Wedding Fairs – Dates For Your Diary

Wedding planning can get a bit overwhelming, right?  As can everything that goes along with it!  Wedding fairs can be stressful to negotiate, but they are a great way to get your bearings, see what’s out there, see what the current trends are, and of course see, feel and taste some samples…!  Most suppliers will also do discounts if you book with them there and then, but I prefer to do my research first then come back to them – some even still offer discounts just because I’ve said I’d seen them at a show. 

January and February have already nearly passed me by (there’s a write up on The National Wedding Show coming asap), so I wanted to put together my London hit list to help you plan your year, and hopefully your wedding. 

There are loads of wedding fairs, especially in Spring, but with my list below hopefully you can suss out which ones will work for you.   

2017

23rd February
Laura Mercier Beauty Masterclass
Leading make-up experts from Laura Mercier will be demonstrating signature bridal looks as well as offering top tips for DIY’ing your make up.  Other suppliers like Jenny Packham are also lined up to endorse the event.  Evening do at The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

23rd – 26th February
London Fashion Weekend Festival
Not strictly bridal, but great for inspo and ideas. 
See my post on it here.

25th February
Kenwood House Wedding Showcase
Not so much a fair, but an open day for the venue.  There will definitely be suppliers there to tempt you but the focus is on the venue.  An elegant 18th-century Georgian villa, with breath-taking interiors, graceful white stucco exteriors and housed in the leafy parkland of Hampstead Heath – worth going just for a nosey around.  

26th February
Meet Designer Caroline Castigliano – Brides Reader Event
Join the team from Brides magazine and leading designer Caroline Castigliano to celebrate the launch of her 2017 bridal collection, at a super stylish one-off tea party taking place at The Dorchester – tres chic. 

26th February
The Gay Wedding Show
I’ve never been to this one but it’s got some great sponsors and is now in its 14th year. 

2nd March
Bluebird Chelsea Wedding Showcase
The super trendy Bluebird of Chelsea on Kings Road shows you it’s form for weddings.  It had a massive refurb last summer and now wants to show its stuff.  They also promise a wide range of suppliers exhibiting plus bubbles and canapés.  

2nd March
Eltham Palace Wedding Showcase
Another venue open day, or evening, as it were.  This is a super fashionable and sophisticated venue, with a lovely mix of medieval and 1930s architecture.  It boasts an oak beam ceiling and stained glass windows, and a glass dome and marquetry.  Fancy. 

3rd March
Mirror Mirror Brides Reader Event
Swanky showcase of Mirror Mirror’s new designer, Nurit Hen.  Fashion show in The Savoy with accompanying cocktails and canapes. 

5th March
The Chosen Wedding Fair
This wedding fair has a focus on local suppliers with a vintage spin.  Dubbed as a wedding fair to bring you, ‘unique, bespoke and classical vintage design’. 
See my post on it from last year, here.

5th – 7th March
The London Bridal Show – Trade Only
This is a trade show rather than a public wedding fair, but I’m desperate to go!  This is the showcase for what’s new in bridalwear.  Plan visits to the top bridal stores following this event to get the low down from the buyers.  

10th – 11th March
Wedaway
Getting married abroad?  This one’s for you!  A brand-new showcase being held at The Royal Horticultural Halls.  This showcase is aimed at couples planning on getting married abroad and offers the chance to meet wedding planners and suppliers you can actually use for your wedding, wherever the destination.

17th – 19th March
A Most Curious Wedding Fair
An alternative wedding fair, dubbed as ‘a wedding show for the style savvy couple’.  Not a massive wedding fair but one of my favourites – a little bit more quirky than anything else I’ve seen around.  Particularly good for suppliers in East London. 
See my post on it from last year, here.

28th March
Maids To Measure Brides Reader Event
The launch of Maids To Measure’s new collection at the Kensington Room Gardens, along with other collaborators Victoria Millésime and Tori Harris from e-Boutique, Suzanne Neville, Girl Meets Dress, Freya Rose, Feu de Beaumont and Cotton & Gems.
See my post on The Roof Gardens as a venue, here.
 
31st March – 2nd April
Quintessentially Weddings Atelier
Held as a destination event at The Langham – pure luxury – and dubbed as ‘The world’s finest wedding show’.  The finest suppliers in the finest setting, with the finest service.  Big names there include some of the finest wedding designers and artisans, including Ritva Westenius, The Couture Gallery, Dior, Ladurée, Harrods, Giuseppe Zanotti and Debrett’s.  Glass of champagne guaranteed.  

8th – 9th April
The Wedding Fair at the ExCel
The biggest wedding fair I have ever been to!  I was absolutely exhausted by the end!  Most suppliers were quite pushy on selling at this one, but there was loads of inspo and loads of bargains to be had. 

29th September – 1st October
Brides The Show
One of the very best, in my opinion.  The vendors here are a little on the pricey side (rumour has it stands here costs upwards of £5k!) but they are usually at the top of their game and offer lots of freebies.  One of the best for value for money for a day out with your ‘maids, as you can get your hair and make up done, test lots of cakes, have a few glasses of bubbles, and partake in a few workshops from the big name sponsors. 
See my post on it from last year, here.

 
If there are some you are particularly keen on, follow them on their social media channels so you can stay up to date with what’s going on.  Most brands usually run competitions and discounts in the lead up as a promo exercise (I also usually do a Brides The Show discount + giveaway, FYI). 

Hopefully this is helpful but if you need any help sourcing any suppliers, don’t hesitate to drop me a line too.  I offer pick and mix wedding planning, from venue sourcing to supplier sourcing, and from stationery to styling.    

Title image by Gemma from Cotton Candy Wedding Photography.

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