Bridal Expo

Lazaro's Personal Appearance at Macy's Bridal Salon

Our good friend Christopher Dillon, Manager of Macy’s Bridal Salon State Street, invited two of our members of our Fashion Department to spend some time at the bridal salon to view the Fall 2010 Lazaro and Tara Keely Bridal Collections during this past weekend’s trunk show.  We had an opportunity to meet Lazaro and discuss his visions for his collections and talk all things bridal.  What struck us the most about this renowned designer is his relaxed and grounded persona.  Soft spoken, confident, and truly enthusiastic about every bride he worked with earlier in the day.

Lazaro has been designing since the late 1990’s and has been known for awarding winning designs incorporating his talent in the use of hand beading and embroidery.  His designs are ultra-glamorous and elegant.  His Fall 2010 collection is every bride’s dream come true with exquisite designs incorporating lace, organza, silk and antique beading.  The structure and fit are superb. And he has not allowed his ego to out shine his collection which unfortunately is not necessarily the case with other designers we’ve encountered.  With Lazaro, you know in an instant that his love for his work and his dedication to creating beautiful gowns for brides is a passion that is as much alive in his eyes today as it was when he first started nearly 15 years ago.  Bravo!  For more information; visit www.lazaro.com or to find the nearest retailer who carries the Lazaro and Tara Keely brands.  A division of JLM Couture.  To book an appointment at Macy’s Bridal Salon, call (312) 781-3545. Ask for Theresa or Christopher.

It was our distinct pleasure to have recently featured James Clifford, bridal designer for the James Clifford Collection a division of Mon Cheri Bridals owned by successful businessman Steve Lang. This year marks 50 years of designing for James whose Spring 2010 collections delighted audiences at a recent Luxury event produced by Bridal Expo Chicago. He has redefined affordable luxury this season making it possible for so many more brides to enjoy his classic designs with gorgeous accents. Known for his intricate beading and re-embroidered lace gowns, James did not disappoint our attending brides as evidenced by hundreds of camera phone flashing throughout the runway presentation. Our audiences also applauded the simple one-shoulder silhouettes crafted in fine silk and elegant draping. To find the retailer in Chicago/Milwaukee closest to you, visit his website at http://jamescliffordcollection.com/

Bridal Expo Chicago and Eva’s Bridal of Oak Lawn is pleased to feature Leigh Price of Stephen Yearick and YSA MAKINO on the runway this Sunday, January 10, 2010 in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel Schaumburg.  Leigh will be joining Fashion Director, Carol Tardi and President of Bridal Expo Chicago/Milwaukee Bill Brennan on stage to showcase 8 of his most revered gowns  Leigh’s designs are ultra chic and innovative incorporating fine silks, delicate draping, and hand beading.  His designs are enhanced by impeccable workmanship and harmonious embroidery.

In addition to a sneak preview of his new 2010 Collection, the show will also feature 10 of the region’s best bridal retailers on the 70 foot runway including A L’Amour Bridal Boutique of Barrington, Bridal Mansion of Lisle, Francia Bridal of Hinsdale, Eva’s Bridal of Oak Lawn, Shelley’s Bridal of West Dundee, The Crystal Bride of Geneva, Two Becoming One of Tinley Park, White Satin Bridal of Plainfield, Black Tie Formalwear, and JP Tuxedo Warehouse.  Brides will receive a complimentary copy of Brides Chicago Magazine, The Knot Chicago Magazine, Wedding Guide Chicago, and Chicago Social Brides Magazine while supplies last as well as a free Fashion Show Program.

Over 70 wedding professionals and exhibitors will be on hand at this Mega Bridal Event, so be sure to arrive early so you can make the most of your time.  Vendors at the show will sure to please a variety of tastes and budgets for today’s most discerning brides looking for quality wedding merchants who also provide great value and service.   The event is a great way to involve your entire bridal party and be sure to include the groom-to-be; there is a lot for him too!

Today's Brides Are Super Savvy. Are you?

Brides today are intelligent and educated.  They know a good deal from a bad deal.

