How to be better presented at wedding shows

BEING PRESENT AT SECULAR WEDDING fairs, or hosting your own in your church, speaks volumes to couples about how much we value them and would love to share in their wedding day celebrations. If a diocesan-run wedding fair isn’t possible, team up with other churches to help share the workload and then follow these tips for a smart and approachable stand.

When you’re organising a church presence at a wedding show, keep it as your goal that your stand will be at least as good as anyone else’s. Here are ten ways you can do that:

1. Choose a great team
   Clergy are presentationally vital because Church of England research told us the vicar makes the difference to how welcome couples feel when they contact a church for a wedding. A good encounter with a vicar will make people more comfortable to seek out their own. Choose clergy who are naturally smiley, chatty, and enthusiastic.
2. Looking good is good
   ‘Uniform’ is appropriate, and impressions are everything. Ask your clergy to wear their dog collars and a black or plain clerical shirt. Research shows people are nervous about meeting their vicar for the first time, so do all you can to appear approachable. approachable.
3. Making connections
   Clergy will need to make the first contact with passers-by. They should not hold back and wait for questions, but not be too arresting either. If they sit down and wait for people to come to them, couples will simply walk by. Provide clergy with name badges to help couples when a conversation starts.
   
4. Connect people with their special church
   The wedding pages on the Church of England website show details of how couples can find their parish church and other churches they might like to consider. So make sure you have internet access all worked out on the stand.
   
5. Giveaways
   If there isn’t an obvious reason for stopping at your stand, your team will find it more difficult to engage passers-by. Have something to grab their attention, so your clued-up clergy can use the few seconds it gives you to start conversations. Something simple like giving out chocolate or ‘Love Heart’ sweets may help.
6. Couples often ask what they need to do to organise a church wedding, so it’s very important that you are able to fill them in on the details. Have plenty of information on the stand that you can refer to. These Wedding Couple Information Packs are ideal, and/or you might like some simple leaflets.
7. Sundays
   It is always more difficult to staff Sundays. You should fill this part of the rota first when you put together your team. Do not skimp on Sunday shifts simply because it’s a less convenient day for clergy. Make sure you are as well staffed on this day as any other: Sunday mornings can be the busiest time. Always have clergy in reserve and on call in case of last minute changes.
   
8. Flowers
   It will make an impact if flowers on the stand are abundant: order a pedestal display and put it centre stage. If you are up against the budget, ask through your deanery’s churches for donations, or get free flowers from a local florist in exchange for giving out a business card.
   
9. Keep it clean
   Busy stands inevitably generate litter. Remove coffee cups and rubbish, water the flowers and keep the literature tidy and well stocked. When you brief your clergy, let them know the stand is a place to meet people considering a church wedding and not a place to store their coats and bags! Seek out the cloakrooms for that…
   
10. Say thank you
    Make sure your clergy take the initiative to make friends with co-exhibitors. Pop into the organisers’ office and thank them personally at some point over the weekend and buy a thank you card afterwards. This is absolutely essential if you’re taking advantage of free stand space, and advisable in every other case.
    
11. Prayer
    People might ask for a prayer or a blessing. Feel free to oblige! If you have the funds, this Prayer Candle Giveaway delights couples when it is given to them at a wedding show.