There are a few wedding fairs coming up in our area, but I have never been to one before.
I know they will be full of suppliers, but what esle goes on?

Are they worth going to even if you pretty much already have everything planned?

Some coming up are free, and some are charging. Think we missed the big one at the metro radio arena, forgotten the name of it now but it is a huge national one.
THeres one next month not far from us that is free entry, just not sure if it would be beneficial to go seeing as we have planned just about everything?

Its a good idea to go as you can get ideas and you might see something you dont already have x

the one i was hoping to go to had a catwalk. I am sure i missed it though lol. might go to some, just for the fun lol. even if i go on my own

They are good to get ideas, I've been to a couple, and some are better than others. Just go along and have a nosey at what people can offer. Most people are there just to answer questions, others try to harass you, but just tell them that you have already booked whatever it is they are offering and they should leave you alone.

I went to the big one that's on in Manchester as the bus company I wanted were there, and I got a cool idea for an ice-cream cart, but the vendors there were really pushy.

The first few fairs we went to, we wandered around in a daze, completely unsure of what to look at etc. It's a good idea to get there early (sometimes you get a few extra goodies - I got free champers and a wedding magazine plus some other bits and bobs at the last one I went to!) and if you can, look up the exhibitors list and do some research on the suppliers you're interested in. Make a list of those you want to speak to and target them initially. Getting in early also means you can get round everyone you want to talk to before it gets busy too. Oh and everyone will ask for your wedding date! And take a big bag incase you don't get a complimentary plastic one (most give them out, but you never know!) as you'll end up with a million leaflets and flyers! And most of all, enjoy!! :-)

to me they sound like a fab day out, but get the feeling OH doesnt feel the same lol

Well Ive managed to convince him for this next one, as its at our venue, AND on my birthday, so he has to do what I say! I'm having my BM's come down the night before for a nice meal for my birthday and then up for the fair, with lunch in the bar area at some point, but he's happy to sit in the bar whilst the catwalk is on! x

just not sure my 8 year old son will be that interested in it although he DOES love wedding cake!

The ffirst thing he said last year when i told him his grandad was re-marrying was "Oooohh wedding cake"

so if i tell him there will be cakes to see he may go lol.

anyone else going to any in tyne and wear?

Yeah the one at the hylton is where i wanna go, didnt know there is one at the stadium, i live a 5 minute walk from there!
Which marriott would that be? Might go to that too.

I'm not sure if going will just make me a bit sad seeing all the things we cant have or feel like we are missing out

I'm with LMB, "you have to have a big white dress", "you have to have fancy cars", "you have to have a roulette table"...

Just go along, pick up ideas for things you like and then if you recreate them within budget great, if not then you've only lost a couple of hours of your life, and probably had a free glass of sparkly stuff in the process.

For me, I'd never thought of having an ice-cream cart. My OH loves ice cream. the cart was expensive. But it gave me an idea, when I was little I stayed at my Nanna's every weekend and we had an ice-cream cart that used to come around all summer. The same guy still does it, and I've been having ice-cream from him since i was 6 years old, that's 22 years he's been serving me. So, if the venue allows it, i want him to serve ice-cream on my wedding day. If I hadn't gone to that wedding fair, then I may not of thought of it.

OWD that wedding fayre I was talking about is organised by a woman who runs an ice cream cart - the most beautiful jazzed up one and she serves organic ice cream from locally sourced ingredients. I'd LOVE to have her but it won't be in our small budget.

Janie - where's a will there's a way. What's your priority out of these 3?
I think even the most dreary village hall can be made to look beautiful with a lot or the right decoration - that you can make yourself for little money. Transport is non important to me so I can't really comment on this. And regarding the photography - taken from other threads I assume the style of photography is not important to you? You have 18 months to set a tenner (or less) aside each month - go to a college and ask the photography students if someone is interested in building up their portfolio. Ask around your friends if someone knows of someone whos just starting out as a photographer. You can provide the cds (poundland!) and you don't need all the extras, do you? Leave them the copyright as long as you can do whatever you like with the pics without financial gain. If you want a photobook you can easily do this yourself - Jessops does a christmas promotion every year - if you wait a few months it might only cost £10.

If you are after a certain style of photography - that's trickier.

It's up to you if you want to get married sooner or wait until you can afford more.

Ask around - after all you are a same s.ex couple maybe a photographer is very interested in this addition to hus/her portfolio. Haggle a deal. Maybe you can exchange services?

An aquaintance of mine is doing our pics. It's a gamble because the style is very important to me. Very. But that's why I asked her because I loved her photos. She's a total amateur but has great talent and she understands what I want. She'll get to build up her portfolio, she'll get the copyright and can do whatever she wants with the pics, if our wedding will be published on a blog she'll get exposure and advertising and I offered her endless childcare :D

Ask around!


Oh and drapes - buy fabric in bulk and drape it yourself. Fairylights cost next to nothing just after christmas. Look into Poundland - they reduce them to 50p after christmas!

I think it's good to focus on what you really want and then you can think how you can recreate.

Good compromise!

janie you could get the drapes and fairy lights cheap if you look around. fairylights could be bought in after xmas sales seen loads in big supermarkets and i pound shops, and the drapes are easy to make. local to me we have a fabric shop which starts from a \£1 a yard but local markets are just as cheap then all you need is a sewing machine (if you can't do it i'm sure someone you know can or like LMB sugguests with photographer contact your local college and ask if any students want a project and learn how to sew drapes which are sooooo simple). go to the fairs get your ideas then try to recreate them at home.
in regards of making extra money for the wedding try doing a clear out of things you no longer want or need and doing a car boot or sell on the bay which ever we did that when our eldest was a baby so we could afford central heating and we made loads. you just need the detarination.

Also, have a look at your guest list and see what there skillls are - you may have a dress maker that can throw the netting together to make drapes, or a friends child at art college that is handy with a camera.

It's the marriott in seaburn and it is free entry but the one at the stadium is £2 per person entry.
If you have a good camera can you not ask a friend or family member to take photos with that then just put it on disc yourself.

You come across all sorts at wedding fairs so I think you should go to at least one. And always the chance of some free cupcakes and drinks :)

oh and thanks Jill :)

Are any of you going to the Wedding Show at the Olympia in London 24th -26th February?