While they are often willing to pay more for certain products and services, they need to see “value” in the cost.    Exhibitors at our bridal events who embrace the 21st Century bride are drumming up a lot of business and are having their best year ever.  And yet, some vendors are just not seeing huge results they had hoped from our bridal shows. And the lack of success is entirely their own fault because  it is no longer acceptable to show up to a show with a box full of brochures, hand them out as brides stop by their booth,  and then later sit by the phone and pray that the calls  come pouring in.  That worked in 1994.  But it won’t work in 2010.

Here are three tips to connect with brides at our shows:

1. Engage the potential customers standing in front of you.  Be friendly, out-going, and be interested in the bride and her wedding.  Do not stand at your booth with your arms crossed, remain silent, and wait for the bride to start “the” conversation.  Friendly exhibitors make the most appointments.  So “act” interested and be animated.

2. Make sure your website doesn’t say “We Are Out Dated and Haven’t Had a Chance to Make Improvements Since 1995″. A bride will absolutely visit your website after the show and decide whether or not she will ever call you within 3 seconds of landing on your home page.  If you have out dated images on your website with bridal fashions left over from the early 2000’s,  we guarantee she will never call you. If you read the knot.com’s message boards, you will see all the chit-chat about how they are turned off by an outdated website.

3. Be “politely” aggressive when it comes to brides coming near your booth.  You have to sell yourself.     This shows the bride you are confident and “interested” in her needs.  Then by all means, ask to sign her Brides Registration card, flip the card over, and read all about her needs in 1.5 seconds before you begin to start a productive conversation.  For more tips, read our free 20 page Help Guide by calling 847-428-3320.

And finally, if you are a high end vendor or are pitching a very expensive product don’t be a snob.  Truth be told, you are in the service industry and you are serving that high end bride.  This is her day, not yours!

Ok brides-to-be…I love the show “Just Say Yes To The Dress”, but we all have to remember it is a reality TV show that is scripted to create good, fun, and interesting entertainment.  However, in the real world of shopping for your gown, our advice is to bring no more than 3 friends or family members to your bridal salon appointment to view dresses.  Most salons only allow a one-hour appointment in order to serve the thousands of other brides who are also planning weddings and searching for that perfect gown.  You are the ultimate decision maker when it comes to selecting your dress.  If you bring an entourage of cousins, friends, aunts, and co-workers, we promise you that you will receive a different opinion from every person.  So save yourself a lot of stress and leave the entourage to the reality TV shows!

Couture Dresses Are Becoming More Affordable

Brides and Grooms always are looking to get the most for their wedding budget, but there are some basic facts they need to understand when dealing with contract negotiations. First and foremost there is a big difference between understanding costs vs. value. If the bride and groom are shopping on price alone, but fail to educate themselves on the total value of what each vendor brings, then they might be very disappointed on their wedding day. Some things are worth paying a little more for. (i.e. you got a really low price on your limo, but they showed up ½ hour late setting your entire time table for your entire wedding day back!)

Planning a wedding is like cramming for a college degree in 12 months, but if you remember a few essentials it will be a breeze. With that said, here is Bridal Expo Chicago’s top ways to save on your total wedding expense. One: consider having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday. Right off the bat you can expect to save 15-20% off of the cost of your reception, usually about 45% of your total budget.

In addition, many vendors will offer a “Friday/Sunday” discount because the best of the best get booked up first on a Saturday night.

Two: Don’t wait until the last minute to book your vendors, book early and save. It’s kind of like the airlines, the closer you wait the more expensive it is because there are so few seats left.

Three: Reduce your guest list by 15-30 people. The average wedding reception today is about 135-150 people. You don’t need to invite the entire office and you don’t need to invite every single person you have ever meet in your life. This is a special occasion meant for the most special people in your life who you actually talk to on a regular basis. Don’t feel you have to invite a cousin you haven’t seen since you were 6 years old…save that invitation for a family reunion! By cutting the reception costs, you will lots of money left over for all the special touches and lots of upgrades.

And finally, you must be realistic about your budget. There is nothing wrong with having a small wedding and a small budget. Just don’t expect to get a deal at The Four Seasons or feel that wedding businesses don’t deserve to make money just because you are on a really tight budget. Plan smart and act fair.

For more information, visit our site at www.bridalexpochicago.com