Your Dream Day Wedding Planning Podcast with Kathy Piech-Lukas
Your Dream Day Wedding Planning Podcast with Kathy Piech-Lukas
Planning an Ohio Wedding? Ohio Wedding Shows in Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton from Claiborne Productions
Planning a wedding in Ohio? Ohio Wedding Shows (www.OhioWeddingShows.com) has you covered. As the longest running wedding show in Dayton, Claiborne Productions also produces wedding shows in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. Wedding Show producer Tracy Claiborne sits down with Kathy Piech-Lukas, wedding planner and content creator with Your Dream Day, about their upcoming events in Ohio and tips that a bride, groom, engaged couple, or anyone planning a wedding can take when planning the big day. It is possible to plan your entire Ohio wedding in one day!! Go to www.ohioweddingshows.com and use promo code 'dream' to get free tickets to any Claiborne Productions wedding show in Ohio!
To listen to more episodes visit www.yourdreamday.com
We are making our own story as we go. Hi, this is Kathy Piech Lukas. Welcome to Your Dream Day podcast. And today we are talking with Ohio Wedding Shows about all of your upcoming shows that you've got going on. You've got a bunch coming up.
Speaker 2:We do, we do. We have a lot.
Speaker 1:Which tell us the dates of the shows you have coming up?
Speaker 2:Sure, sure. So our first one will be in Cincinnati, at the Manor House in Mason. So we're in the Mason area. Then we'll have that one is this Sunday, January 12th, Okay. And then we're at the Dayton Convention Center, which is newly remodeled. We are so excited to be back at the Dayton Convention Center. And that's the big show.
Speaker 1:Yes, that is the big.
Speaker 2:I mean, it is the biggest one in Dayton, the largest and it's the longest running.
Speaker 1:So you've been planning, you've been doing wedding shows for almost 20 years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, over 20 years yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the Dayton. Your show in Dayton, the one in January, is the one that all couples look forward to, because, it's the biggest yes Hands down.
Speaker 2:And don't mistake us, there have been some others at the Dayton Convention Center. That is not us. We are Claiborne Productions, Ohio Wedding Shows. We're the longest running. Our show is amazing. They wanted us back there because it's newly remodeled. They're actually going to showcase some of their newly remodeled carpeted ballrooms that they have. I can't wait to see that yes and that one is January 18th and 19th, that's a two-day event.
Speaker 1:Okay, perfect yeah.
Speaker 1:So how do people get tickets to these shows?
Speaker 2:So you can go to our website, ohioweddingshows. com. Okay, and they can use. I'll give you a code that you can use. You can use code DREAM and that'll get you free tickets in advance.
Speaker 1:Actually, you know what I think we should use? Code DREAM.
Speaker 2:Oh, DREAM could be good All right.
Speaker 1:All right, let's do that, Not "Code Dream just Dream, dream, dream, yeah.
Speaker 2:So put that code in and that will get you free tickets in advance. We encourage them to bring you know, of course, the brides, the grooms, all their bridesmaids. The entourage Bridesmaids the entourage your moms, your grandmas.
Speaker 1:It's a fun event for everyone and we have a lot of experiences, too, at these events.
Speaker 1:What are some of the experiences that people can expect?
Speaker 2:We're going to have a cake gallery that they'll vote on their favorite cake. There'll be a photo gallery where they can vote on their favorite photo. Of course, our professional runway fashion shows. We have that at each show that we do In Dayton. We're going to have a perfume bar where they get to create a scent. The will.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's actually one of the new trends that has been being talked about in a lot of the wedding blogs is scents at weddings, yeah, so like you know, custom perfumes, but also the ambiance of the room and actually making the room smell like a specific Odor I know odor sounds so negative, I know, I know or just a specific scent, aroma.
