Bridal Shows 101

January 8, 2019 Leave a comment

Conquering Bridal Shows in 4 Easy Steps

So you’re attending bridal shows? So fun!!! You and your bridesmaids are ready to meet vendors and enjoy tasty treats but you don’t know exactly what to expect at the show – the RW team is here to give you some tips on what to have ready prior and what to expect on show day.

1. Know who you want to meet. Lots of show hosts will post a list of vendors that will be advertising at the show, so take a peek before hand. If you know you want to focus on florists and bakers, highlight them on the list and then check out their websites and social media to get a better idea of their style and if they could be an option for your wedding.

2. Vendors will have inquiry forms available for your to fill out if you’re interested in meeting with them. These forms vary between vendors but typically request you + your fiance’s names, contact info, wedding date, and budget. Save yourself some time by creating labels with your general event info. Then just peel off your label, stick it on, and head to the next vendor!

3. Know your availability. You may have the opportunity to book appointments at the show, so have your planner ready with available dates/times for upcoming weekends and weekdays (don’t forget – most wedding vendors will have weekend events, so availability for those appointments may be far and few between).

4. Expect a lot of people. Bridal shows are kind of like speed dating for wedding vendors – you briefly chat about general event details and move on to the next vendor 😉 Since there are so many vendors available, you can expect there to be crowds and possible wait times. Popular vendors will have busy booths, but don’t fret! If you aren’t able to chat with a certain vendor, just be sure to fill out their info sheet and they’ll follow up with you. Pro tip: decide who your “must-sees” are before the show. If there are 10 vendors you know you want to visit, prioritize them so the most important ones are taken care of first. That will help you avoid waiting and give you more time to explore the show.

Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy the show! Just like a good theme park bridal shows can be a bit overwhelming at first, but with a general plan you’ll be able to navigate the show and meet all your favorite vendors in one day 🙂

P.S. Did you know we’ll be at the Florida Wedding Expo this Sunday, January 13th? Come meet our team and see some of our amazing rentals {you can check out our venues, Cypress Grove and Luxmore, too}! Get tickets here – be sure to enter code “VENDOR” for a discount!

Xoxo,
Sarah

Bridal Fashion Week // NYC

November 1, 2018

If you think meeting with bridal designers, attending The Knot Gala {I got to meet THE Miss Hayley Paige!}, and casually chatting with your favorite designer sounds like a dream, YOU’RE RIGHT. I’m still on cloud 9 from this year’s NY Bridal Fashion Week and I cannot stop smiling. Not only is New York just so cool {especially to a Florida Native} but getting the chance to really sit down and just witness how bridal fashion works was everything.

We were lucky enough to tag along with Solutions Bridal for their designer meetings and literally I had no idea what to expect! Everyone we met with was just so sweet and so excited for mine and Dede’s first trip to fashion week, and then immediately everyone got right to business!

Here’s a little snippet of how it goes:

The designers showcase their upcoming collection and the salon looks at a ton of dresses. I was for sure overwhelmed but in a good way, of course! While this is happening, they’re going through the buying booklets, snapping photos, chatting about different colors, liners, veils, accessories and trying to pick the perfect pieces for the store. I pretty much took 400 photos, said “oooohhhhh look at that one” to every dress, and tried to keep up!

The first day we met with 5 designers, from the minute we landed we were in back to back meetings, it was incredible. I was exhausted by 3pm for sure, I don’t know how stores go to 3-4 days of this! But you can’t miss out on anything! I loved learning about new styles, what’s about to be trendy and the mechanics of dresses (and jumpsuits!). I see a lot of wedding dresses every week, but I never really looked at the differences between each one and how they fit. Let’s just say, I know now I’ll need to have 4 dress changes for my future wedding!

Here are a few of my favorites!

Basically, Bridal Fashion Week is everything I could have imagined and more, for real. I cannot thank Solutions Bridal and of course RW Events enough for the totally perfect trip 😊

Xoxo,
Sarah

Luxe Bridal Suite // Luxmore Grande Estate

September 20, 2018

The Luxe Bridal Suite

The expansive bridal suite at Luxmore Grande Estate might easily be our crowning jewel. We are proud to boast one of the largest bridal suites in all of Central Florida! Complete with a furnished lounge, designated beauty station area, full walk-in closet, luxurious bathroom, and en suite screened-in balcony.

There is plenty of space and comfort for our brides, their bridal party, and relatives to get glamorous and relax on the big day.

The bridal suite also provides the perfect opportunity for intimate bridal portraits with your wedding photographer. Enjoy all the natural lighting from the large bay windows and balcony. Plus, the antique fixtures, vanities, and romantic details provide an elegant atmosphere for photos.

The Luxmore bridal suite provided the perfect space for models to prep for our fabulous Calvet Couture Fashion show. As you can see there was more than enough space for bridal gowns, multiple beauty artists, and more!

So sit back, relax, pop a bottle of bubbly (be a little extra!) and enjoy your luxurious suite for the day at Luxmore Grande Estate!

Xoxo,
Lacie

WedAtelier // Educational Retreat

July 17, 2018

2018 has proven to be a busy year so far and we’re going full steam ahead this summer! Our owner + creative director, Tamuel, will be speaking at WedAtelier, an educational retreat for weddings professional, in August and we couldn’t be more excited for her!

If you don’t know, “WedAtelier is an intimate, boutique retreat experience for creatives and artisans in the wedding industry. We believe in the importance of taking time regularly to get away from the hustle and business of business and life to recharge and refuel your creativity. By combining our signature intimate environments and beautifully designed spaces with targeted learning for creatives in the wedding industry, we believe this experience fills a void in the education world. This event is about recharging and renewing your creative spirit, forming heart-level connections with other passionate entrepreneurs, and learning strategies to up-level your business.”

Registration is only open through July 30th so be sure to secure your spot soon!

Bridal Show Madness

February 26, 2018

Our favorite part of engagement season is participating in bridal shows and showcases. It’s an amazing opportunity for us to style some of our favorite pieces and wow the attendees with inspirational decor. A few weeks ago we participated in the Florida Wedding Expo along with our vendor partners Treasury Rentals and Flowers by Lesley.

Special thanks to Sterling Photography for the images:

The Ceremony Space

Featuring the following inventory:

  • Gold and White Louis Chairs
  • Custom Walls
  • Fireplace (Yes, its free standing)
  • Lots of gorgeous fresh floral from Flowers by Lesley

The Social Lounge

The highlight for this lounge was the Hunter Sofa + the floral ring

The Table-scapes

From louis chairs, chargers, farmhouse tables, and candelabras… our extensive inventory has a little something for most Central Florida brides.

RW Chronicles | One & Only Bridal Boutique

September 23, 2016

Our team prides itself on being in the know about up and coming vendors, including bridal salons – earlier this week the RW gals attended the One & Only Bridal Boutique grand opening in Downtown Orlando, and boy was it fun! We loved swooning over all the flowy, sparkly gowns and networking with current and new vendor pals!

One & Only Bridal BoutiqueSome of our favorites from their collection came from designers Alvina Valenta, Stella York, and Sophia Tolli.

One & Only Bridal Boutique

Photos: Gian Carlo

P.S. They’re hosting a trunk show from now through October 2nd for Stella York designs – be sure to schedule your appointment to see these gowns before they officially hit stores!