This is actually a joke. Don't waste your money on the VIP Experience. There is nothing VIP about it. It was so oversold that instead of feeling special and actually feel like you are getting a special experience of early entry and getting to explore in a less crowded environment, anyone that's willing to fork over the $99 is a "VIP". It was so crowded and chaotic I found a corner near a water station, borrowed a chair and let my daughters wander around. They took me back to the things they liked the best. I have mobility issues and if I had brought my scooter I would not have been able to maneuver at all without running into or over somebody. And walking in a crowd that big was a challenge since I'm unsteady on my feet. If I had known "VIP" meant chump that thinks they are giving their daughter a special experience by spending more hard earned money in today's economy I personally would have never bought tickets to go. Also the variety of vendors was disappointing, mostly wedding venues and photography with a few others sprinkled in the mix. The bridal expo in March at George R Brown was free and had a much larger variety of vendors, everything from catering, to bar services, to dj's and so much more. read more

Great place for newly engaged couples to find variety of vendors! It can be overwhelming if you dont know where to start or what you're looking for but if you have a specific idea in mind then it'll help navigate you through the maze of people! Great fashion show and dance demos, along with cake tasting! read more

Biggest takeaway - just get the free general admission tickets. My experience this weekend severely lacked after purchasing VIP tickets for my crew this weekend. In all honesty just get the general admission because I feel the VIP is just a money grab I saw little difference between VIP/General admission other than a $5 headband/sash and a little bah that had a couple brochures, a gift card for wedding bands from semi questionable company, and a stress ball. We did get to go in 30 minutes early this only gave us time to talk to 2 people after running into issues with the bridal scan app from the get go. Also, I only saw 1 VIP giveaway when websitea mentioned multiple. When I asked the staff I was just pointed towards the same giveaways everyone has a chance for. As for interactions with the vendors it was the same as everyone else, same spill, same brochures, same little "swag" items. So save your money wait until the general admission is free and get your tickets. The event it's self is a tad overwhelming as the layouts are a tad wonky so it's easy to miss places. Each bar area only had 1 bartender which made the lines extremely long. I felt really bad for the ladies working because there should have atleast been 2. I also feel as my information was given to locations I didn't give too as a few places have reached out which I dont have a single business card, brochure, nothing for them. So not sure how they obtained it. Also, always double check pricing at the vendors from websites as well. I did catch just a couple whose website price was LOWER than at the expo. I was given the website isn't updated, thay is for this season this is for next, etc. Just do your research for sure. Fashion show was pretty cute i like that they had models of all sizes present. Plenty of seating and standing room as well. As for the dresses at the event there aren't a ton for you to try on and buy there (even though that's advertised) which i really didn't expect much but the quality of the dresses present....interesting I would say. There were a couple boutiques that stood out to me and I ended up making appointments because they showed their different styles they had (not just glittery, patterned, ballgown which is for some but not all). They had plenty of venues to look at that made scheduling open houses easier. A few tux vendors, decoration, flowers, and travel agents/wedding planners. The cake tasting where interesting to try for only 2 stood out which were much smaller mom and pops shops the other "big ones" no thank you. read more

I started at about 4 stars. The idea of this experience is a smart niche. I'm personally a bit bothered by the plantation wedding folks, who have the balls to monetize these spaces, and without shame ask Black women if they're interested in a plantation venue... but overall this is a great space to explore options and the location is appropriate for the scale of the event (which is huge)! Here's how we got to 2 stars: This whole experience is a lead generation fest and conversion war for the vendors. I get it...these folks are going to get married, likely soon, they are the ideal client with the highest conversion rate in an expensive industry... But my email and number was shared with ALL vendors as opposed to the ones I voluntarily extended my contact information, so 5+ months later I still receive daily calls, texts, and emails from vendors I never engaged with (and am not interested in). It's excruciating! Weddings are stressful, it's nice to be introduced to options, compare, and make connections, but it's not nice to be harassed while planning the most stressful party of your life. This aspect of the event could still use some work. As usual, all the best to them! read more

I just got engaged October 2017 and have been trying to lock in a venue ever since. So my fiancé and I grabbed tickets for Sunday the last day of the event due to work and prior commitments with our church. We weren't able to get there until 2:50 pm which gave us 2 hours to shop around. There were sooooo many vendors there I did not get a chance to see them all. Pros: -The expo provided labels with your info on them so that you did not have to fill out hundreds of lead forms. -The expo gave you a stack of raffle tickets to a variety of vendors to win free products/ packages from them such as a free honeymoon. -There were cash bars so you could sip & shop. -There was a concession stand and tables so that you could grab a light meal while shopping. -The majority of the vendors created special price packages for expo attendees. Cons: -I wish they had longer hours not everyone can take weekends off. -The aisle were numbered but the numbers were listed too high up. You would have to look up at the ceiling or look at them from a distance. read more

