The Twin Cities Bridal Show is an incredible experience where couples get to meet vendors, procure inspiration and really get excited about the wedding planning process. We asked just some of the vendors that participate in the Twin Cities Bridal Show why they are a part of it and as you’ll see from their responses, it’s an invaluable aspect to making their business thrive.
Amy Franzwa of Jewelry by Johan explains how the Twin Cities Bridal Show aids business,“TCBS is by far our most successful local marketing effort. It connects us face-to-face with so many unique couples who are excited and eager to plan their weddings. The show creates a low-pressure feeling of excitement for all who attend and has representation from a huge variety of wedding vendors and a diverse group of attendees.” And she attributes the show to how she gets the best customer leads, “We facilitate a give-away and allow couples to opt-in to our newsletter/discounts on the entry form. Year over year, our lead count grows; at the last event we got 250 from our own sign-up. When customers ultimately purchase, we ask how they heard about us and the majority of our local customers say it’s from TCBS.”
Brides love attending the TCBS because they get inspiration everywhere they turn. And vendors love the alternative to online shopping, “In-person interaction for us is key. We bring our entire staff of designers and 100s of items to showcase at the show. Our jewelry is so unique and diverse and for couples to see our items in person and have the ability to try rings on is so much better than shopping online. Plus, being able to get answers to design questions in real-time makes it so valuable for the brides AND grooms.” Franzwa explains. Additionally, the welcoming atmosphere of the show is a benefit to both couples and vendors, “The diversity of engaged couples has changed immensely and we can meet EVERYONE in one place rather than trying to advertise on multiple, niche channels. Everyone is welcome at this show and at the JBJ booth.”
Sarah Glad of a milestone Paper Company explains that participating is key for her because of the volume of potential clients she can meet all at once, “Since I work from a home office, the biggest benefit for me is meeting so many couples in one day. I get a chance to talk with them about their wedding plans and they get a chance to see lots of invitation samples to gather inspiration and decide whether we’d be a good fit for their wedding vision.” And she can’t emphasize enough the power of in-person interaction, “I’m able to answer quick questions, display lots of options, and briefly explain our approach and process in person rather than trying to convey all of that via email.”
Amanda Augustin, Hospitality Marketing Manager of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel agrees that the interaction between couples and vendors is priceless, “The Twin Cities Bridal Show is a great event for engaged couples starting their wedding planning process! It truly brings a collective mix of the top vendors in the Twin Cities together all in one place. We love meeting newly engaged couples that are genuinely excited to plan their special day. It brings us joy to see how our venue, Mystic Lake Center and our wedding specialists can play a part in bringing all of their ideas to life for an unforgettable day.
As a modern, new venue in the Twin Cities area, we like engaging with vendors and couples that are looking for something different in a wedding venue that you can’t find downtown Minneapolis. The Twin Cities Bridal Show allows our team to connect directly with brides to understand their needs and make sure our venue is a good fit. The show also provides exposure for our full-service resort, Mystic Lake Center.”
Another benefit to being a vendor is observing all of the creativity around them and gaining inspiration, just as the couples do. Augustin says, “Seeing fresh ideas, the latest trends and wedding themes is something we anticipate with each wedding show” and finds the show to be an opportunity to network with other vendors, which benefits all businesses, “From time to time, we see out-of-the box ideas, creative installations and décor trends that work for Mystic Lake Center. We enjoy partnering with vendors that can help leverage our beautiful venue, elevate the guest experience and really bring a new perspective to our space.
Glad agrees, “I don’t often get to chat with my vendor friends, sharing the show floor with them gives me a chance to catch up, but also to see what their latest offerings are so I can more easily and accurately recommend their services to couples.”
To find out more about how you can be a part of the Twin Cities Bridal Show, contact Bruce Vassar at bruce@theweddingguys.com or Matthew Trettel at matthew@theweddingguys.com
