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THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW
If you are heading to The National Wedding Show this weekend, well my dear friends you are in luck, because today’s post is the ultimate guide to making the most of your experience. I have to admit our first time at the show I was totally taken aback by just how big it is and I could easily see how brides would find it all a little bit overwhelming. I find myself getting caught in the crowds and end up coming away with nothing much useful, which really does defeat the point of attending in the first place. After all bridal fairs are one of the best places to learn all about the myriad of suppliers that can help you create your dream wedding and can even open your mind to more options than you originally thought possible.
Recently I’ve adopted a more organised mindset and tend to find I can use this to approach almost anything in my life even for attending events. I find it useful to write down a list of 2-3 things I definitely plan on doing then, 4-5 things to do if I have enough time. The National Wedding Show grows bigger every year! There is so much to see and do, between the multitude of catwalk shows, masterclasses and workshops the show has to offer and don’t forget the suppliers stalls and wedding dresses. It’s no surprise the show is on the list for almost every ‘bride to be’! So, if your planning a trip either this weekend or on any of the other dates below, I hope you find this guide useful.
Pro tip: Book tickets now and save on the door price! Book 2 tickets for £25 with code BESPOKE here! (T&Cs: Offer valid on standard tickets only. Ends Thursday prior to each show.)
SAVE THE DATES
22-24 September 2017, Olympia London
29 September – 1 October 2017, NEC Birmingham
21-22 October 2017, ExCeL London
28-29 October 2017, Manchester Central
The Catwalk is something I would definitely do and features the latest dresses, suits and accessories from a range of fantastic designers including Allure Bridals, Confetti Box, Riki Dalal, Berketex, David’s Bridal, Maggie Sottero, Nigel Rayment, Ben Sherman, Slaters, Young’s Hire and Rainbow Club. It’s the first stop for wedding day inspiration, pairing stunning dresses with on-trend hair, make-up and accessories.
If you haven’t already, Find your dream dress in the unrivaled selection of bridal shops and designer labels, there’s something for every taste, style and budget at the show. It’s the perfect place to browse, try-on and buy your dream wedding dress!
Secret Garden VIP Experience, you’ll gain access to the exclusive Secret Garden for plenty of treats and surprises. Perks include reserved catwalk seating, a complimentary sparkling cocktail courtesy of Twisted Halo upon arrival, the latest issues of bridal magazines and a fantastic Bride Tribe goody bag! Now that’s my type of experience!
Get hands-on in the free DIY wedding workshops at the Inspiration Lab. This would be definitely be the highlight of my trip! With everything from calligraphy and paper cutting through to making your very own fascinator or pompom headband, you’ll leave feeling inspired, excited and armed with the knowledge to add a personal touch to your wedding.
Pop by the Inspired Bakes Gallery, Showcasing an array of spectacular wedding cakes from top bakers exhibiting at the show, you’ll find it pretty difficult to walk past the Inspired Bakes Gallery without stopping!
Those of you heading to the Manchester show can take part in free floral workshops with the experts from the Floral Inspiration Lab with Joseph Massie Flowers the Joseph Massie floristry team. Featuring a selection of hands-on sessions covering buttonholes and corsages, you’ll leave with knowledge and insider tips from the Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning team.
Pro tip: Checkout the timetable here.
If you heading to the Olympia show and you just so happen to have your man in tow, head to the Grooms’ Room with Cad & The Dandy for a more laid back shopping experience. With a curated collection of independent menswear labels including J. Fitzpatrick and Yardsmen, Cad & The Dandy proves that high end bespoke tailoring doesn’t always come with a hefty price tag.
Don’t leave the show without a visit to The Champagne Bar. toast to a successful day making big plans with your bridal party! Go on you know you want to!
There is so much to see and do at The National Wedding Show, that it would be impossible to cover all the great things that will be on offer at all of the shows, but I hope that this has been a helpful starting point.
Happy wedding planning!
Images: Louise Bjorling Photography & Theo Cohen Photography
Bridal shows are always a great idea but after having to one and going to one too many bridal shop appointments, I was frustrated not being able to find that one dress. Fortunately, I started scouring the web and found it from this global wedding marketplace https://ibride.com/. I wouldn’t have thought to shop online but I’m mighty glad I did! 🙂