With engagement season nearly over, wedding professionals and brides alike are looking to the upcoming months of bridal shows with much anticipation. Couples who invest their time in attending shows like the Bridal Fashion Debut can leave with a lot more than just good information. Show-only specials are often the best bridal deals around, and they are reserved exclusively for attendees. Others can only be accessed if you pre-register, so plan ahead. Here are some ways to get the most out of bridal show specials:

Visit Every Exhibitor: Bridal shows are educational events. If you pass by a booth because it is busy or you don’t perceive it as a value, you risk missing out on an important service that could make your dreams come true. You also risk skipping over a great offer that could have a positive impact on your budget. Keep an open mind and stop at each exhibit.

Ask for More Information: Some booking specials at bridal shows are advertised and obvious. Others are discretionary and left to the sales managers staffing the booth to use to entice great prospects. It doesn’t hurt to respectfully ask if the exhibitor is offering any booking specials you should know about. You will frequently be pleasantly surprised by the response!

Read the Fine Print: If you find a deal that you’re interested in pursuing, find out what’s in the fine print. Do you have to book on-site at the show? Is there an expiration date or a secret code that you need to hang on to in order to redeem the special? Especially for unwritten deals, what is the name of the contact you need to connect with after the show, and how can he or she be reached? Take a few extra minutes to confirm the restrictions, limitations and requirements to avoid disappointment later. 

Exhibitors at bridal shows are motivated to sell. If you keep an open mind as you navigate booths, you’ll maximize your chances to take away the greatest bridal bargains around!

Wondering what’s hot in wedding flowers today? We asked Jen Colvin of Ever After Florals to share her top five floral trends of the year and she gave us some really fun ones to work with! It’s striking that “everything old is new again”. Brides continue to love twists on the traditional, and most of these trends are exactly that –classic with a contemporary twist. Here’s your quick guide to the latest wedding floral trends!

#1: The Color Purple

According to Jen, girls are going crazy for purple in every shade –from deep “aubergine”paired with lighter lavender to the full range of brighter purple hues. Some of the flowers that Ever After uses to capture this look include deep purple stock, purple lisianthus, lavender roses, purple anemones, deep purple sweet peas and even purple moon carnations. The best color to accent these purples? A hint of fresh apple green like you’ll find in bells of Ireland or green hypericum berries!

#2: Cascade Bouquets

This style of bouquet was the “traditional”bridal bouquet for more than 50 years. It’s really only been in the last decade that the more compact hand-tied style rose to popularity. Hand-tied styles are the favorite for now, but the cascade is making its way back on to the bridal scene with more brides talking about loving “trailing”flowers and teardrop-shapes. Brides are excited about something “different”and cascades fit the bill!

#3: Nosegays

Nosegays are very small bouquets of short cut flowers, usually including only 5 –10 blooms. They are sweet, simple and affordable. If a bride has a large bridal party but a very small budget, Jen recommends nosegays to provide a pop of color without breaking the bank. Instead of $50 - $75 bridesmaids’bouquets, girls can carry nosegays which range from $25 - $40 each.

These petite wonders also work for mothers who don’t want to wear corsages. They can hold nosegays during the processional and in photos, but set them down during the reception. Nosegays are also the perfect size for flower girls!

#4: Sentimental Items

Whether it’s a great grandmother's handkerchief, a mother's sorority pin, or a photo of a deceased family member, many brides want to incorporate a meaningful memory of or tribute to their loved ones into their bouquets. For example, a bride whose mother and sister were both breast cancer survivors once asked Jen if she could pin a pink ribbon to the side of her bouquet to honor them.  She was so thankful to have both of them alive and
attending her wedding, and only months earlier feared that it wouldn’t happen. Simple additions like the ribbon mean so much to brides and when done well can compliment any bouquet.

#5 Earthy & Organic

Many 2011 brides are seeking a more natural look for their flowers. Fruits and vegetables as accents in décor are huge. Birds’nests, moss and branches are also very popular as accents.

Some brides are opting for a more simple approach to floral decor. Instead of large expensive floral centerpieces,
bride have been asking for mason jars or an eclectic mix of vases filled with simple blooms to be clustered on a table. The look is so easy to obtain; the cost is manageable and the outcome is sweet! The style especially suits a bride who has a romantic, garden-inspired vision for her wedding.

What do you think? Will you incorporate these 5 top trends into your own wedding?

It’s almost here! The Bridal Fashion Debut is just around the corner, and it’s time to prepare yourself for bridal show bliss. Here is some of our best advice for couples planning to attend the show on Sunday, June 10, 2012 from 9:00 AM –3:00 PM at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Be Prepared

Before the show, print out several sheets of adhesive labels with your name and contact information so you don’t have to fill out the same information over and over at each exhibitor’s booth.

Make sure that you establish a wedding email account and that you use it to receive all of the great offers and follow up in one organized spot after the show.

Eat a light breakfast and take a power bar so you’ll have the energy to cover the entire event space while searching for your perfect vendor matches.

Be Comfortable

We can’t stress it enough: wear comfortable shoes! You won’t want to miss a single exhibit, so give yourself the advantage of good support, and plan to have a relaxing pedicure and foot massage with a good friend afterwards while you review everything you experienced at the show!

Be Organized

Consider taking a clipboard or a notepad to easily jot down ideas you want to refer to later, or names you don’t want to forget.

Be Determined and Open-Minded

Remember that bridal shows are interactive. If you’re shy, prepare some questions in advance for each vendor category. Talk to everyone. You never know what someone might offer that you didn’t even think you would need. Exhibitors are on-site because they want to help you and see you have a magical day, so take advantage of your celebrity status and see what wonderful things result!

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Bridal Fashion Debut!