The days are getting longer, the sun is warming up, and the holidays are fast approaching – tis the season of wedding planning preparations. Over the next couple of months Venues are opening their doors to the public for Open Days and Expos, but what is the difference, if there is any?
As most of you know I have experience in planning both Open Days and Expos, and they are different, but involve the same amount of effort in planning. Below are the pros of each type of event and how it will benefit you when planning your wedding:
Open Days:
💋 Perfect for brides still looking for their perfect venue.
💋 Venues showcase their facilties and services available for your wedding day.
💋 Several Event Coordinator staff will be on hand to show you around the venue and facilties, and be able to sit with you to answer any questons and go through their packages.
💋 Only a limited number of service providers will be present, mainly music, MC, decorators and catering.
💋 Food and wine samples may be available for you to see and taste.
💋 Generally free of charge to attend, but some places may have a door fee.
💋 Duration of an open day is usually around 4 hours and for one day only. Most venues have an Open Day on a regular basis e.g. once a month or once a quarter.
Expos:
💋 Ideal for brides who are not sure where to start or who have only organised a couple of things.
💋 May be held at any venue, does not need to be a wedding venue, can be a community hall, showground, entertainment centre or football field etc.
💋 Involve a large number of service providers all available to speak to you about their services, including other venues other than the host venue.
💋 If it is held at a wedding venue their facilities will be open for viewing.
💋 Event Coordinators may be available but their duties for the day will be spread amongst visitors and the service people, so they may not be able to speak to you in depth about your plans. Take their business card and call them after the event and arrange another time to meet with them.
💋 Entry fee usually applies.
💋 Fashion shows and live entertainment will be showcased throughout the event.
💋 Generally expos are open between 3 – 6 hours and may be one or two days duration. Expos are commonly held only once or twice a year, some are even held only once every two years.
Before attending either event make sure you research the venue and the attending suppliers, and create a list of questions to take to the event with you. When you arrive you will be overwhelmed by the activity, so always have a list, a pen and paper with you because you won’t remember your questions or their answers, there is too much to take in.
This is a very exciting time when planning. If you can try to attend as many of these events as possible. Take a couple of friends with you as well as your mum. It is handy to have other opinions before confirming any bookings.
If you have any questions you would like answered please contact us or comment below and we will personally answer your questions in our next blog.
Until next time, happy planning
💖 Ms Kiss xx
The KISS Proposal 