The Wedding Salon Bridal Show Features Industry’s Best

I’ve been eying The Wedding Salon’s prestigious bridal show for some time now, attending the salon’s networking parties. (One of them, by the way, led to an acquaintance with a turnkey effect.) So, having milled a substantial amount of flour required by this show, I signed up for New York Fall 2009 expo.

The preparations were not difficult considering our previous experience and existing displays. However, I wanted to show off some of the new lines of products so I worked aggressively on getting them from the suppliers in record time frames. Among them, a Himalayan line of Couture Collection of photo books which featured Mena and Aswin’s wedding — vibrant yet telluric, traditional yet dashing. Hence my choice of book, made out of Lotka paper from the bark of the bush which grows naturally in Nepal at altitude of 6,500 to 9,500 feet, processed as thousands years ago. The other product is an Italian line of boxed albums and books, from huge 16×16 volume to handy gift-sized for the bridal party. The only caveat at this expo was rather cramped booth space given to vendors…

We also offered an enticing show special, good for just one week. I am glad that some wise ladies did not let it pass…

Despite a high ticket price ($50), this bridal show attracts hundreds of brides looking for Crème de la Crop (organizers quote over 2,000 attendees). Although I haven’t seen it but people say the line extends and wraps around the block of the Roosevelt Hotel. At some point, the crowd was let in. We were strategically located next to Eleni’s cupcake display, a natural draw for an exhausted traffic entering the ball room. 🙂

It was especially touching to see our own clients, both those whose weddings are still ahead, and those upgraded to the “happily ever after” status. Aww, they still stopped by to see us… When standing and chatting with us, they were layering a whole new sensation of warmth and hospitality on top of the overall excitement. Amazingly, they share the same sentiment of wanting to have our whole photography experience all over again… Hey, there are quite a few other adventures beyond a wedding, even more challenging and mind-blowing. As you may know, my dear wedding client in Alaska recently had her staggering maternity session in the wilderness. Two more adventures are brewing in the Caribbean for next spring…

In general, I was delighted by the discerning taste of those who stopped by, their demonstration of appreciation of our art and its visual impact and emotional value. And then comes a pleasure of post-expo communication and building a more intimate relationship to meet individual needs and fulfill the dreams…

Of a significant importance was our networking with the industry peers. We enjoyed talking to other wedding photographers, make-up artists, stylists, planners, gown designers, and others. This is of utmost importance to us as I plan a series of art projects involving unique props and resources. I am looking forward to working with Bridal Reflections, Nilah and Company, and a toy designer, among other new contacts.

It was also an enjoyment to see familiar faces of NY Wedding Dance, Joseph Edwards, Chatterberries, The Knot, Affluent Bride, and others.

I personally thank Tracy Chenoff from the Wedding Salon for her dedicated care and support. The complete list of participants can be found here. For more information, download the salon’s NY Fall 2009 Program Guide.

Overall, the experience was certainly encouraging and thrilling. Thank you all who visited us, talked, and laughed with us. I am looking forward to continuing our conversations.