Bridal Expos: Yes or No?
Updated: Nov 17, 2019
You're recently engaged, you've started a Pinterest board and you're also beginning to research everything wedding! You may have seen advertisements for bridal expos, especially after the holidays and you're debating on whether buying a ticket. The question you may be asking is, "are bridal expos worth attending?"
The answer is, YES!
From a personal standpoint, my mother-in-law had surprised my husband and I with tickets to a bridal expo a month after getting engaged. We had wedding ideas in mind but we hadn't pursued anything and honestly I had no idea what to expect at the expo. Upon arrival I was greeted with a SWAG BAG with a lot of goodies inside pertaining to mostly wedding vendor information and promotional items (pens, post-its, candy, bottles, t-shirts, magazines, business cards, promo incentives, etc.) so I thought "okay this is nice." My husband and I were able to walk around, meet with a few vendors, take information, sample some food, watch a runway show and we even won a raffle! Needless to say, the expo broadened our wedding planning spectrum and made me more intrigued and excited to start planning my own wedding.
From one bride to another, I never felt obligated to "book a service" but rather I could just be added to email chains if I wanted further information on a specific service or vendor and later unsubscribe if I was no longer interested. A lot of the vendors had incentives as well if you booked their services following the expo. Some incentives or "bridal bucks" per say may be received in your swag bags but each individual vendor table had further information on expo incentives, if applicable.
Whether you book a vendor through the expo or not, a bridal expo is a great way to gather more information and expand your idea boards. The expos are very affordable and tickets can range between $5.00-$20.00 with some expos having the option to add a VIP PACKAGE that could include but not limited to additional free items, front row seat to the fashion shows, more raffle opportunities, etc. The expos are usually 3-4 hours long so you could definitely make it a "girls day" and invite your bridal party to experience the expo with you or as I did, spend it with your fiance' as a newly engaged couple.
You may be thinking, "is one bridal expo enough?" To answer your question, honestly it would be a personal preference to you. Attend one expo and see if you have the information you need to start or continue your planning. I would say attending 2-3 expos would be very beneficial! Attend one with your girlfriends, one with your mom, grandma or aunt and the other with your significant other. Taking someone different to each bridal show is a fun memory too!
I have included my own promotional postcards for a few expos in the Miami and Orlando areas. If brides attending the bridal expos book services with The Bridal Binder before 12.31.2019 I will take an additional 10% off!
See below for bridal expo information and if they are coming to a city near you this spring, book your ticket today as most expos have discounted online tickets!
OUR DREAM WEDDING EXPO
North Miami - March 31, 2019 **promo postcards for The Bridal Binder**
Kovens Conference Center
3000 Northeast 151 Street
North Miami, FL 33181
Show Hours: 1PM - 4PM
TICKETS! - $10 tickets online or $14 CASH at the door
Pre-Sale discounted tickets $7 using Promo Code: WEB331 | offer ends 3/29/2019
Tampa-St. Petersburg - April 28, 2019
Hilton Carillon Park Hotel
950 Lake Carillon Drive
Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Show Hours: 1PM - 4PM
TICKETS! - $10 tickets online or $14 CASH at the door
Pre-Sale on-line discounted tickets $7 using Promo Code: WEB428 | offer ends 4/26/2019
West Palm Beach - May 19, 2019
Hilton Palm Beach Airport Hotel
150 Australian Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Show Hours: 1PM - 4PM
TICKETS! - $10 tickets online or $14 CASH at the door
Pre-Sale on-line discounted tickets $7 using Promo Code: WEB519 | offer ends 5/18/2019
CENTRAL FLORIDA BRIDAL EXPO
Lake Mary/Orlando - April 20, 2019 **promo postcards for The Bridal Binder**
Noah's Event Venue
720 Currency Circle
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Show Hours: 12PM - 3:30PM
TICKETS! - $10 tickets online or $15 at the door
PERFECT WEDDING GUIDE
Orlando - April 24, 2019
I DOs & BREWs
Paradise Cove 13245 Lake Bryan Drive Orlando , FL 32821
Show Hours: 6PM - 9PM
TICKETS! - GENERAL ADMISSION $15.00 On line | $20.00 At the door Non-Drinking Ticket $5.00 On line | $20.00 At the door
Daytona Beach - April 28, 2019
5th Annual Wedding Expo By FLOWER
Ocean Center 101 N Atlantic Ave Daytona Beach , FL 32118
Show Hours: 1PM - 4PM
TICKETS! - FREE! (register online) $5 parking per vehicle at the Ocean Center parking garage
Daytona Beach - May 7, 2019
I DOs & BREWs
Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, 100 North Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach , FL 32118
Show Hours: 6PM - 9PM
TICKETS! - GENERAL ADMISSION $15.00 On line | $20.00 At the door
GREAT BRIDAL EXPO
Fort Lauderdale - March 31, 2019
Broward County Convention Center
1950 Eisenhower Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Show Hours: 12PM - 4PM
TICKETS! - $10 per person OR $40 Bridal Pass (up to 7 guests)