Let’s say you go to the wedding expo, have a great time, and then while you are there, you meet some wedding professionals that might have what you are looking for. How do you decide if they are the right fit for you?
Here are 5 questions to keep in mind when selecting your next wedding exhibitor:
1. How professional do they look?
Everyone says you can’t judge a book by its cover, but sometimes you should. If the wedding professional you are talking to looks like they just rolled out of bed, aren’t organized or looks like they don’t even want to be there, that is a sign it’s time to move on! A wedding expo is not the time for a wedding exhibitor to “have a bad day”. Only select those professionals that have brought their “A” game. You want the best for your wedding right? Look for those that came prepared. Trust me on this one.
2. Are they willing to work within your budget? Do they offer show specials?
You have taken the time out of your day to attend a wedding expo. You definitely want to be rewarded for this decision right? A wedding show is a great place to get “show only” deals from wedding exhibitors. If you find a product or service that you like, ask the exhibitor if they have a show special or are willing to work with you on your budget. Remember- it’s OKAY to negotiate. Most companies have wiggle room in their service prices and would be willing to do what has to be done to get you to book. Go get that deal!
3. Do you actually enjoy interacting with them? Are they too pushy or salesy?
When you spoke to the exhibitors, did you seem to vibe with them? Were they listening to you, and actively engaged? The last thing you want is some super salesperson trying to push you into products or services that you don’t want. You want them to offer you solutions to YOUR wedding. Be sure to gauge how you feel during and after your interactions. If you seem to hit it off, that’s a good sign that they might be the right professional for you. If you don’t feel like they were listening, or you felt like just another number or customer, then you should probably take that as a hint and move on to someone else.
4. Do they have a website and active social media? Do they have good reviews?
A company that doesn’t have a website or active social media is usually behind the times and may not be up to date on the latest and greatest in the wedding industry. This isn’t always the case, but I will always go with an exhibitor that has a polished website, engaging social media and has good reviews online. I don’t want to take chances on an inexperienced wedding professional for my wedding. Who wants to book someone that doesn’t even have a single 5 star review? What if they only have 1 star reviews? I don’t want to book with them. Neither should you.
5. Are they going to be a good fit for you and your wedding?
At the end of the day, sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling. You will know if the exhibitor is trustworthy and legit. Every wedding pro is a little different, some have big personalities while others are more laid back. Remember, you will most likely be working with these people for a good period of time, so you want to actually like them and look forward to your interactions. They will be involved in the most important day of your life. You want to be happy they are there!
There you have it! Be sure to keep these 5 things in mind while you are at the show. They will hopefully save you some serious headaches and even heartaches down the road.
Until next time!
~Sarah A.