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Overall, the Bridal Expo was good. Meeting venders was great. Fashion show was okay. My biggest disappointment was I bought 6 VIP tickets for Sunday, Jan 22. It cost a little over $350 with taxes and fees but I thought I would splurge and it would be worth it to get in an hour early. The alternative was to pay $1.99 per ticket plus tax/fees. I don't know what they did on Saturday, but on Sunday they let everyone in at the same time. I couldn't believe it! The VIP tickets are a scam. Plus, there is no designated VIP seating for the fashion show. I recommend saving your money and buying the regular tickets. read more

I went here on a Sunday as a Bridesmaid with my Bride-to- be bestfriend. My mom used to be a vendor here and it's just as crazy as it was how many years ago. Things to keep in mind to absolutely make sure you have the most efficient use of the day: 1. Print out sticker labels of your name, phone, email & maybe address. 2. Prepare to be approached by everybody you make eye contact with, Bride-to- be's! 3. Wear comfy shoes...!!! 4. Bring a bag to hold your countless fliers and free gifts (but there are $2 bags there as well) 5. Enjoy yourself! There's alcohol everywhere. And fashion shows every hour. Vendors will offer discounts on packages if you sign up with them that day. It's good to come here because they have prices and info readily available to you. This is extremely useful because normally, you'd have to take the time to inquire on their websites on pricing, etc. on your own when shopping around. It was nice to see all of the options available to you and what's new out there in the bridal world. The also have giveaways galore, so the sticker labels come in handy when you're signing up for stuff--- my poor bride-to-be had to handwrite everything. We totally came unprepared, not knowing really how to approach this show. But I thought it was pretty informative, and I took some fliers for myself just to see roughly the pricing on some of these packages.... Man oh man!! Weddings are expensive, but I'm sure you already knew that. Happy Wedding Planning! read more

Bridal Extravaganza Show - Wedding Planning Near Me

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Maigen's Guide On How To *NOT* Become a Bridezilla 1. Have a group of fun and crazy, yet resiliently supportive bridesmaids. 2. Alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol. 3. Frequent spa days. 4. Staying organized with a super-cute wedding planning binder. 5. Going to Bridal Extravaganza. Ladies (and gents, I guess?), as important as all these steps are, I *cannot* stress that last one enough. If you're just starting out on your wedding planning journey, but you have literally NO clue whatsoever on how to even begin tackling this complicated, expensive, and seemingly insurmountable project... then The Bridal Extravaganza Show is an awesome starting point. Twice a year, usually in January and July, Bridal Extravaganza brings together anything and everything you'll need for your big day... and trust me, there's enough vendors there to fill up the George R. Brown Center. Especially since they ARE in the George R. Brown Center. There are rows upon rows of booths for: + Ceremony/reception venues all over Houston, from down south in Texas City all the way up to Conroe + Photography/Videography + Wedding dresses and attire (e.g. Winnie Couture, David's Bridal, Alfred Angelo, etc.) + Music (e.g. DJs, small orchestra ensembles) + Guest Entertainment (e.g. photobooths, karaoke) + Cakes (yes, cake samples! Truffles and macarons too, if you're lucky!) + Décor; Table/Chair Linens + Event Planning + Honeymoon Planning (e.g. travel agents, cruise lines) Plus, misc. needs -- make-up, tanning, custom clothes for the bridal party, ring cleaning, limos, catering (more free samples!), and even a few bars with drinks for purchase to keep you blushing brides buzzed and happy while you browse. Two things. First, I reeeeally recommend bringing some people because it's always nice to have second-opinions and they can help carry all your flyers and pamphlets, plus it makes the convention more fun! Bring your maid of honor or a few bridesmaids, your parents, and definitely your fiancé. That said, the convention is crazy packed, so don't bring your whole posse. Second, try to get there as early as you can because you'll definitely use up all those hours perusing through this gigantic convention. I was on-site for 4 full hours and time STILL flew by! All in all, I am 110% glad that I went to Bridal Extravaganza. I arrived with three main areas of focus - venue, dress, entertainment - and I left with invitations to multiple venue open houses and a clearer idea of what I wanted for the latter two. Since we've still got a way to go until our wedding date, I'm planning to visit the convention again in July and take advantage of those awesome discounted rates. Thanks for keeping me off the path of brutal Bridezilla-ism, Bridal Extravaganza! read more

Bridal Extravaganza Show - Bridal Extravaganza Show, Jan. 2014 - entrance view - Wedding Planning Near Me

