Vanessa G. asks: “I’m coming to the Expo, what should I know!?”
Sarah says: We’re excited to have you! The Grand Bridal Expo is one of our favorite events to host. It is a great coming together of wedding professionals and soon-to-be brides and grooms.
We’ll have over 50 wedding service providers participating in the expo. Vendor categories include caterers, photographers, officiates, entertainers, cake designers, florists, and many more! These vendors are excited to talk to couples about the services the couple is looking for, and what the vendor can do to match that. Many of them are able to reserve dates and services for couples on-the-spot, so we recommend doing your research and having a good idea for what you are envisioning prior to arriving to the show. Some vendors offer discounts for reserving their services at the Expo, so you will want to be prepared to reserve if you want to take advantage of the specials!
Newly engaged? That’s okay! This Expo will be the perfect opportunity to begin your research, too. It may feel overwhelming to see all of the options, but wedding professionals know you have a lot of people to meet and a lot of things to consider for your special day. They will be happy to congratulate you and show you what they can do to help. You’ll get a lot of information and make lots of good contacts that will help you refine your wedding plans.
When you arrive to the Grand Bridal Expo, the first thing you’ll do is register. Which registration form you complete will depend on your role in the wedding. The Couple Registration form is completed by one member of the wedding couple and asks what services the couple is looking for and how far out they are planning for their wedding. Everyone else fills out Door Prize forms. Both forms are used to draw for prizes at the Fashion Show. The entrance fee is $6 per person at the door, but we have advance purchase tickets on sale for $5 on our website. Reserved Castle Couples get in free!
After submitting the registration forms and paying admission, each engaged couple will be given a Grand Giveaway Registration Form. Couples will fill out this form if they wish to be in the drawing for our Grand Giveaway– a wedding package worth over $15,000! This form is required to be signed by each vendor at the show, so that we know the couple has taken the time to talk with vendors and go through the entire show. Just before the Fashion Show begins, Castle Farms will collect these forms in a raffle drum to be brought out at the conclusion of the Fashion Show for a live drawing.
TIP: Many vendors will have forms at their own booths you can fill out to receive more information, so if you want to be extra prepared, bring your own labels with your name, phone number, email address, and wedding date to make the process even faster.
The vendor booths will fill three huge rooms. We recommend taking your time to talk to vendors- you really can plan your entire wedding in one day! Doors open at 10:00am and most people arrive before noon to allow for plenty of time to visit each vendor. In addition to all the great vendors, we will have two Workshops put on by vendors for information, ideas, and tips regarding different aspects of the wedding. The Workshops are located upstairs in the Fashion Show room and are at 1:30pm and 2:00pm.
You’ll definitely want to visit the Celebration Lounge for a little relaxation, where beverages such as soft drinks, beer, and wine can be purchased. The Lounge will also have seating for lunch if you choose to enjoy an on-site meal from The Landings food truck. The Lounge opens at 11:00am and alcohol will be served starting at noon.
The Grand Finale Fashion Show, presented by Petoskey Bridal Salon, kicks off at 3:00pm. This exciting event showcases many different dress and tux options and styles. In additional to wedding gowns and tuxes, mothers, bridesmaids and even flower girl dresses will be modeled. In-between the sets we draw for prizes, so you’ll want to be in attendance! The show vendors have graciously donated a great assortment of gifts, from small Door Prizes such as dining certificates, photo albums, and champagne sets, to large Featured Prizes including wedding florals for the bride and groom and an engagement photo session. You must be in attendance to win any prize so kick back, enjoy the show and listen for your name!
It’s hard not to gush about the Grand Bridal Expo- we work hard to put on a fabulous show that is full of awesome vendors. We hope to see you there! Get more info here: /grand-bridal-expo/