It is the wedding expos where wedding suppliers offer freebies, huge discounts and other irresistible treats. For example, travel and tour operators can give you extras for your honeymoon, if you book them. You’ll also be invited to caterer’s free tasting so you can sample their food. And you can get as much as P15,000 discount on your wedding photo-video package. Not bad isn’t it?

So if you’re getting wed, make sure you have the schedule of wedding and bridal expos at hand. Here’s our partial list for 2011:

March 12-13, 2011
Wedding Expo Philippines
SMX Convention Center
Mall of Asia
(organized by Themes & Motifs)

May 14-15, 2011
Before I Do: 9th Weddings & Debuts Fair
Megatrade Hall 1
SM Megamall
(organized by VRC CReative Events Management)

May 21-22, 2011
Celebrations!
SMX Convention Center
Mall of Asia

June 18, 2011
Bridal Talks
Filipinas Heritage Library
Ayala Avenue, Makati City
call 892-1801

June 20-26,2011
Wedding Essentials
Eastwood Mall
Libis Q.C.
A project of Eastwood Mall & Wedding Essentials Magazine
call 450-7099

Here are some of the treats that await couples and guests who attend this event:

- The NSO and e-Census will be putting up registry booths to facilitate the marriage requirements of soon-to-weds. They will be billed regular charges, but without the hassle of waiting in line.

- BDO credit cards will put up its facilities on-site and will offer installment payment programs for selected exhibitors.

- Belo Medical Group specialists will be on hand for free consultation from 1 to 6 p.m. on the two Expo dates. Beauty packages at special rates will also be offered.

- The Celebrations! Coupon book will be given away to 500 lucky couples for use during the two-day event. This contains cash discount coupons from selected companies and entitles the holder to as much as P100,000 discount from their actual wedding purchases.

- Goldilocks will create a giant cake that will hold hundreds of “cake pulls” for brides who have made bookings with any of the exhibitors. Each cake pull carries a corresponding “His & hers” gift exclusively made for the event.

- Food tasting by event sponsor VS & F Classic Food International

- the holding of “Spotlight” on May 23, a unique fashion show where models shall showcase the works of noted wedding designers. Special props to Onesimus which will parade their new line of barong tagalog and suits for grooms-to-be and other members of the male entourage.

- Photo booth experience from Fotoloco

- Free prenuptial photo op from Great Image

- ….. and many more! Register at the wedding site to gain free entrance on the expo days.

Every bride probably can’t deny the fact that they want a notable designer to do their wedding gown. Not all of us can have a Vera Wang or our very own Monique Lhuillier who has made it internationally. But local fashion is brimming with talent itself. You just have to look around.

And that’s how I became a happy Edgar Allan bride. I was certainly proud to wear his creation during our wedding. I liked its simple cut and classic accents. It’s something I’ll treasure and content enough to pass on to my daughters, when the time comes.

Guess what, I thought Edgar Allan is hibernating…but it turns out he’s preparing for his own bridal exhibit from June 4 to 14 near his new boutique in Glorietta 5, Makati.

For the exhibit, he will be coming up with wedding gowns inspired by some of the most memorable women in history, literature, films, opera and Broadway.

Mr. Allan will present his own interpretations of bridal gowns for iconic women of history like Marie Antoinette and Mata Hari, Bizet’s Carmen, Broadway’s Eliza Doolittle from ‘My Fair Lady’, romantic literature’s favorites, Juliet and Guinevere, and the film world’s memorable characters, Princess Leah and Gigi.

With minimal surface decorations, Edgar relied on fabric, cut and proportion to achieve the glamor that surrounded these women of history and fiction, and capture the drama that memorable and bigger than life.

Their special exhibit will be the 15th bridal display Edgar Allan and business partner Rene Tiongco have mounted in 25 years at their boutique in Ayala Center.

The Edgar Allan boutique is also located at the ground floor of Glorietta 5. Telephone number 893-7426

‘The 2nd Southern Bridal Fair: A Wedding Festival 2009‘ gears up for another edition at the Festival Supermall’s Mini Trade Hall and Carousel Court on May 29 to 31.

Wedding suppliers will once again gather together in one roof to showcase their services to soon-to-wed couples, especially those residing in Southern Metro Manila. This time around, the fair will showcase the grandeur of Filipino weddings, as enhanced by the magic of modern technology.

The Philippines’ top wedding designers will be showcasing their works, among them Renee Salud, Jun Jun Cambe, Jorge Palmos, Michelle Lim for Okasyon, Tinay Ramirez, Veronica Velayo, Joel Bautista, Toffee Dioneda, Boyet Dysangco, Delby Bragais of North Road, Ines Juni & Evelyn Guerrero. Guest designers will be Fanny Serrano, Pepsi Herrera and Edwin Tan.

