgets. While one vendor could be more expensive than your budget allows, the next one you meet with could meet your needs just fine.
8. Bring your checkbook
Many wedding vendors will offer a special day-of-the-bridal-show-only discount. This will help you save even more money if you are able to find your vendor at the bridal show. The Bridal Extravaganza also gives you an additional incentive for booking your vendors at the show –Extra entries into the Grand Prize Drawing for the Honeymoon Getaway! Most vendors will require a deposit to secure your wedding date. Please be aware that certain dates fill up very fast so if you find a vendor you want to work with put the deposit down because chances are if you don’t, someone else will book them. For every vendor you book with at the show you will receive 1 entry into the Grand Prize Drawing. This is a great way for you to not only solidify your wedding vendors but to also give you a better chance at the Dream Honeymoon.
Also, shows sometimes have boutique vendors who are selling anything from pants, shirts, jewelry, bags, etc. This is a great way for you to pick up gifts for your bridesmaids or to pick up something extra for your wedding day or for any day.
9. Do your research
Know which wedding services you need before the show. Also try to find out which wedding vendors will be exhibiting. This will help you know what questions to ask and allow you to visit those vendors you are particularly interested in.
10. Take part in the prizes offered during the show
Many shows offer prizes that are given away throughout the day and a grand prize drawing at the end of the day. The Grand prize drawing at the end of the show is an exciting moment for the brides – imagine being able to take a honeymoon trip to a location that you never thought you could afford. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be given away at the show! Many brides will leave with some incredible gifts and prizes, maybe even more than one! It very well could be you.
11. Make a day of it
Plan on attending the bridal show for several hours. This will allow you to visit all the vendors and find everything you need. With all the fashion shows, live music, free food being passed out, and booths to see, you can spend several hours at a show and still feel like you missed something. Bring your fiancé, let him feel a part of it. Believe it or not most guys do care about their wedding day, they just pretend they don’t. Most importantly and above all – have fun as you let us help you plan the wedding of your dreams!
We really look forward to seeing you at the show!
