By Kate Cohen
Congratulations, you said “Yes!”
Now the planning begins.
Whether you’ve been dreaming about your wedding day your entire life or are thinking about it for the first time, you may want to consider attending a wedding expo.
What is a Wedding Expo?
Wedding expos, also known as bridal shows or bridal expos, are showcases of products, vendors, and trends all gathered under one roof.
You can spend your day talking to some of the industry’s best and brightest, making connections as you gather ideas and take advantage of discounts and giveaways.
One wedding expo worth attending is right here in Orlando.
The Florida Wedding Expo is being held at the Orange County Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It’s a great way for brides and grooms from all over the state to engage with fabulous vendors.
You’ll be able to sample food and cakes, receive a free makeup trial at the Glam Bar, enter for prizes and giveaways, and meet hundreds of vendors like florists, DJs, photographers, planners, and so many more.
If you’ve never been to a wedding expo before, we have a few tips to help you make the most of your experience. Here are our 10 Best Tips for Attending a Wedding Expo.
1. Create a Custom Email Address for Your Wedding Planning 
If you haven’t already, you’ll want to create a custom email address for all your wedding planning signups and communications. As you continue to sign up for newsletters, e-blasts, specials, and sale notifications, you may notice your regular email inbox getting crowded.
A designated email address will keep your wedding-related content and communication organized into one easy-to-reference inbox.
2. Print Mailing Labels for Drawings and Raffles
Expos are known for their vendor raffles and giveaways, and most of them are well worth entering. But trust us, you’re going to get tired of writing your name, email address, and phone number over and over and over again. Going to an expo with pre-made labels with your name and contact info makes it so much easier to take advantage of every giveaway you can find.!
On your labels, consider including your name, your fiancé’s name, contact information, and your wedding date (if you already have one).
BONUS TIP: You can totally skip adding your phone number to labels or entry cards. If you want to be contacted by phone, go for it. Otherwise expect to receive a lot of text messages and phone calls regarding your trip to the expo.
3. Buy Your Tickets Early
A lot of expos charge for tickets, but most of the time you can get a great discount (or even free tickets) if you purchase them ahead of time. If you know there is an upcoming expo that you want to attend, check their website as soon as possible to see what kinds of promotions they’re running.
Some smaller expos will sell out before the event, so reserving tickets ahead of time is even more important. You can always try to see if there’s room at the door, but it’s a much safer bet to get your tickets online asap.
4. Bring the Right People Along
Wedding expos are always more fun with people you love!. Whether you’re in the early brainstorming phase of planning or the decision-making phase, having the right people there to support you can make or break an expo experience.
So, who should you bring? It’s a good idea to bring anybody who will be helping you make decisions. Whether that’s a partner, a parent, an in-law, or whomever, you may want them to meet vendors and see new trends and offerings in person with you.
Or bring a friend! If you’re primarily planning solo or just find too many opinions to be overwhelming, you can’t go wrong with the company of a trusted friend.
5. Make a Plan Ahead of Time
Expos can be overwhelming. Yes, the overarching theme is “wedding,” but you’ll be face-to-face with hundreds of vendors representing thousands of products, services, and ideas. Knowing what you’re looking for ahead of time can help you stay focused and weed out what you don’t need.
For example, if you know you’re looking for a DJ, then look at the directory ahead of time and see what DJ vendors will be in attendance. Make a point to seek them out while you’re there. But if you’ve already booked your photographer, there’s no need to stop by every photography booth.
Many expo vendors offer some pretty incredible day-of discounts, meaning if you sign up with them at the expo, you’ll save a good chunk of change. Going in knowing what you still need – and your budget for that particular line item – can make signing with expo vendors an easy choice when you find one you love.
Going into an expo with a clear outline of what you’re still looking for can make your experience more focused, organized, and fun, all while saving you money in the long run.
6. Use Your Camera to Remember What You Loved
When you’re perusing hundreds of vendor booths in a single day, they can all start blending together in your mind. If you see something you really like, take a picture of it. Then you’ll be able to easily reference it again when the dust has settled and you’re recapping your day.
Take pictures of products, logos, business cards, table settings, portfolios – you name it! When you’re ready, go back and see what has stuck with you and is worth looking into further, and what you can just delete from your phone.
Of course, if a vendor requests no photos be taken of their work, be respectful and see if they have a flyer or card you can take instead.
7. Arrive Early
Expos are known for drawing large crowds, especially when they center around something as fun as weddings. Typically speaking, the earlier in the day you arrive, the smaller the crowds will be.
Some expos sell VIP tickets that grant you early access to the event before doors open to the public. If you’re a person who doesn’t thrive in large crowds, it may be worth paying a little extra to have a bit more elbow room as you browse.
8. Wear Comfortable Shoes
Expos involve being on your feet for a good chunk of time. Do yourself a favor and wear comfortable shoes that make wandering from booth to booth nice and easy. Save the heels for your wedding day; your future self will thank you.
9. Be Open-Minded 
When it comes to getting the most out of attending an expo, going in with an open mind means you’ll be more receptive to new ideas and inspiration.
You never know what you could find at a great wedding expo. Maybe you see a dress style that you hadn’t considered before, or a fun new photobooth trend your guests would love. You could stumble onto a table setting that makes your heart soar, even if you’d never envisioned something like it on your Pinterest boards.
Let yourself be open to new ideas. You never know what you’ll discover at a wedding expo!
10. Eat the Cake
There will be cake samples. Eat them.
Trust Rosen Weddings with your Special Day
At Rosen Weddings, we know how important it is to get every detail right for your wedding day. Attending a wedding expo is a great way to meet a variety of vendors in a short amount of time. At the very least, you’ll hopefully come away from the event with a renewed sense of excitement for planning your wedding!
Our four beautiful wedding venues offer elegant, flexible spaces that can accommodate any wedding vision. Let us show you how Rosen Weddings can help you host the wedding of your dreams.
