Lovesick 2013 Is Coming To Town!

Logo from Lovesick Expo/Hi-Society Productions 

The great Lovesick Expo will once again be coming to Philly in 2013! Exact date: January 13, 2013! Tickets will be available starting September 1, 2012 (and you want to get these early!)

You know closer to the holidays you'll be busy with shopping, baking and partying--so mark your calendar now to order your tickets--then relax and forget it. Just add a reminder to the calendar in your smart phone and you'll never miss this important bridal show again!

The great thing about Lovesick is it features vendors you won't see at your other local bridal shows as well as some you will. Look for some great party planners and designers for invites and save the dates. As well as some great florists and dress boutiques. Look for a list of vendors (with more to come) here.

The Lovesick Expo is run by Tom and Jon, of Hi-Society Productions. They are a Philly-based DJ, cinematography, and event production team specializing in weddings that defy the mainstream. (Come on, do you really want a cookie cutter wedding? Of course not!) The Lovesick Expo will bring you together with vendors who have the same mindset. 

Tom and Jon want to let newly engaged couples meet the interesting, creative and undiscovered wedding pros in their cities that they might not ever run across at your 'usual ho hum bridal show.' Not only that, Tom and Jon throw an expo that's more like a great party! This is one expo your groom won't be bored going to, which is saying a lot (just ask any groom out there!)

Hi-Society's Lovesick Expo is what amounts to a huge party with "real people who work in the wedding world because it gives them a creative outlet for their art. And with unique couples who want an opportunity to find professionals who they mesh with because they are planning one of the most important days of their lives."

What more could you ask for? They'll add some great live music, lots of giveaways and prizes, not to mention food and drink. OK, I'm in! Hope I see you there!

Lovesick Expo--who is the fairest of them all! At least of bridal expos!

See our previous post In Your Shoes Event Design at Lovesick Expo at The World Cafe Live from the 2011 Expo.  See other coverage of Lovesick here. See, I'm not the only fan of Lovesick!

Ten Tips For Attending Bridal Shows

After you get engaged all of a sudden you are inundated with places to go and things to do. One of those things are bridal shows. If you live in a major metropolitan area you'll have a huge choice of shows.  If you live farther out in the country, not as many.  But the same basic tenets apply.

1. Determine how many bridal shows you plan to go to.  If you are planning to go to more than one or two, it's time to have a plan.  You'll want to hit one large show (which could put you off shows forever, but be aware, the smaller shows aren't as big a crush).  The larger the show the more likely you are to have a variety of venues, photographers, and honeymoon destinations. Choose one large show, and two smaller ones.  If you have ideas about venues you are considering booking, choosing a show there will give you a good idea of their organizational skills. Also you frequently get to taste food at smaller shows (always a bonus if you don't want to pay risk not tasting food until after you sign on the dotted line.) I suggest choosing one higher end venue and one mid/to lower end venue.  This lets you compare and contrast what each offer you.
2. Make a list of vendors you want to contact while you are at the show. If you only need a photographer or DJ, hit those booths first.  Quick tip: I've found some great venue tips from DJs at bridal shows.  They know who is easy to work with and who has problem weddings. 
3. Carry 'bridal' business cards with your contact info.  Some brides come with labels pre-printed with their name, address, phone and email address.  This lets you have more productive time with a vendor instead of wasting time filling out this info by hand.
4. Make a list of questions you want to ask vendors.  At a smaller show you may well get some good one on one time. If not, carry your datebook with you so you can make appointments. 
5. Don't be afraid to admit you're just starting to plan your wedding or don't have a date yet.  Usually a ballpark like 'summer of 2013' works for a vendor.
6. Look for vendors who are actively engaged with brides. These are vendors who aren't sitting behind a table talking to the people running the table next to them.  These are vendors who are looking at YOU. If they can't focus on you at a bridal show ...
7. Some shows encourage you to bring your fiance. While there are hundreds of brides per show, there aren't as many grooms.  So if you're looking to win a prize.... take a groom. 
8. Don't waste your time all at one table. Stop at a table, get their "elevator pitch" and move on. Then take a break and make a note on the business cards of the details you want to touch base with a vendor about.
9. Take advantage of free services if you have time, but don't waste your day waiting in line to get your makeup done. The show is short, make the most of the time you are there. Usually someone doing makeup is selling it, make an appointment with them for a 'trial,' scheduled after the show.
10. Don't forget, good manners go a long way. I know one venue that gave brides a 10% discount for writing them a thank you note! Wow! That's a big savings.  Also if you see the person there who has organized the show, it doesn't hurt to let them know you've enjoyed the day. Your mother would be soooo proud.

The Great Bridal Expo--Philadelphia Style

The Great Bridal Expo is one of the largest bridal shows traveling the country.  (http://www.greatbridalexpo.com/)  The Wedding Queen and her representatives attended this event on Sunday at the Loews Hotel on Market Street in Philadelphia PA.  The Expo was an incredible mob scence.  Lines of brides and their mothers or bridesmaids filled the halls waiting to get in to see vendors.  One big plus for this expo is the fashion show offered showing a variety of bridal gowns as well as tuxedos and bridesmaid attire, unfortunately there were far too few seats for the attendees.  People were either turned away or walked out, or were sitting or standing in the aisles.  A good suggestion would be to have two fashion shows during the Expo so that all those attending at least had a chance to see the show. Many vendors were so overwhelmed with brides that they didn't have time to do more than hand out information and ask brides to move on. 

Some great vendors were The Quadrangle at Penn whose tablet presentation offered brides a quick view of weddings as well as some gorgeous large posters highlighting their venue.  Other good booths to visit included The Hard Rock Cafe and The Chart House, both of who had reps that offered a quick but concise overview for interested brides.  The makeup artist who was there did a great job but she could have used an assistant or two.  Least favorite booths were the tuxedo reps who are the used car salesmen of bridal shows, pushy and annoying, some of them blocking the aisles so you couldn't get past them without talking to them. 

Given the choice I'd suggest going to some of the smaller bridal shows where you get a chance to really get some good info.  Last year's show at the Villanova Conference Center stood out as a great show.  Small enough to interact with vendors but with a lot of good info especially well showcased were the DJs.  Also offered was a florist who gave good tips for DIY brides as well as suggestions for services she could offer.  So look for smaller shows at venues that interest you.  Also not a bad idea to take along your groom. Most of all have a fun while you pick up all the info you can even if it's just who you don't want to use.

Hiring Your DJ, Photographer and Videographer

We had the opportunity to attend a showcase put on by The Pros at Dave and Buster's in Philadelphia last week.  It was a great opportunity to talk to and interview multiple photographers, videographers and see some of their DJs at work.  While we didn't find any spectacular photographers, we were impressed with their DJs.  Check their web site, http://www.thepros.com/ to find locations for their next showcase in your area. 

Although the company started in Philadelphia, they are now nationwide so there may be a showcase in your city.  You have to opportunity to put a deposit down to reserve their pros on the spot if they aren't already booked for your date. Come prepared to put down a deposit if you think you might find a 'must have' DJ, photographer or videographer.  The company is owned by the Tessler family and the presentation by one of the owners was excellent.  They seem well versed on the wants and needs of brides and grooms on their special day.  They consistently wiin 'best of'' awards from sites like The Knot which tells you something about what brides think of their services.  Visit their web site today and investigate their packages, their services and get a feel for the company.  I have to say we were impressed.  Congrats to The Pros for putting on a great showcase!