National Wedding Show !

Wish I was going, where is it?

I'm going to the Birmingham NEC show next week! Really looking forward to it! I'm hoping to get some ideas for centrepieces & flowers and want to get our invitations too!

I'm going to try and not look at wedding dresses as I don't want to have wobbles!!

Also looking forward to the champagne...and possibly cake samples!

Have a great day!!!

Im going to the London one

I'm really tempted to try a wedding dress on - still got ages until my wedding but just to try and feel like a bride for once rather than a distant dream lol

We are waiting for a reply from the National Wedding Show about availability of a stand. Fingers crossed, we should be there! Come by and say hello ?

I can't go to the one in London or Birmingham, but there is another wedding show in Manchester in October, I've just bought a ticket. Can't wait.

I'm going to the NEC one next Friday. I'm not sure what to expect either - but am looking for inspiration! I've already chosen my dress, so will mainly be looking at flowers, veils and invites

Yep I’m going on Sat with two of my BM and maybe my mum.

I’m not taking the credit card with me though could be dangerous

!!! ?

My tips would be: get there early, be prepared to sharpen your elbows, and watch the catwalk show cos it's fun.

I went to the one in Feb this year with my BMs and it was a bit of a disappointment for me. It was very hot, crowded, there was nowhere to sit own and have a glass of fizz together (the bar area was super busy, and it was £15 a glass!!). There were some hilariously awful stands though - including the ugliest chair covers I've ever seen in my life.

I think a lot of it depends on what kind of wedding you want - if you're going for a traditional white wedding then you'll probably be in your element, it very much caters for that Oh, and definitely don't be nervous! Get as MANY free samples as possible

I was really disappointed with it too wouldn't go again

Hi mickeyandminnie

Hope you don't mind me asking. Why was you disappointed? What were you hoping to see?

Thanks, Jo

I went for ideas to be honest. Lots of wedding dresses and photographers. People were soooooooo pushy to make a sale. Lots of honeymoon travel agents, john Lewis and debenhams trying to sign people up to guest lists. Then you had the usual curly hair tongs and miracle powder for your face and 'one second madam it will only take a minute' people. I left very irritated. I was expecting stationary, flowers, table centre ideas etc. instead it was just a bit boring to be honest. I felt really uncomfortable with the amount of people trying wedding dresses on in front of everyone I just think it's quite a personal thing. Just didn't think it was value for money

LBut maybe it was because I. Lucky enough to have a lot of it booked up maybe people went to find photographers and djs. Just didn't really fit with what I thought it was going to be

27 photographers there.

Lots of cake and dresses. People selling honeymoons.

A lot of chaff and much smaller than last years from the feedback I got from other stall holders.

I wouldn't of said it was pushy there (but I do tend to growl at people when they get too close). I wanted to go up to some of the stall holders and give them a hug though.

Oh, I asked one tog for their prices and they came back with wait for it, 'We give details in exchange for contact information'!

Must write that down for when I don't want any work from anyone, ever.

Highlight of the day though was Laura not 'minding the gap' when getting on a tube train. There one minute, gone the next. I was holding cake so couldn't really do much and I felt a bit of a useless fiancee to be honest. Very much a 'what ya doin' down there?' moment.

Really appreciate the feedback. When we have done shows in the past, we've always found there are loads of photographers and cake stands. I don't think they cap them where as the likes of photo booths, chocolate fountains etc, they are capped to 4 or 5 companies. Every company has a sales patter.. We tend to offer a leaflet and if someone has a question, we'll happily answer. We don't go chasing the sale and we certainly wouldn't ask for contact information just for a quote. I suppose given the cost of the stands (most running in to several thousand), it's a lot of money for companies to lose if they don't make the sales so I can see why they put the pressure on.

Joanne