The Carolina Premiere Bridal Show: More Than a Wedding Event — A Community

Laurie
Feb 17
5 min read

On January 24th, with an incoming ice storm dominating forecasts and group texts, we hosted our sixth Carolina Premiere Bridal Show with careful planning and a few necessary adjustments behind the scenes.

This wasn’t just another one of our events on the calendar. It represented months of intention, relationship-building, strategic vendor curation, and thoughtful preparation — all coming together, even as timelines had to shift.

Despite the weather uncertainty and rescheduling logistics, the day turned out to be even more meaningful than we anticipated.

A Vision Rooted in Intention

When I first imagined the Carolina Premiere Bridal Show, my goal was clear: I wanted brides to walk away feeling inspired, celebrated, and confident about their wedding day.

Unlike larger expos held in convention centers where brides can feel rushed or like just another name on a list, our show is intentionally designed to feel different. More intimate. More intentional. Hosted in the stunning DuGaren Venues & Vineyards, it allows space for real conversations — the kind where you don’t just collect business cards, you build connections.

As a juried show, vendor spots are thoughtfully curated. Only a limited number of each category are invited to avoid oversaturation. Every vendor is required to be licensed and insured — not just for professionalism, but to protect both the brides and the vendor community that we value so deeply.

The result? A room full of talented, professional, passionate vendors who genuinely care about their couples.

When the Forecast Changes, So Do the Plans

The week of the show brought an unexpected twist: an ice storm scare.

Moving an event is never simple — especially when dozens of vendors are invested and lots of brides have preregistered with excitement. It would have been easy to postpone. But that’s not how Monarch Event Planning operates.

Instead, every vendor was personally called by our team to help us make the best decision for the majority involved. Every preregistered bride was emailed to be kept up to date with our decisions. The show time was strategically moved earlier in the day to avoid potential weather complications.

It was handled seamlessly — a true testament to what happens when you believe in having Plan B, C, and D ready at all times.

I’ll say it again and again… navigating that week required a whole lot of Jesus. And when the day arrived, despite the looming forecast, the brides showed up.

A Different Kind of Bridal Show Energy

Before every Carolina Premiere Bridal Show begins, I take a moment to pray with everyone. We thank God for the gifts and talents in the room, we pray for blessings on every business, and we pray for each bride, couple, and support squad that walk through the doors. From the moment doors opened, something felt different.

One of our event coordinators, Lauren, described it best: it didn’t feel competitive. It felt collaborative.

Vendors weren’t guarding leads or sizing each other up — they were cheering each other on. The atmosphere was full of joy and excitement as couples walked in, bundled up but glowing.

From Lauren’s perspective, it felt incredibly personal. The goal didn’t feel like “get business.” It felt like “build relationships.”

Every couple was different — different backgrounds, different love stories, different dynamics. Some were bubbly and talkative. Some were quiet and observant. Some wanted all the details immediately. Others just wanted to dream out loud.

And that’s what made it beautiful.

The Monarch Event Planning Table: Bringing the Pinterest Board to Life

Our booth was more than a table — it was an experience.

With inspiration sparked from my initial vision and brought to life with the help of Abigail from Punchy Events & Co. and Cooke Rentals, Lauren designed a tablescape that embodied Monarch’s signature aesthetic: elegant, timeless, and welcoming.

A fairytale-inspired white tablescape.

Real plates. Real silverware. Custom menus.

The small details made a big statement.

Many brides were surprised — not expecting that level of intentionality at a bridal show. But that’s the point. Monarch goes above and beyond not just at weddings, but everywhere our name is represented.

The design wasn’t just meant to be beautiful. It was meant to make brides feel something.

Comfort, trust, excitement, welcome.

Conversations That Didn’t Feel Like Sales

Standing at the Monarch table, one thing became very clear: couples don’t just want a coordinator. They want someone who cares.

Instead of leading with pricing or packages, conversations started with stories.

How did you meet?

What are you most excited about?

What are you nervous about?

What do you want your wedding day to feel like?

The most common theme we heard? Brides wanted to be fully present on their wedding day.

They don’t want to manage timelines. They don’t want to answer vendor questions. They don’t want their mom stressed or their bridal party overwhelmed. They want to soak it all in.

And those conversations were genuine. It felt more like friend-to-friend than business-to-client, which is one of the heartbeats behind Monarch Event Planning.

Teamwork Behind the Table

Working the show together felt natural. If one of us missed a detail, the other picked it up. If one of us forgot a word, the other piggybacked. There was never pressure — just partnership.

And couples notice that.

When planners work seamlessly together, it builds confidence. It shows that on a wedding day, there’s a team in your corner. That same spirit extended beyond our table.

At the end of the show, vendors helped each other pack up. They cheered us on for the incredible work we had put in to make the show happen. Despite the weather scare and the adjustments, everyone felt grateful to be there.

In some ways, the storm threat made it even sweeter. The people who came truly wanted to be there. They were invested.

Is the Carolina Premiere Bridal Show Worth It?

Absolutely.

For brides, it’s not just about good pricing or convenience — though both exist. It’s about knowing that every vendor in the room has been carefully selected. There’s no second-guessing professionalism. No overwhelm from 20 DJs competing for attention.

It’s curated.

Intentional.

Relational.

And for our vendors, it’s about community over competition.