Are you planning to attend your first-ever wedding expo? Essentially, a wedding expo is a fair wherein customers get to see various vendors offering wedding-related products and services. Some of the most common vendors you can see at wedding expos are bakers, invitation makers, and event planners.

As a beginner in the business world, having lots of exposure can give you opportunities to book customers. So if you think participating in a wedding expo is just a waste of time, then think again. When people often see your brand, it’s impossible that they won’t be curious about what you can offer.

Okay, so you might not have customers right away, but more people will get to know about your business. Besides, other event planners will also be present there, so it would be nice if you’re one of the options for soon-to-be-wedded couples.

Aside from gaining customers, you can also have partnerships with other vendors. So if you need some tips for a successful first wedding expo, don’t hesitate to check the list below!

1. Set a budget

Usually, beginners haven’t set a budget for events like a wedding expo. So for now, you can just use a percentage from your marketing budget. You can move some numbers that may not be as important as paying bills and get a budget that will help you come up with a useful exhibit.

Once you’ve set the budget, you should ensure to stick with it. Otherwise, you might just spend more than your target profit for the time being. Besides, you may already have some decoration in your store. So instead of spending on decor, think of other useful things to improve your display.

2. Set an objective

What’s the purpose of joining the wedding expo? The main reason why you’re attending the event is to gain customers and sell your brand. But aside from that, you should also have other objectives, such as a target number of customers to interact with, phone numbers to collect, or even leaflets to give away.

Try to make as many objectives as possible, and also make sure to fulfil them while you’re at the event. If you want to make it all worth it, list all the things you want to accomplish and check them after you’ve done them.

3. Plan the design of the booth

One of the most exciting parts of participating in a wedding expo is planning the booth design. You can make a sketch or just list things you need to do to complete the booth. Of course, some of the things you shouldn’t forget are the backdrop, lights, curtains, tables, and your logo.

If you look at Pinterest or other online sources, you can see a lot of inspiration. But if you’ve visited a wedding expo before, you must’ve seen how other event planners present their brand to the public. With that, you can try to pick some of the highlights of your visit and include them in your booth.

4. Create some samples

Before signing up for the wedding expo, you must have an idea of what you’re about to face. Usually, event planners and other vendors prepare something for their prospective customers—for instance, a sample cupcake, an invitation, or even a bag of goodies.

So if you’re not yet ready to face a hundred people, you should take some time to know all the details you need for a successful exhibit. Once you already know how many participants are expected to come, don’t make the exact number of giveaways. Instead, have a few more extras that you can give if ever more people show up.

5. Think of a strategy

Imagine you’re already at the event. What’s the first thing you’ll do when a couple approaches your booth? Or rather, what will you do so that couples would approach your booth? You can think of different possible scenarios and plan the things you’ll do if ever they happen.

Usually, when a couple goes to a wedding expo, they’re prepared to face different kinds of vendors. And since they’re not experts in this area, they might feel disadvantaged since they don’t know the right prices and other information.

As an event planner, it’s your job to make them feel safe and appreciated. You can walk them through the process, and don’t leave out the tiny details. Furthermore, chemistry is what makes them feel at ease. So when they feel like you’re never going to let them down, they’re a chance that they’ll hire you.

Are you excited to be a part of a wedding expo? Although it seems like it’ll take a lot of time and effort, it’ll all be worth it. Whether it’s big or small, once a few weddings trust you, your previous customers will surely recommend you to their family and friends.

Don’t forget to let us know how your first wedding expo went by leaving a comment below!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Aliana Baraquio is a content writer for Pink Caviar Events Sydney, a full-service event management and decorative hire company located in Sydney. When she’s not typing out blog posts, you can find her watching anime series or baking cupcakes.