Wedding shows are a fabulous way to meet with wedding professionals and to learn more about the services they offer. Being a popular spot for destination weddings, the Outer Banks is absolutely thriving with amazing vendors — from wedding planners to help you out every step of the way, to the transportation options there to help you make your grand exit. If you are attending a wedding or bridal show soon, like the OBX Wedding Fest, these tips will help you make the most of your time there. 

Create a Wedding-Only email address

Having an email address that is dedicated solely to your wedding will help tremendously when it comes to keeping everything organized in one place. It is also beneficial so that your personal inbox doesn’t become overflowed with communication from vendors. You can even store photos and videos on the account to look back on down the road. Example: johnandjaneobx@email.com

Bring a Friend!

Bringing a bridesmaid, family member, friend or even fiance is such a good idea to help you remember everything! Meeting with a lot of vendors can be overwhelming, so having someone by your side who knows your wedding vision can help you stay on track. Having someone you trust with you is also good when it comes to needing their input and advice. 

Come prepared with labels or business cards

Many vendors offer prizes at their booths, and you may want to request more information from certain vendors you meet. You will save time and the annoying hassle of having to write and rewrite your name and information by bringing pre-printed business cards or stick-on labels with all of your wedding info! Simple affix your sticker or drop a card off and you’re done! It also keeps the vendor from worrying if they can decipher the sometimes illegible handwriting. Some important things to add to your label or card are: Name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and your wedding date, location and approximate guest count if you have it. 

Research all you can beforehand!

Most of the time, wedding shows will list all of the participating vendors online before the show. Do a little research to see their work and their average cost. You can also look up their reviews on websites like The Knot or WeddingWire to get a better idea of what they are like to work with. *An insider tip: a lot of vendors share their work on their social media platforms! Engage with them, so when you meet them at the show, you will already have a good sense of who you are talking to. 

Researching the Outer Banks and all of the options for weddings here beforehand can also help. The Outer Banks span miles and miles of beaches — from Carova, all the way down to Hatteras. Having a general idea of where you would like to get married can help you pick vendors who may be more local to that area. Although, most OBXWA vendors do travel to wherever they are needed. 

Take notes and photos

Prepare a list of vendor categories and take notes on which ones you connect with. Tons of couples book vendors during the weekend, so make sure you track what you have booked, paid for, and agreed to! Taking photos will help you remember who you talked to, and revisit décor/cakes/vendors you loved.

Ask ALL of the questions!

If there is anything that you want to know before your big day, ask away! A lot of the time, meeting your vendors at a wedding show may be the only time you speak to them before your wedding. On the day of, they will be busy doing their job to make sure that your wedding goes just as planned. Asking questions about scheduling, alternatives, etc. can definitely help when it comes to deciding between multiple vendors. 

Have fun!

Enjoy yourself! Be engaged! Planning a wedding is something that we hope doesn’t have to happen too often (unless it’s your job), so be sure to make it fun while it lasts! Taste all of the cake samples, sample those tasty hors d’oeuvres and enter ALL of the giveaways! You never know what you might win!

If you haven’t gotten your tickets already for the 2021 OBX Wedding Fest, buy them now for just $12! The OBX Wedding Fest will be held on August 29th from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at both Duck Woods Country Club and Haven on the Banks.

Header Image: Ryan & Rach Photography at Duck Woods Country Club

*The Outer Banks Wedding Association will be cooperating with the latest guidelines put in place by the State of North Carolina and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) regarding COVID-19.

The OBX Wedding Fest is just around the corner! If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, purchase them here. We are so excited to welcome you all to the Outer Banks to meet some of our amazing vendors! The OBX Wedding Fest will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on August 29th, 2021 at both Duck Woods Country Club in Southern Shores and at Keeper’s Galley at Haven on the Banks in Nags Head. General Admission tickets are $12 and our OBXWA Box is $50. Read below for answers to some frequently asked questions regarding the show. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email us at hello@obxwa.com.