Make the Most of Visiting a Wedding Fair

Make the Most of Visiting a Wedding Fair



Visiting a wedding fair is a chance for prospective brides and grooms to meet and talk with wedding venues, suppliers and vendors and to find inspiration, to enquire about services offered and to potentially (and hopefully) make a booking.

Some couples relish the opportunity to attend a wedding fair.  

Others avoid them altogether.  

They can be a good place to start but they’re by no means the be-all and end-all of planning.

Wedding fairs range in size from small boutique events, to hotel open days and right through to large exhibitions like the National Wedding Show at Birmingham’s NEC.

Events take place right across the country and there’s almost certain to be one local to you.

If you’ve found hotels or venues that you like the look of, ask if they’re holding a wedding open day.  It’s a great way to see the space dressed for the occasion.

Wedding fairs are also a great way to get friends and family involved in the organising, too.  Although, don’t recruit anyone who genuinely doesn’t want to go. You want good advice and a sense of humour, not a dour face.




Quite a few wedding fairs have free samples and almost all will offer a complimentary glass of alcohol such as champagne or prosecco.  If you’re planning on making a day of it, it’s worth asking someone else to drive or where possible you could take public transport.  At some of the bigger shows, it’s possible to book a hotel room for the night – why not make a real occasion out of it.

You can attend a wedding fair with as little or as much information about your big day as you want. Rough ideas and ballpark figures are fine as it gives the exhibitors something to work with and will help them tailor advice and suggestions.

Exhibitors will want your email address.  They want to be able to contact you after the show but they also want you on their mailing list. Rather than use your personal email address set up a new one and use it as your official wedding account.  You can always give out your proper email address once you’ve made your booking.

Free to attend events might still require you to RSVP. Check if you need to let them know you’re coming in advance.

Take a pen and paper to write down any important information or be prepared to take a lot of photographs.  It’s useful to take a bag as well for all the leaflets and business cards you’ll pick up.

Wear comfortable shoes. You could be walking a lot.

If you’re planning on trying on dresses or clothing, then wear something that’s easy to take on and off.

Sometimes there are free goodie bags but they might be handed out on a first-come-first-served basis so go early to grab one.



Don’t let anyone give you the hard sell.  Most folk in the wedding industry are lovely people but in a tough economy, a minority might try to pressure you into booking there and then.  Don’t let the excitement of the planning get the better of you.  Some vendors will have special offers that are only valid on the day of the event.  Others will have offers that can be extended beyond the fair.  Whatever happens, try to keep your options open and don’t commit unless you’re sure you want to go ahead with the booking.  You’ll speak to a lot of lovely vendors and venue planners and these are the conversations that will be most useful regardless of whether you book on the day or not.

Eat before you go if you’re going to be hitting the prosecco.  Food outlets at the bigger venues could be expensive.  Having said that, some events offer superb free samples.


Have we missed anything?  

What’s your best tip for attending wedding fairs? Drop us a message on our Twitter or Facebook pages

Looking for your wedding venue?  Visit the Pink Wedding Days website and start your search today :) 




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