Ever heard the expression that the loudest dog gets the bone?  It’s kind of the same way the wedding expos work!  The most creative booths get the most attention and the vendors that promote the expo on social media can get the most buzz.  Brides and grooms are millennials and you have to speak their language in some aspects to connect with them.   

Have a Social Marketing Plan          #PremierBrideExpo

Millennials are getting married and they have lived most of their adult lives with a smart phone and social apps!  It’s time to speak their language and give them something to be social about! 

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Use your own #Hashtag and make sure you use the official  #Hashtag for the event

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Incorporate your social media handles and hashtags into your booth for easy following

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Let your #Hashtag and social media platforms be known – create custom signs & update your handouts

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If you want an “instant follow” then make sure you have QR Code that attendees can easily scan for a quick follow.

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There are a lot of “FREE” QR Code generators.  I personally like “QR CODE GENERATOR”

 

 

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I also suggest creating a “LINK IN BIO” account.  This allows to create a “web page” of all of your websites, blogs, and social media links on one page.  Couples have ONE landing page to link to all of our accounts.  Here is our link as an expample: Https://fans.link/PremierBrideFL 

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My 3 top social media platforms are; Facebook, Instagram and Pinterst. 1) Everyone has Facebook, it might not be the top platform for Millennials – but it is needed to be relevant.  Instagram – top platform for Millennials . Pinterst is a staple for most brides, if your business can support an account, it’s a great idea to have one!

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TikTok is also HUGE.  It’s super popular and it can get you a lot of views if you produce relevant content.  Video content is a struggle for a lot of people, heck, social media alone is a struggle for most business owners.  Personally, we have held off on investing time in TikTok.  Part of it our fear of investing time into this platform and it becoming banned.  However, our game plan moving forward is simply cross posting our reels!  Our handle is @PremierBrideFL if you want to give us a follow!

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If you are a vendor at an expo, promote that you are going to be at the expo!  Potential clients are following you….they might come to the show just to see you!  Your past clients are following you….they might refer new clients to you! 

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Attending an expo creates relevant content to post about!

 

Think Outside the Post Card

Okay…so you need at least one piece of paper you can hand out to people who like to collect paper information.  But also think of investing in a trinket to add to your hand outs.  The Premier Bride Expos now offer an “Enhanced Ticket” to the bride/groom.  They get a custom bag, “Bride” earrings or “Grooms” tumbler, a sheet of labels, a signature cocktail ticket, entry to the expo AND…vendors can put in a “trinket” into these bags.  It can’t be a brochure.  It has to be a non-paper good like ChapStick, a pen, a koozie, nail file….or something like that.  Below are some tips on what to include on your paper material. 

When giving your material an update…here are some key things to include…

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Prices.  You don’t have to tell your whole story, but I strongly believe you have to give couples an idea or a range.  Everyone has a budget and everyone is price conscious in one way.  Just give them a starting point. 

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Include your social media links, handles and hashtags

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Consider a head shot of you (if you are the business owner).  Brides and grooms meet a lot of vendors, they might not remember your name…but they are likely to remember your face!

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Order your trinkets months in advance so you have them.  Plan something that fits your business.

 

Stand Out

Brand your booth, your business and yourself!  Think of creative ways to showcase your business in a 10x10 space!  How you decorate your booth will depend on your type of business.

Tips for Everyone

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Unique background.  Standard booths are 8 feet in high by 10 feet long.  96 inch curtains work great – just make sure you purchase enough panels to go across! Bring your own pole incase you share the back of a booth with someone

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Linens – bring your own linen!  A unique linen can jazz up your booth in an instant

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Custom Sign – invest in your brand and make a custom sign, banner, or canvas print.  Consider additional signs for your social media handles or hashtags

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Prize or give-a-way not related to your business 

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Can you create a “selfie moment” or display people will take a photo of!  Don’t forget to brand it

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Remember, you can invest in a creative booth space and keep it for years because each show there are new brides & grooms

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Cater your booth space to your industry

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Uplighting

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Custom Gobos

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Partner with other wedding pros and help trade services

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Recycle wedding décor from weddings!  Hopefully you have wedding Saturday night and can re-use some flowers, caterers can serve some of the same food to cut on costs, or re-use seating charts, guest experiences or sweetheart table ideas!

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Sale shop!  Homegoods, TJ Maxx, and Hobby Lobby all have cute, inexpensive signs and wedding related décor that are great for booth displays

COLLECT YOUR OWN LEADS….just a little louder for those in the back!

PLEASE do yourself a favor and collect leads/information at your booth!  You will get the leads list after the expo (it is INCLUDED in your booth price) but sometimes the couples don’t include all of their information.  My favorite way to collect leads is to have a prize or give-a-way at your booth that YOU manage.  Create a cute basket or something “wedding related” and invite couples who you have had a great conversation with to register to win.  That way…you have all of your “hot” leads in one place after the expo. 

Now that you have leads…make sure you FOLLOW UP.  Maybe on your register form…ask what their preferred method of contact is.  My favorite method of contact is to send something in the mail….they will open a hand addressed letter 100% of the time.  And it’s nice to get something other then a bill in the mail!

 

Building Rapport with couples…..and wedding vendors

The most important aspect of the Premier Bride Expos is single handily the networking at the expo.  Expos are designed to make those personal connections.  Obviously you are going to be meeting the couples at the expo…but you are also meeting the other vendors too.  In the digital world we live in….those personal connections become more and more important!  

Take the time to network during early set up times.  Once your booth is set….walk around and meet other vendors before the expo opens.  There is no other opportunity in NEFL to have 100+ wedding vendors under one roof.  Take advantage of it.

Remember, out of the hundreds of couples that walk thru the doors….you only need to connect with a handful.  Not everyone is your client.  Take the time to have nice conversations with 20 brides/grooms per expo.  Building rapport is the first step!

 

Bridal expos are about the 5 senses; they want to SEE unique and pretty things, they want to TOUCH linens, dresses and invitations, they want to SMELL flowers and food, they want to TASTE cake and savory bites and they want to HEAR music and talk to vendors.   But most of all, they want to leave INSPIRED!

 

Make sure you follow Premier Bride of Northeast Florida & Premier Bride Expos  on Facebook!

@PremierBrideFL on Instagram, TikTok, & Pinterest

Official Hashtags #PremierBrideExpo #PremierBrideFL