My Honest First Bridal Fair Experience + 10 Tips for Overwhelmed Couples
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We walked into our first bridal fair with zero plan, zero budget, and zero idea what we were doing. Naturally, we walked out with our arms full of hundreds of flyers.
As a newly engaged couple, we were totally clueless about planning a wedding. Attending a bridal fair seemed like the first step couples do to start planning.
My fiancé and I attended Getting Married Bridal Fair at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia last January 2026. It was exactly a month after we got engaged. We hadn’t booked anything yet. No venue = no final wedding date.
Our goal was to research potential suppliers and get an idea of how much each one costs. But our mistake was coming in with no preparation at all. That’s the Type B in me winning. The Type A Bride in me is shaking.
We were very overwhelmed by the sheer amount of suppliers and how almost all of them wanted to pitch their packages to us. And because we didn’t have a concrete goal and target suppliers to book, we ended up accepting every single brochure handed out to us.
Don’t be like us. Here are the bridal fair tips I wish I knew before attending.
Before The Fair
1. Register Online Ahead of Time
Registering online is usually free. Save your time and money by filling out the necessary form ahead of time. One perk we missed out on: free food tasting. I assumed signing up online was enough, but for that specific caterer, an agent needed to contact us to confirm the slot.
2. Set Your Target Suppliers
Entertaining all kinds of suppliers can get overwhelming FAST. That’s what happened to us. Yes, our main priority then was to find our venue. But, because our doors were wide open, we welcomed all the options presented to us.
3. Prepare Your Bank Account
I forgot to bring my credit card to the bridal fair. Turns out it wouldn’t matter anyway. Most suppliers prefer cash or bank transfer over card payments. Cash is still king in the Philippines, so come prepared with enough on hand if you’re planning to lock in any reservation fees on the spot.
4. Pack Light, But Pack Smart
We didn’t bring an extra bag, or even a folder, for all the brochures we’d collect. I’d even planned to vlog the experience, but couldn’t because my hands were full. Bring only a small handbag to store your valuables and an extra bag for all the brochures and freebies you’ll inevitably end up with.
5. Dress for Comfort
Wear comfy clothes and shoes. Expect to walk a lot, especially if you’re planning to check out all the booths. SMX Convention Center is huge, and we ended up covering almost the entire venue floor by the time we left. Thankfully, we both wore sensible shoes.
During The Fair
6. Come Early
Coming early was one thing we actually got right. It gave us time to talk to suppliers without feeling rushed, and the line for the photo booths was still short. As the day went on, the venue got more crowded which meant it was more overwhelming.
7. Talk, Ask Questions, Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate
You are there to find the perfect supplier for your wedding. Take advantage of the time to ask all your questions and really review the packages they offer. It’s the perfect time to compare suppliers. Most importantly, negotiate. Most suppliers add more freebies or can give more discounts if you ask nicely.
8. Take Notes and Check Reviews on the Spot
If you’re part of wedding Facebook groups, you can look for honest reviews there. I also search the supplier on Reddit and see other people’s experience with them. Another tip I can give is to look at their social media pages and see if they align with your wedding vision. I almost booked a makeup artist because her booth looked nice, but when I checked her social media pages, her makeup style wasn’t what I envisioned for my wedding.
9. Trust your Gut with Suppliers
Personally, I prefer suppliers who are proactive. Even though I’m an introvert, I want my wedding suppliers to be outgoing and friendly. The type who feel like they’ll really give their all to our wedding. My fiancé, on the other hand, prefers suppliers who are straight to the point. Different preferences, but the same principle.
One example: we met a wedding coordinator I assumed would be a great fit simply because their office was nearby. I figured the proximity would make meetings easier. But when we visited their booth, we just didn’t click. And no amount of convenience was going to fix that.
After The Fair
10. Take a Breather, Then Review and Shortlist Your Notes
Since it was our first bridal fair, we didn’t push ourselves to stay in the fair for a long time. Once we were both overwhelmed, we exited the event and grabbed lunch. We took a breather and went on a date. As soon as we got home, we sorted out the flyers and separated the potential suppliers.
I hope these tips can help you survive your first bridal fair in the Philippines, preferably with fewer mystery flyers we ended up with. As for us? We left without booking a single supplier. We were that overwhelmed! We even took a three-month break from wedding planning altogether. But we learned a lot from that first try, and by our second bridal fair, we were so much more prepared.