Speaker 2:There we go, yeah, something that fits with their whole theme and what they're doing. I could definitely see that. But, yeah, even the grooms. It's for the grooms and the brides, and then they, of course, market that. You can do this for your wedding party. It's a fun thing to do. And then we also have the flower man coming. Flower man coming and he is doing a wonderful, huge showcase at his booth and you're going to be able to try different bouquets. Take pictures, look in the mirror, see what different styles there are. Get a good idea of what type of bouquet you would like to carry for your wedding.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, and you bring up a great transitional point, which is wedding shows are fantastic for getting ideas, yes, and whether it be a wedding cake, whether it be a bouquet, whether it be a dress that you see on the runway, wedding shows are just a fantastic way for you to get ideas of things that you can do for your wedding. Exactly, and keep in mind that some of these things could be expensive.
Speaker 2:Yes, but, Kathy, I was going to say what you were saying. That's the thing, though. You can look at something and you can go in and you can see something and be like, oh my gosh, I would love that. It looks so expensive. I'm telling you, there's vendors out there that can create those things for you at budget prices. So that's what I love about our shows we fit every budget. All our vendors can accommodate for a variety of different budgets, and that's the great thing, I think, about our shows is that we have so much variety, so much different pricing for different people.
Speaker 1:Well, that's one of the reasons why, through the years, I've always loved your shows because there is that wide availability of budget, because one of the first things that you know as a planner I've always told couples is set a budget and stick to it. Going bankrupt, going into debt, is no way to start a new chapter in your life together.
Speaker 1:It just isn't Exactly yes, and there's a wedding vendor for every budget, for every style, for every personality. So you know, when you go to these wedding shows, interview the vendors, talk to them, get an idea of what their style is in person, as well as the work Right, and you know, see if you're going to enjoy being around them. I mean especially, with perfect example, your photographer. You're going to spend more time with your photographer than anybody else on your wedding day, so you need to make sure that you have a connection with them beyond the work.
Speaker 1:I mean, the work can be beautiful, but if they're rubbing you the wrong way, it's going to show in your photos.
Speaker 2:It's going to show in your photos for sure. And that's the best thing about the shows. You have that face-to-face connection with them. You can usually tell right away when you're talking to someone. You get a good feel and then you can set up more appointments with them and go further into their pricing and their packages that they have.
Speaker 1:Well, you can set up appointments with the vendors, but some of them also offer show specials.
Speaker 2:Yes, they do. Yeah, if you're ready to book and you want to book your date and you found a vendor that you love, yes, they can book you right then, and there, yeah, so that's huge.
Speaker 1:I mean, in theory you could plan your entire wedding in a day, oh yeah a wedding show?
Speaker 2:Absolutely, yeah. We're even back at the Dayton Convention Center. We can bring in some limousines, so we're going to have a limousine there I think it's a limo bus and the other thing we're going to have is Mother of the Bride dresses. I don't think a lot of shows showcase that. They don't. Yeah, and we have a great store that's going to bring some beautiful Mother of the Bride dresses.
Speaker 1:Well, and I'll tell you MOBS, sorry, we call you Mother of the Brides, but you're known as a MOB to all the couples who are planning yeah, but like with the mother of the brides, a lot of them are just like I don't want a dress that makes me look old Right.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:And that's what they're seeing a lot. So to have, like, a vendor that's specifically targeting toward these mother of the brides, so that they can look fashionable and give the mother the confidence that she needs to be able to be the best mother, the bride she can be on the wedding day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, exactly. And it's about them too. I mean, it's a special day for the moms as well. I'm sure they're most of them are heavily involved in all the planning. So well, they want to look their best too.
Speaker 1:I think my favorite part of wedding shows is when the entourage comes in and like you have these brides that'll have. Like a sash on that says bride and sometimes the moms will have a sash on and the moe maid of honor will have a sash on um or they'll wear tiaras and it's just, it's so fun, yeah, and it really is an experience. So I mean, you, can you go to a wedding show with just your fiance?
Speaker 1:absolutely, of course but if you have an entourage, and you have like a wedding party that you want to bring.
Speaker 2:It'll make it a fun day experience for all of you. Exactly, yeah yeah, and there's tons of photo ops too, so it just allows you to make some memories for creating your wedding. You'll remember it, you're going to take some good pictures and there's lots of food samples, so you'll get to taste wedding cakes and catering from all kinds of caterers. We have some great local caterers at both shows you know that's.
