What to take to a bridal show

Perhaps a better title is “What to take to a bridal show if you’re cheap and lazy and want to put in minimal effort” lol! It’s bridal show season, and whether you are a participant or a vendor at one, you know that people will be taking home information that will hopefully make an impression. It’s importantly to clearly and quickly show not only your work at a bridal show, but perhaps MORE importantly, a memorable brand. People walking through the hall will see hundreds of images, but they will only meet one YOU! If your brand is “you” and it’s memorable, they will remember to reach out when the event is over or be able to put a face and conversation to the email when YOU reach out to them.

Remember, a brand is so much more than a logo and colors, or a specific instagram filter. A brand is how your product looks and performs, how you talk, and how you interact with your clients. It influences the gear you buy or processes you use. its literally the filter through which everything you do, think, and say, about your business passes through. It’s REALLY important, and its pretty important to get it right the first time since clients start to develop a relationship with you and your brand right away.

The aesthetic part of branding is important too, but still leaves you room to refine and evolve. As you begin to create your website and social media presence, it’s great to have a place to start so you have a cohesive and consistent look. I’ve had people recognize my logo and colors who have never met me or seen my picture that tell me “oh, I’ve seen your business before I recognize the G and the mint green!” Down the road you can absolutely tweak your colors, and even your tagline if you feel like it doesn’t represent your business anymore. But likely, it will be evergreen because it reflects YOU as a person!

What I give to clients at a bridal show or meeting:

Branded folder to hold all the following goodies:

For clients that live far away, I will mail this entire folder and tuck in a $10 Starbucks gift card, that way both the clients that live close to me that I get to meet over coffee and the clients I get to meet over zoom have as similar as of an experience as possible, and definitely receive the same value from me.

I am fully aware that my display above is not the most glamorous or impressive, I spent maybe $100. But I know that my advertising strategy doesn’t rely on bridal shows, and most importantly I’m confident in the strength of my work and my personality to make connections! I’ve found that bridal shows are less about the huge displays and flashy pieces of gear and more about showing quality work and presenting a memorable, relatable brand. Even with my rinky-dink display, I’m the one that gets 3-4 wedding contracts because of the personable connection Im able to make. I hope this helped to ease some guilt as you prepare for your bridal show and encouraged you to put on your extrovert pants and get out there and make friends!

PhotographersJill Stiffler