How to Get a Spot at Wedding Fairs (Even When They’re Fully Booked): Dear Devlin

Dear Hankering from Hertfordshire,

Ahh yes, the golden ticket of wedding fairs, trying to get a spot at a wedding fair can be like trying to get past the velvet rope of an exclusive club, only instead of bouncers, you’ve got event organisers with overflowing waiting lists and a hundred other photographers ahead of you in the queue. It’s frustrating, especially when you know that if you could just get in, it could be a game-changer for your bookings.

Why Wedding Fairs Are Still Worth It

With so much of wedding marketing happening in digital spaces, I’ve been thinking lately about how overwhelming it must be for couples planning a wedding. They have limitless choices for every possible supplier, and it’s no wonder that at some point they lose faith in online searches and start looking for real-world ways to connect with people.

This is where wedding fairs can be invaluable. When couples meet you in person, they don’t just see your work, they get a sense of you. And let’s be real, we all know that the relationship between a couple and their photographer has to click (pun intended). You’re with them for their entire day, closer to them than their own guests at times, so having good chemistry is as important as loving your photos.

From your point of view, when you’re posting on social media, you’re basically throwing your work into a sea of people most of whom are not remotely looking for a wedding photographer. You’re hoping to catch the attention of the very few who are actively searching and they’ve not even opened the app with that in their minds.

But at a wedding fair? Every single person walking in is planning a wedding. That means your odds of converting a conversation into a booking are significantly higher. The return on investment if you can get into a good fair is fantastic.

But how do you actually get in when the doors are firmly shut?

The Backdoor Tactic To Get A Spot At A Wedding Fair

One of my mentoring students came to me with this exact issue. She was new to the game and had her sights on a few key venues in her area. She knew that getting a spot at their open days or wedding fairs would fast track her into booking weddings there.

But like you, she hit a wall. She couldn’t get on a waiting list, let alone secure a stand.

Now, one thing I learned from working in the music industry for a decade is this: if the door is shut, don’t keep banging on it find a different way in. Instead of focusing on what you need from the event (a stand), think about what they need from the event.

Because here’s the thing – wedding fair organisers always need content.

They need images of the fair setup, supplier booths, behind-the-scenes footage, promotional material for future events, social media content, and supplier spotlights. They need engagement and visibility to attract couples for the next event.k, your funnel is consistently welcoming and nurturing leads.ads.