By Ciara Daykin

Whenever I participate in the Bridal Fair I always have other planners asking me- “was it worth it?” The simple answer is yes but I can tell you that it’s not just what you do at the fair but it’s what you do afterwards that makes the fair worth it.

Here are 4 tips for maximizing your Bridal Fair investment:

1. Create A Great, Showstopping Booth- Even if they’re not giving out an award make sure your booth stands out. You want your booth to resonate with your target bride so that she stops by. It also shows other wedding vendors that you’re playing a bigger game and that can mean more referrals.
2. In person and Online Attention- We always take a ton of pictures of our booth because it’s not just the people who notice you in person that you want to impress but you want to leverage EVERYTHING that you do so that means tweeting and facebooking like crazy about your participation in a Bridal Fair. That way even if brides aren’t there they are taking notice of the splash you’re making.
3. Build Your List- Bridal Fairs are the best way to build your list. I always give out my free report and have brides sign up to receive it via email and then later they get my ezine. This follow up is crucial and makes the difference between getting business post fair and not.
4. Make Genuine Connections- Yes we live in an online world and it’s important to market online (you know I believe in that) but it’s also important to have some face time with engaged couples and to make a connection with them. Brides and grooms come to these shows seeking answers and as a wedding planner, you have lots of them. Really listen to what their needs are and suggest how you can help them. We take appointment bookings right there at our booth and are busy in the weeks post fair with interviews.

Ciara’s Rockstar Wedding Planner Advice

Bridal Fairs are fantastic for wedding planners to participate in. It’s a great way to build your list and get noticed. I personally love the networking we get to do with other vendors as it’s great to see them outside of a wedding and reconnect. Bridal Fairs can be extremely profitable but you need to make sure you have all your marketing materials and your strategy aligned before you take the plunge. At Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE this year I’ll be creating a Bridal Fair booth to show you the optimal setup and I’ll also be providing each attendee with a package of sample marketing collateral that you should be giving out at the fair AND sharing my follow up plan with everyone in attendance. This is a GREAT reason to attend Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE, because just one hit off your next Bridal Fair more than pays for your attendance at Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE. Click here to secure your ticket.

Ciara Daykin is the Rockstar Wedding Planner. She is an award-winning event planner and CEO of Firefly Occasions Inc. with offices in both Canada and the United States.

Ciara has devised a system for creating and maintaining a successful event planning business. She shares her knowledge with other planners through her Rockstar Wedding Planner coaching programs and various speaking engagements.