Preparing for a wedding show can be hard. Where do you start? What will be the most effective way to approach my booth? What is most important to prepare? All of these and more will be answered in a PowerPoint presentation, coming soon. Be sure to check back and check out this presentation. It will be in both power point format and in video format for you to download. You will be able to use it over and over, in preparation for your wedding show, and in preparation for your success.

• Pinnacle Media and Events

• SEI Bridal Fairs
• Idaho Bride Online
• XPS Media

How do you make a show successful?  What is it that you can do to get people to notice you, and then book you for their wedding?  What things are more important, and where should I focus my efforts and assets?  We have taken some ideas from various websites, and from our own experience with shows and brought them together for you.

1)  You have to define success for you.  There are many things that come from being in any expo or show.  There is the exposure to the public,  leads from show registration and of course everyone would like actual sales at the show.  There is also the pride that is built with your employees because they are being shown as part of your establishment, and even the networking that can go on at a show with others who are in the wedding business, and even with your competitors.  You have to find out what is your level of success that you would like to achieve.

2)  Your booth.  This is your new store front for a day.  Make it inviting and welcoming.  You want people to come into your booth.  Invite them in.  You don't want to sit in a corner and wait for them to come in.  Stand at your "door" and invite them to see your services.  You are here to promote yourself because you are good at what you do.  Bring them to you by having a well planned and well decorated booth.  Caution:  Don't go over board.  You don't want to have a table with a white linen, pens and business cards that you sit behind and hope that people will come and talk to you.  Have drawings, information, pamphlets, bright colors and excitement.  All of this will draw people to your booth.

3)  Dress well.  That doesn't mean a suit and tie, but avoid anything that will say we don't care.  Try to coordinate the people in your booth, but if you don't have a company uniform, don't try and create one for the show.  

4)  Get to the point at the show.  You have very little time to get the bride's attention. Here are some powerless language habits to do away with at shows

1) Words that weaken impact such as somewhat, maybe and perhaps.
2) Hesitation sounds such as mm, uhm, but, you know, and uh.
3) Needless words that are meant to emphasize but do not such as really, very, probably, and kind of.
4) Rhetorical questions such as: This is beautiful isn't it?
5) No phrases that breed lack of confidence such as "I am not sure" and "I don't think".

Get the bride excited and get her into your place of business by being on your best foot.