When planning a wedding one of the most common places to start is at bridal shows.  While these events offer a vast variety of services and information, they can also leave you with a surplus of written materials.  Don’t let the free tote bags and mounds of literature make wedding planning any more exhausting than it already is.

Step 1:  Keep the best, ditch the rest. 

After returning home from the show take all of the materials you have acquired out of the bags.  Brides have a sense of what they want for their big day.  If you have literature from a company that offers karaoke rentals, and you know karaoke will not be a part of your reception, go ahead and toss the information.  On the other hand, if you know you want a DJ or some form of music at your reception, it would be wise to keep literature from those vendors.  Begin to sort pamphlets and promotional information for types of vendors that are of interest to you: tuxedo rentals, reception venues, caterers etc.  You will find that the sales people at the bridal show will strongly encourage you to take literature and promotional items from them at the show.  If you know you do not care for the services being offered, or have tasted a sample of the food a caterer has provided and decided it is not right for you, do not feel obligated to keep the literature!  You will simply overwhelm yourself with an abundance of services that you have already established you do not need or do not want.

Step 2:  Make retrieval easy. 

Once you have made your selection of items worth keeping, use an expandable file folder and label the tabs with appropriate headers for you: reception venue, caterer, cake, tuxedo rental, dress shops, flowers etc.  Put the materials into the folder and be prepared to add to it after further bridal shows attended.

Step 3:  Obtain quotes and get educated. 

When you are ready to make more concrete decisions regarding the venue you want and feel for the day, you will have each specific service easily available for review.  You will be able to make consultation appointments with vendors that appeal to you.  Quotes from vendors can be added to the expandable file and compared with similar services. 

Step 4:  Decision made. 

Once you have chosen specific companies, toss any literature for other companies that are no longer needed.  Now when you want to find a phone number or contact name for the caterer or florist, you have a designated spot for information from that company.