Speaker 1:The only disadvantage of doing keto is I can't have any of the wedding cakes, but whenever you have like like one of the things that's been very trendy the last couple of years, especially with the economy. The way it's been has been barbecue a lot of a lot of couples have been using places like City Barbecue or places like that to cater their wedding, and of course, I can have that Right. Exactly, yeah, so, but you also have some prizes that you're going to be giving away.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, yes, so many of the vendors that are participating. They'll give away lots of door prizes. There's gift baskets, there's gift cards, there's free hotel stays, discounts off the packages that they have. And then every day at our show so, like Dayton's a two-day show, cincinnati's a one-day show we'll give away a seven-night vacation resort package and it's for you get to choose. There's many resorts that you can choose from and we call it vacation because you don't necessarily have to use it for your honeymoon. So it's seven nights and actually one of my associates just recently went on one and to Port of Our Hour. I just said it was an amazing trip. So it's a great trip and someone will win it each day at our shows.
Speaker 1:Well, and I think the other thing that's great too is you'll have travel agents at your show and they can not just do honeymoons, but they can also do destination weddings, which have been very, very popular.
Speaker 2:So if you go to a wedding show, you can do a destination wedding and a lot of the photographers will travel, videographers will travel, so you can still get a lot of your vendors here locally, even if you're going to be getting married on a beach somewhere in Florida or the Bahamas or wherever, Absolutely yeah, yeah, there's a lot that will travel with you, yeah, and sometimes the destination, yeah, the travel people, they have connections with the vendors and they can work all that out for you, that's amazing. Yeah, but yeah, we have some really unique things and some different kinds of vendors, so we're excited. We also do one in Columbus, ohio. I don't think I mentioned Columbus.
Speaker 1:That'll be February 1st and 2nd.
Speaker 2:At the Ohio Expo Center State Fair. Where is that? That is the State Fairgrounds where the State Fair is held. Okay, so it's a big exhibit hall. They have many buildings. We're in the Kasich Building Hall B. So February 1st and 2nd.
Speaker 1:Very cool. So for our Seabus brides, pay attention to that one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh fantastic, so people can go online at OhioWeddingExposcom. Yep Ohio. Wedding Shows OhioWeddingShows. com to get their tickets Yep, and how much are tickets.
Speaker 2:Tickets are normally $10, but, like I said, if you use the code DREAM, then you'll get your tickets for free. Oh, that's fantastic yeah.
Speaker 1:I know all of our viewers are going to love that, because what bride and groom don't love free stuff? That's right.
Speaker 2:Exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1:So what are some tips that you would give to a couple that is going to the show?
Speaker 2:Sure.
Speaker 1:How should they interact with the exhibitors and what are questions they should be asking?
Speaker 2:One thing, too, we first highly recommend is that you set up an email that is specifically for wedding. You know your wedding shows or for wedding things that you're getting, so you're not getting inundated Because they will email you. It's just that's just what they do. They're going to do follow-up marketing with you and they'll use your email to do that. And then make a list of what you want. You know, who do I need? Do I need a photographer? Do I need a venue? Do I need a DJ? If I need a venue, do I need a DJ? If I need everything, then you'll want to talk to everybody. But if not, then make a list and then, when you're at the show, go see those people first, you know, see the ones that you really need to find, and then just ask them specific questions. You know what are your packages, talk to them, find out what their history is, what's your experience. You know how long have they been doing this, and then do they fit the style of wedding that you want?
Speaker 2:I think it's important to figure out Absolutely. Well, wonderful Tracy thank you so much for joining us today. Sure Thanks for having me, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning in. Be sure to listen to our podcast. You can reach them on our YouTube channel, which is what you're watching here, or you can reach them on dreamdaypodcastcom, and you can get it wherever you get your podcasts, whether that be Spotify, pandora, iheart all of those. Thank you so much for tuning in. This is Kathy Piech Lukas with Your Dream Day. Happy planning!
