As a bridal shop owner, how often do you ask yourself “how do I go about connecting with new brides-to-be?” Brides who just got engaged might not be thinking about wedding dress shopping just yet, so you need to think of some creative ways to reach them!
The key to connecting with new brides-to-be is thinking outside of the box and building your local reputation and presence in your community. Here are some easy ways to target newly engaged brides to book more appointments in your bridal shop!
Local Wedding Venues
Local wedding venues are a great place to start when connecting with new brides-to-be. When people start wedding planning, one of their first decisions is choosing a venue!
We suggest creating some blogs or pages on your website with wedding venue ideas that are in your area. For example, we have bridal shops in Maryland, and some blog posts that we would create include:
- Wedding venues near Baltimore, Maryland
- Eastern shore wedding venues in Maryland
- Wedding venues near Frederick, Maryland
- Southern Maryland wedding venues (here’s the blog post we wrote if you’re looking for inspiration!)
Once you create these blog posts, you can then re-purpose the content on your social media, Pinterest, email blasts, and more.
Additionally, try to create partnerships with some local wedding venues! Many venues have preferred vendors lists that you could inquire about being added to as a member. This way, brides and grooms that are booked with that venue will see you on their list and will potentially book an appointment with you!
Attend Local Bridal Shows
Do some research throughout the year to see what local bridal shows will be coming up near you. Do your best to be a part of as many as you possibly can! Bridal shows are the perfect opportunity to meet face-to-face with new brides and grooms before they get too far into the wedding planning process.
Partner with Other Wedding Vendors
As they say, networking is the key to success! And it’s especially true in the wedding industry. Build your contacts with local vendors and maintain those contacts to build your referral opportunities. Not only will you be front of mind when brides ask their vendors who to work with, but you also have the opportunity to work with vendors on styled shoots, events, and other local marketing projects!
Get Involved in Your Community
Try to stay involved in your community as much as you can! This includes events that may not relate to the wedding industry. This way, locals will know who you are and will see that you’re active in the community. Find community pages on Facebook related to your local community, visit your town or city’s website for event listings, and seek out local sponsorships that could give you good publicity! When it comes time for them to get married (or someone that they know), they will be more likely to come shop with you!
Keep Your Pinterest Active
Keep your Pinterest active! We recommend going on there at least once a day. While creating your own pins of your blogs and pictures of dresses is so important, so is re-pinning other wedding content! Brides need other wedding inspiration beyond dresses, and why shouldn’t they get that inspiration from you!
Have Creative Window Displays in Your Shop
Finally, if you have a window display in your shop, keep it updated and be creative with it! It will catch the eye of locals in the community and will help them to remember who you are. They may even stop in to see what you have to offer!
When it comes down to it, you may have to think outside of the box when it comes to reaching new brides-to-be. Remember that they might not be ready to shop for their dress right now, but they will be eventually! And you’ll want them to know your name when they are ready.
Interested in learning more about your customer? Read our blog post on creating buyer personas for your brides!
