I’ve hosted many bridal shows but this had to be one of the more memorable ones.  The models were friendly and outgoing, the fashions up-to-date and stylish and the reaction from the crowd was enormous, with many of them clapping, toe-tapping and even dancing with the models.  As I traveled around to the different booths, I found all vendors to be pleasant, outgoing and helpful.  It was also great to see and meet so many of our future brides, who turned out to participate in the fun and festivities.

The bridal event  will showcase the gorgeous facility along with great food samples. There will be wedding professionals on hand to meet and greet with. Photographers, limousines, florists and of course, entertainment.

Music In Motion Entertainment’s very own Mike Fernino and Dave Salonia will act as Masters of Ceremony for the festivities. Music In Motion will also feature our architectural up lighting presentation as the entire ballroom will be illuminated.

For directions or more information, go to www.cascade-banquets.com

As I write this blog article, we are right in the dead middle of January. Traditionally the coldest part of the winter, and also the hottest part of engagement season! Now is when all of the bridal shows are up and running. Without a doubt, there are dozens and dozens to select from. One thing to keep in mind is that not every bridal show will be worth your time or trip. There are several factors to keep in mind.

First, if your wedding facility has a bridal show………. GO! 

It is always a great idea to see how your place looks all decorated for a bridal fashion show. Next thing is to consider the driving distance from your wedding city. That means if you drive 1 hour to a show and find a vendor you would love to contract with, chances are that they will be too far out of your area and not be able to provide service. Even if they are willing to provide service to you, how long of a drive do you want your cake people to have anyway? Local vendors usual make a better choice for certain items like perishables. Also a local professional is a shorter drive for you when having meetings with them. Finally, and most important, don’t go to a ” Meat Market. ”

What is a ” Meat Market ” you ask?  Well, as I write this blog our state just had the largest bridal show in the region. This huge show hosts over 150 vendor booths and attracts thousands of attendees over a 2 day event. What is so bad about this you may ask? Well how about 35 photographers and 20 DJs under 1 roof. How productive will you be when you are completely overwhelmed by the sheer size of an event of this magnitude. These super large shows can cause stress and frustration, as well as soar feet. Brides and Grooms often leave more confused than when they enter.

Here’s the main point of this blog article…… Investigate in advance how large a show is. See how many vendors are participating and try to avoid shows that are so large, you will leave with your head spinning. Go online and get a list of the participants. Sometime the best bridal shows are the smaller, more intimate events. You never feel like cattle and you have the private opportunity to speak in a civilized way to the wedding professionals. Most important, don’t forget your comfortable shoes.

Bigger is only better when it comes to the diamond!

The brand new Anthony’s Ocean View located in New Haven CT is holding their annual Bridal Show on Sunday January 31st. This show is always a crowd pleaser with amazing food and fabulous fashion shows. With over 40 vendors on display, every bride and groom planning a wedding for 2010 & 2011 will find what they are looking for!

Anthony’s Ocean View has just received a 4 million dollar renovation. It features an amazing outdoor garden with waterfalls, beach front property and outdoor bar. The inside is all new with seating capacity now holding up to 500 guests! This is a must see if you are planning a wedding in the New Haven area, or just love the beach!

Come out and see the Music In Motion DJs as we participate in this fun annual event.  Contact Anthony’s Ocean View at 203-469-9010 to make a reservation for the show.

Music In Motion Entertainment will MC / Host the Wedding Styles Bridal Show 2010 at the Chevy Theater in Wallingford Sunday January 10th, brought to you by A Clear Vision Production. The Chevy Theater is also well known as the Oakdale Theater.

Music In Motion’s Dave Salonia and Mike Fernino will host the event which will feature fashion shows, dance demonstrations, and awesome wedding professionals!  There will also be a live question and answer session called ” The Wedding Of Distinction. “  This Q&A session will invlove the attendees of the show who can ask any wedding related question they want, and have it answered by industry professionals right on stage!

To register for this major wedding / bridal show event go to………… http://www.aclearvisionproduction.com/

Music In Motion’s own DJ Dave Salonia will act as Master Of Ceremony for the Diamond Spectacular Bridal Show Sunday January 17th, 2010 at the NEW Villa Bianca in Seymour, CT.

Villa Bianca has just received a a multi-million dollar face lift and must be seen if you are planning a wedding in the immediate future!

The bridal show will also feature fabulous vendors as well as the Music In Motion DJs. Show hours run 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm with an entrance fee of $3. Enter to win the grand prize of a $ 25,000 wedding reception! Register to attend this great  show by calling Devon or Tony at 203-735-4883.

Or go to their website   www.villabianca.com

Don’t feel bad. The Deer In The Highlights Syndrome affects just about every bride and groom who are planning their first wedding. It’s not like you plan these type of events every day. Here are a few tips to get the most out of a bridal show.

1. Start right or left and walk every single aisle until you have completely passed through the entire exhibit. Do not stop at one booth or talk with anyone. Just walk through and take it all in. After walking the whole show floor, take a break, have a drink ( not alcoholic ) and collect your thoughts. Then go back for a second pass, and this time stop at every booth that looked interesting the first pass. This will help you absorb more and not get so overwhelmed.

2. Don’t fall victim of the bridal show special! Many vendors have show specials. While any deal is nice, no discount is worth a bad service on your wedding day. Look beyond the deals.  Most of the best professionals  never offer a deal or special. That is because they don’t have to. Their reputation alone keeps them booked year round.

3. Avoid impulse buying. As much as you might panic, don’t book the first service you see unless it is a service you are familiar with, and already wanted to contract with. Take it all in, wait a few days after the show, and then set up a few appointments with your favorites.

4. Finally, be aware that if you attend a bridal show, you might get phone calls and direct mail or even e-mail after the event. This is just part of the experience. Don’t be shocked if you get called at home on a Sunday night. This is the way the wedding market works.

Ultimately, the best remedy to fix Deer In The Headlight Syndrome is to plan early and book all of your wedding professionals as soon as you can. This will not only get your first choice locked in for your special day, but help you avoid the last minute anxiety that comes with waiting to book vendors.

Music In Motion Entertainment will be participating in several great shows for the 2010 season. As soon as our schedule is complete, it will be posted to our blog. See you at the show!  Happy Planning!

The first show will be Sunday September 20th at the Chevrolet Theater in Wallingford CT from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.

The second show will be held Sunday October 4th at the Dolce in Norwalk CT from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Both of these spectacular events will feature fashion shows, beauty treatments, food samples, and great wedding professionals!

Music In Motion’s  Mike Fernino will be the DJ  and host for ” Girl’s Night Out ” held Thursday October 15th at The Chevrolet Theater and Thursday October 29th at the Italian Center of Stamford CT. These unique events will be focused on women’s products and services along with a ton of fun and dancing!

Clear Vision Productions and Music In Motion will partner into 2010 with several great events. To get a list of upcoming shows, check out the web site at www.weddingstylesct.com or call 888-886-1211