Navigating Wedding Fayres: How to survive!

Wedding fayres can be daunting and overwhelming events for newly-engaged couples. In this blog entry, we aim to give you an insiders view of what to expect; and how to get the most out attending. Many of you will have spent January attending wedding fayres and are contemplating attending a few more between now and March.

The big question now arising is are they worth it? I'll tell you below…

 This question comes up a lot amongst attendees and suppliers alike, the short answer is they are only worth doing if you set your expectations and know WHY you're doing them.

The longer answer is more complex. There is a lot of choice for which fayre or fayres to attend. National and/or bigger event company led fayres charge an entry fee, others are more modest local events run by the venue themselves or by a local fayre organiser. Every fayre has its place in the offering, but not every fayre offers the exact same thing.

First and foremost, ask yourself, why are you going?

Is it to pick up ideas, or to find a specific supplier, maybe you have been following a supplier on line and you want to meet them in real life? Whatever your reason, know what it is. If you can't think of a reason for going, or you can think of 100 reasons NOT to go then don't go just because someone has told you should. If you're going for genuine reasons, you will get so much more from the experience than if you are just going because you feel like you have to.

Secondly, where are you going?

Is it being held at your venue? Does it appeal to your wedding style? Is it at your dream venue, which you know you can't afford but you just want to have a look around? The venue and style of the show is important, or at least it can be if you're looking for something specific. Having another look around your venue and having chats with the suppliers that have been recommended to you is a great way to pick up ideas for your wedding. Looking around venues that are like yours may also offer up other suppliers, similar but different to the ones you've been referred to. It never hurts to see different suppliers at different venues. Or even to see your suppliers at different venues - if they're recommended at more than one venue then that's a pretty good clue that they're good quality.

So, what will work best for you?

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. If you don't want to pay to attend the larger fayres, stick to the smaller local ones; you may have less choice but you'll likely still find what you need. If you want something different, you may need to travel a bit further. Decide your priority and go with it.

Dont forget to look out for wedding showcases, these events are becoming more and more popular. Unlike a wedding fayre that will see numerous vendors in attendance a wedding showcase is another way of venues showing you the best of what they have to offer! The venue will be set for a wedding and offers you a unique opportunity to see the function room and other areas dressed to perfection. It may be too much for some but it offers a starting point for how the venue can look. Some venues require you to book an appointment as opposed to just turning up, keep your eye out!

Dont knock it until you try it!

Don't dismiss the idea of attending wedding fayres, even if you are worried about talking to potential suppliers - go, look, pick up leaflets (maybe even an offer or two), get ideas. You'll always get the best out of a fair by talking to the suppliers, and not just about what they offer themselves; they have great contacts throughout the wedding industry and anyone who has been around a while will also have some great general advice. You never know what useful bit of advice you'll pick up 😊

Our top tip is to start an A4 ring binder with plastic wallets or expandable file, at each show you can drop any cards or leaflets into a categorised pocket. When the time’s right and you’re looking for a fabulous table centrepieces or fairy light draping such as those offered by us, simply find the relevant pocket with event styling flyers and start taking a look. This process will be invaluable at the later stages of your planning, months after originally meeting us at a wedding fayre!