Don’t underestimate the wedding expo. Think of it as the mall of the wedding industry – all your shopping in one spot. Rather than darting all over town (or in the case of many brides, all over the state), you can breeze in, pick up literature and talk to representatives from various companies, all in one day.

Sometimes there is a small fee to attend, but I’m a lazy bride and willing to pay for convenience. Usually you can get free or 2-for-1 passes online before the expo.

This is an especially great tool if you’ve just gotten engaged. While I wouldn’t recommend signing contracts with vendors willy-nilly, the expo is a great opportunity to check out prices, options and quality. Being an informed shopper is key to keeping your wedding budget under control and still having a great wedding. So if you’ve got your car keys in hand and are waiting for me to tell you where the next expo is, take heed:

Let the groom have the day off: Many expos are huge bridal-fests. If your groom wants to stay at home and watch the game, make a deal that he’s off the hook if he promises to look through any brochures you deem of interest. Then, grab your mother or the maid of honor and some walking shoes and get going. If you have children, leave them home as well.

Go prepared: Bring a pen and paper to take notes, a bag to collect literature of interest (remember that deal you made) and pre-printed address labels. If you request more information from a vendor, likely you’ll be asked to fill out a card. Peel-and-stick is the way to go here. Also, take a bottle of water and chose clothing wisely. These events can entail long days spent on your feet. It’s best to be comfortable and hydrated.

Comparison shop: Vendors may try to pressure you into signing on the dotted line. Here’s another bonus to leaving your fiancé at home – tell the vendor you simply can’t make a decision without talking to your other half, take some literature and get on to the next booth. You may end up going with the vendor in question, but you shouldn’t feel pressured into making a decision on the spot. Setting your budget before you attend an expo can be a huge help here. If the price is out of your range, don’t waste your time or the vendor’s – move on.

Prioritize: Know what you need and how soon you need it. If you’ve already got a reception hall, you may want to get your invitations squared away. Or you may be ready to look for a dress. Maybe you’re newly engaged and just starting. While you want to look at everything, you may be most concerned with finding a reception site, so start there. Plan on visiting the least important booths at the end of the day. And go early. If you finish early, you can leave. It’s better than running through the expo indiscriminately grabbing brochures and filling out requests for information in the last hour. That’s how people end up with polka bands.

Okay, now you’ve got some tips, where can you put your strategy into action? Here are some of the events I’ve found in the area:

Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007

1-4 p.m.

Courtyard Marriott

700 Huse Road

Manchester, N. H.

Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007

Noon-4 p.m.

Castle in the Clouds

Route 171

Moultonborough, N.H.

Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007

1-5 p.m.

Church Landing at Mill Falls

312 Daniel Webster Way (Route 3)

Meredith, N.H.

Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007

Noon-3 p.m.

Alyson’s Orchard

57 Alyson’s Lane

Walpole, N.H.

Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007

11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sheraton Colonial Hotel

1 Audubon Road

Wakefield, Mass.

Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007

11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The New MassMutual Center

1277 Main St.

Springfield, Mass.

Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008

11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Big E Fairgrounds

Young Building

West Springfield, Mass.

Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008

11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Royal Plaza Trade Center

181 Boston Post Road – Route 20

Marlborough, Mass.

Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008

11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Radisson Hotel (Center of New Hampshire)

750 Elm St.

Manchester, N.H.