A highlight of the event will be the opening gala on May 29 which will have Bill Culubaquib of Dream Maker. Jonathan Pagaduan of Bridal Entourage takes center stage the following day while Serge Jimenez Couture and Bridal Collection will take the ramp in the grand finale on May 31 at 6 p.m.

Completing the list of participants are wedding caterers, resorts, cake makers, expert wedding planners and consultants, flower arrangements, photographers and bridal registries, among others.

Festival Supermall has over 600 specialty stores in its roof, and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Before ‘I Do’ 5th Edition – May 9 to 10 at Mega Trade Hall 3, Fifth Level, SM Megamall

The 2nd Southern Bridal Show: A Wedding Festival – May 29-31 at Festival Supermall, Alabang

The Wedding Festival II – June 6-7 at Trinoma Mall Activity Center

Bridal Expo: Perfect Beginnings Year 6 – June 13-14 at World Trade Center Manila

What to see in these exhibits: all kinds of suppliers, from catering to styling and giveaways.Lots of brochures and freebies too! If you’re reserving the suppliers, they usually grant discounts, vouchers and more freebies. When it comes to wedding preparations, knowledge is power for comparison purposes and to make sure that you get the biggest bang for your buck.That’s why attending these fairs is a must!

With the theme “New Beginnings,” betrothed couples will get a chance to meet the best designers, stylists, florists and photographers, as well as makers of jewelry, giveaways and invitation cards in one place, at one time.

For the second year in a row, the Marco Polo Plaza is partnering with the Cebu City Civil Registrar’s Office and the Cebu City Health Office to bring future brides and grooms to the bridal fair.

Event partners Wedding Essentials and Joyful Weddings will conduct short seminars on wedding topics such as etiquette, styling, make-up and planning.

Joyful Weddings will also be organizing, especially for the bridal fair, a series of speed dating games for young professionals who have yet to find their significant other.

The two-day bridal exhibit will end with a fashion show to be participated in by the top designers of Cebu City.

For more information, call Marco Polo Plaza at (032) 234-8108.

(From the official press release)

At the just concluded Martha Stewart Bridal Fair, the audience had a chance to listen to the talk of Rajo Laurel, one of Manila’s in-demand designers. Would-be brides learned a lot about what wedding gown styles would flatter them the most, with the prime consideration being knowledge about one’s body type.

In the latter part of the talk, Rajo was asked about wedding trends for 2009 and his answer opened up our eyes to reality. We can’t disagree with these trends because they’re good!

The shift to “non-colors” for the wedding motif. Whereas in the previous years, motif colors were sunny and bright (think about lime green or even fuschchia), this year it’s going to be all tame. Gray and champagne, here you go!

Metallics rule! Different shades of silver will make your wedding up-to-date, with a touch of shimmer or without. Gold is more last season’s.

It is okay to wear your mom’s or grandma’s wedding dress! Vintage makes a resurgence and doing so is a welcome challenge. It’s just a matter of finding a good couturier or gown maker to make alterations, if needed. We are reminded of presidential daughter Luli Macapagal-Arroyo who wore her grandmother’s old gown for her wedding to Luigu Bernas last year. That spoke of the kind of simplicity we admire.

The ‘eco trend, and being “environmentally-friendly.” A recycled paper gown, anyone? By this we mean going back to nature, and eschewing materials that harm Mother Earth. Recycling is simply the way to go!

Now, another event is upon us. It’s the Martha Stewart Bridal Fair, brought to us by Martha Stewart Weddings (Philippines). I like this magazine by Summit Media, and I actually bought one to guide me before the Big Day. The future bride shouldn’t be able to live without at least one resource publication. We simply like to have it with us to show us the way in the difficult business of wedding preparations.

Here’s the full listing of activities in the bridal fair: (via Shopcrazy)

Saturday, March 28
10 a.m. – Opening Ceremony
1:30 p.m. – Margarita Fores: How to be the Perfect Hostess
2 p.m. – Makati Shangri-La: Chinese Engagement Rites
4 p.m. – Barbi Chan: The Best Bridal Make-up
5 p.m. – My Diamond: Diamond Buying Guide
6 p.m. – Frederick Peralta: Bridal Collection

Sunday, March 29

1:30 p.m. – Bridesmaids Talk
2 p.m. – Martha Stewart Weddings Editorial Team: Wedding Do-It-Yourself Tips
4 p.m. – Schott Sweizel and Happy Living: Wine Appreciation Talk
5 p.m. – Rajo Laurel: Tips on the Best Bridal Fashion
6 p.m. – Raffle

To attend this event for free, register at the official website. Payment for walk-in guests is P50.

I hope to be there if my schedule allows