I attended the Bridal Extravaganza in January of 2011 for my wedding in July. I attended with one mission: cake and makeup. I found both! They have a huge selection of vendors with a lot of makeup specialists, bakeries, linen companies and apparel booths (bridal boutiques, etc. but nothing to actually buy such as accessories, etc.). The best part is the samples of cake (yum!) and the discounts that most vendors give at this time. In hindsight, I should have waited to book a lot more vendors at the show so we could get a bigger discount! Registering for the event was easy but I never received my tickets in the mail. I called them and they were very apologetic and they said they would have my tickets at will call. The day of I actually ended up with double the tickets at will call because apparently they had printed my info twice! Overall, it was a good experience and I would recommend doing something like this early on in the planning process that way you can take advantage of the good deals! read more

From a guy's perspective, this event is actually quite useful. Both as a way to get wedding items checked off and also as a fascinating study in market economics. Make sticky labels in advance with your name, email, phone and address. Then you can avoid writing it down at each vendor's booth and when you want to enter drawings. You'll need about three hundred labels to be safe. Also, by making the labels in advance, you can be escorted past the hour long line where they print labels and charge for them. I forget what they do charge but I think it was like $20 just for sticky labels. This is essentially a place where the vendors want to wow you with their service or venue. You are networking with vendors and will get price quotes AFTER the event - usually in the form of emails. Talking price at the event is bad form. Just get emails from everyone you liked and you can request this info later. After the event, there will be a flurry of emails in which the next goal is to get a meeting where you meet the vendor in person after the event. And, the pressure is on as vendors tell couples about their expiring discounts and vendors seek to lock in most of their business for the year. It's definitely highly competitive and the vendors are working hard to get your business but also not afraid to remind people that when they are booked for a wedding date then they are unavailable. Great cake samples here. Also some food samples will tide you over a bit but you'll want some real snacks since the food at the food stand is so-so and overpriced and this is at least a 4 to 5 hour event if you're moving and organized. If you're taking your time, you can spend unlimited time here. It also makes sense to come here just because you can get discounts that aren't advertised just because you went to the extravaganza. read more

This show is second to none! It didn't get to be the largest bridal show in the country by accident. They're obsessed with giving a great customer experience -- the attention to detail, the VIP treatment, the positive energy, they're in a league of their own! read more

Well my Bestie is getting hitched and she invited me to go to this last weekend. We both originally thought this would be super fun, however it is if you are wanting to plan the biggest wedding and have the budget to afford a lot of the frills and thrills that most extravagant weddings usually have. All in all we had fun, aside from all the looooong lines (some in the cold rain) we had to stand in line to get into the GRB, but truthfully her and I are not really super girly- girls and she is really shooting for a Hill Country wedding. Don't get me wrong there were a lot of great vendors there; the food and cake samples were delish. But please take note Brides to Be: If you are planning a destination wedding or wedding outside the local Houston area. Keep in mind that the vendors attending this were are super close and local. They all charge extra for the traveling if you book them. I would recommend attending a bridal show, if possible, in the destination city. or just use Yelp! read more

Lots of good vendors and options. Good organization buy would recommend planners chauffeur bridal party to help w the flow of traffic.

So many amazing vendors! Gives you a great idea for visuals. Some vendors offer discounts if you make an appointment with their company that same day. The staff seemed very knowledgable about their products and services. Oh and plentyyy of cake samples! I would recommend going to any brides :) read more

I loved the set up and the actual show. I had a bad experience with a vendor they had and I still haven't heard back from them or the Bridal Extravaganza. That is the only reason I didn't give them 5 stars. read more

It was a treasure of information much needed for an upcoming wedding. Having access to all these vendors was great. You can easily get overwhelmed but if you pace yourself, you'll be fine. read more

I attended the event in the Summer of 2014 and it was a little bit too much for me. I understand that this is set up to be a one-stop shop type of thing for your wedding planning. But I had an issue with how pushy so many vendors were to get your information. I PAID to attend this event and I would be PAYING for any services/products I were to choose or hire. So it kind of bothered me that some vendors were so pushy and borderline rude in the way they spoke or wouldn't back off if I said I didn't need their service/product. I had been planning my wedding for two months when I walked in and several things were already under contract or purchased. It was a bit difficult to handle and I left absolutely exhausted. Since then I've gotten loads of spam mail from some vendors even after opting out of their emails. It also annoyed me that some vendors didn't seem to be really prepared. Some booths didn't have enough staff, some booths had plenty and the staff was more concerned with hanging out with each other than helping...and then others were there and able to help but weren't knowledgeable and I left with less information than when I visited their FB pages. Which is sad. read more