Showing posts with label free wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free wedding. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2009 Bridal Shows and Expos


2009 is fast approaching and it's that time of the year for the start of the bridal show and expo season. If you are newly engaged, this can be one of the most exciting parts of preparing for your wedding. For Washington DC area brides and grooms, they have a huge advantage because they area so close to DC, MD, and VA that they could attend a different bridal show once or twice a month! There are more than enough bridal shows in this area for every budget and style. It's a wonderful opportunity for you to win great prizes and discounts towards your wedding day and also get fabulous decor ideas and tips.

Some brides wonder how to choose the right show or the "best show". My advice on selecting which shows to attend really depends on the bride and groom. If you are just looking to get as much free stuff as possible, then you should attend every show and sign up for every freebie and discount. On a side note, you run the risk of being constantly contacted by the vendors at the shows via email/phone calls because most shows require you to register (with a valid email/phone number). If you are truly shopping around for the best vendors, then you need to do some research on each show you plan to attend. Look at the history of the show, the organization sponsoring it, the show location, the number of vendors exhibiting, what is their"grand prize", and the price of admission (if any).

Just keep in mind that bigger isn't always better. Don't "sleep on" the smaller bridal shows! Often times these shows feature talented up and coming photographers, wedding planners, musicians, etc. who are willing to work extra hard to earn your business and make you happy. If you are planning a 2009 wedding in the Washington, D.C. area it's to your advantage to attend a few of the areas bridal shows. I will be exhibiting at the January 25, 2009 Washington Bridal Showcase in Bethesda, Maryland at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. I still have a few complimentary tickets so send me an email if you'd like one.

Upcoming Bridals Shows for Maryland and Virginia:

Maryland:

January 10-- 11:00 am-5:00 pm- Timonium Bridal Expo- Timonium Fair Grounds

January 25-- 11:00am-5:00pm- Washington Bridal Showcase- Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center

February 15-- 11:00 am-3:00 pm- Washington Wedding Show- Greenbelt Marriott

April 19-- 2:00 pm-5:30 pm- Historic Oakland Bridal Showcase- Columbia, MD


Virginia:

January 11-- 11:00 am-3:00 pm- Washington Wedding Show- Waterford at Springfield,VA

February 1-- Washington Bridal Showcase- Dulles Expo Center- Chantilly, VA

March 29-- Washington Bridal Showcase- Patriot Center George Mason University- Fairfax, VA

Personal Wedding Websites

A personal wedding website is one of the most convenient and economical ways to keep all your guests informed about your wedding. There are numerous websites available that offer free website hosting for your wedding website. You don't have to be an expert at HTML code to create one. These websites offer convenient pre-formatted templates for you to choose from. It's as simple: create an account on their website, select a template, choose the colors, upload photos, and enter your wedding information, save it and publish it to the internet. I recommend to all my clients to create one of these free websites. On your website you should include at minimum the following information: Bride/Groom names (Duh), wedding date (if you've chosen one), bridal party names, ceremony and reception hours, venue, driving directions,reception theme/colors, hotel information for "blocked rooms" and any special instructions. Additionally, you can talk about how you met, the proposal, registry information, local area attractions, and local area lodging and public transportation information. If you are looking to go paperless, have your guests RSVP through your website. After the ceremony you can upload your professional wedding photos or have your guests email you photos they took and you can upload them. Here is a list of free wedding websites:



http://www.weddingwindow.com/
http://www.momentville.com/
http://www.ewedding.com/
http://www.mywedding.com/
http://weddingannouncer.com/

Blog Widget by LinkWithin