NT Bridal Expos

[west84]

Oh yay! Wouldnt mind winning the photography package.

I know! how good would a free photography package be!!

[drinkyoupretty]

so for those of you who went to the expo today, what did you think???

i saw one of my top two dresses (the silver Jasmine T192 from Just Formals) and was like but i was with FH so could not squeal!!!

[west84]

Thought the expo was ok. Was really happy bout checking out a couple of photographers and seeing what they have to offer etc. I like the idea of having everything in the one place to see and compare. Thought there'd be more to see tho. There were a lot of businesses absent?!

[west84]

so for those of you who went to the expo today, what did you think???

i saw one of my top two dresses (the silver Jasmine T192 from Just Formals) and was like but i was with FH so could not squeal!!!

It was a great colour! I liked how they had the dress colours for alfred angelo and the books for the designers at their booth.

[drinkyoupretty]

i'm going to be honest and tell you how i really felt about the expo.

it was typical darwin style! just shows how much effort darwin businesses are willing to put in.
it looked like it was set up at the last minute. the stage was terrible, the decor was crinkled and crumpled...

the models for the fashion show (i watched the first one) were embarrassing to watch; they tripped over their dresses, couldn't walk in their heels, it was just...terrible!
the dresses were beautiful, though... too bad the girls showed how uncomfortable and clumsy future brides may look if they chose that dress.

No hairstylist, no florists, there was ONE jeweller. out of five bridal shops, only two set up booths. there was nothing for bridesmaids or groomsmen.

so much for gourmet cake tasting! it consisted of ONE profiterole!!

i guess for the B2Bs who have just started their planning or are new to darwin, this may have been their one-stop-shop. but for us who have done all our research and planning, it was nothing impressive as we knew the good vendors didn't even waste their time with the expo.

think about this: what would a bridal expo in sydney or perth be like???

[west84]

i'm going to be honest and tell you how i really felt about the expo.

it was typical darwin style! just shows how much effort darwin businesses are willing to put in.
it looked like it was set up at the last minute. the stage was terrible, the decor was crinkled and crumpled...

the models for the fashion show (i watched the first one) were embarrassing to watch; they tripped over their dresses, couldn't walk in their heels, it was just...terrible!
the dresses were beautiful, though... too bad the girls showed how uncomfortable and clumsy future brides may look if they chose that dress.

No hairstylist, no florists, there was ONE jeweller. out of five bridal shops, only two set up booths. there was nothing for bridesmaids or groomsmen.

so much for gourmet cake tasting! it consisted of ONE profiterole!!

i guess for the B2Bs who have just started their planning or are new to darwin, this may have been their one-stop-shop. but for us who have done all our research and planning, it was nothing impressive as we knew the good vendors didn't even waste their time with the expo.

think about this: what would a bridal expo in sydney or perth be like???

i agree. The dresses on display were crinkled and the models didn't do the dresses justice. I was disappointed in such a few businesses present - a huge lack of effort! I'm a time poor person and having an expo saves me a lot of time rather than setting up times to see different businesses (and then finding i've wasted my time, cos i disn't like what they have to offer - which really pisses me off!). but if the "good vendors" weren't there - it makes me question their effort and motivation to gather new business and meet new brides as well as the passion for their work??

an interstate expo would be amazing! but i think darwin could be better if the local businesses made more of an effort. there were a couple of newer businesses present - i'm glad they put in the effort!

[proud_darwinite]

I went on the sunday. The models on sunday may have been better than the ones on saturday, maybe. I didnt notice any stumbling, and atleast this year the models were smiling! I have been to the last 2 years expos (as a bridesmaid with a friend who was getting married) and the models never cracked a smile at those displays!

But, on a whole, I thought it was a pretty poor effort. Being Darwin I of course didn't expect much, but there seemed to be less vendors there than other years, and certainly less photographers, make up, cars, dresses, venues etc. But there was more stationary/invite stuff....trying to find a positive lol

If I had of been going to try to organise all the essentials for my weding I would have been so dissapointed! But I only really needed to look at a few things, and luckily most of those things were there (invite designs/paper and I wanted to talk to Serina from the big day). I still need a hairdressor/make up though and a florists, so I was hoping to sort that out and I couldn't...Does anyone have any hairdressor/make up recommendations? That are reasonably priced.

[drinkyoupretty]

i knew some of the vendors i've met with prior to the expo weren't going to set up a booth for a few reasons..
1) they have too many bookings and are unable to cope with extra bookings...
2) the expo is held at a very odd time of the year. for brides getting married in the dry season of 2010, they would have had to order their dress by now. so most of the people who attend the expo are already well into their planning and just there for a browse.

i can only recommend the services i've tried so here goes:
hair: Illume Hair in Nakara. did a hair trial with Justine, she is very affordable and very enthusiastic. she is mobile and will devote the entire day on the actual day.
makeup: Claire from How to be a honey (Mary Kay). she was set up at the expo (near cafe). i'm going to have my makeup trial this Saturday so will let you know how that goes. but she was the most affordable and most recommended MUA i found.

[west84]

As poor as the expo was, i'm glad I went to get a few ideas and it got me more exicted about my big day!!