The Big Fake Wedding “guests” are brides- and grooms-to-be who get to truly experience local wedding vendors in action.
Each event showcases vendors’ skills through a real vow renewal. So, bring your dancing shoes, your wedding party, and maybe a tissue or two.
Upcoming Events
San Diego
Atlanta
Cincinnati
Houston
Cape Cod
Boulder
Charleston
Sacramento
Pittsburgh
Los Angeles
Kansas City
Philadelphia
Detroit
Dallas
Chicago
Washington DC
Atlanta
Oklahoma City
Orange County
Phoenix
Orlando
Austin
San Francisco
New York City
Nashville
Seattle
Find an event near you, or browse our past events gallery.
Top ten things to do at an event
FAQ
Is there assigned seating?
There is not assigned seating and most events will consist of a mixture of limited ceremony seating, reception tables, cocktail tables, lounge furniture and standing room. If you want to be guaranteed a seat and/or seats together at the ceremony, be sure to arrive right when doors open thirty minutes prior to the ceremony.
What do I wear?
It’s a wedding for the hippest people you (don’t actually) know, so take this opportunity to dress up a little! If you need more specifics, shoot for cocktail attire.
Do I need to bring anything?
Bring your ticket (printed or on your phone) to the event and we’ll hand you your real ticket – a wedding invitation! You may also wish to bring a little cash to cover parking or drinks, but that depends on the city, as drinks and/or parking are sometimes included.
What should I expect?
You can expect a ceremony (that’s actually a vow renewal for an already-married couple!), food and a dance-party reception, along with a chance to meet the participating vendors. Watch the “Top Ten” video above to learn how to get the most out of your experience!
How can I be the one renewing my vows?
We accept nominations from local friends, vendors and media partners to find couples that are fun, relatable, photogenic and willing to participate for the good of the others involved. The couple serves as walking billboards for the vendors and reminders of the joys of marriage to our guests.
How will I know which vendor did what?
We share our vendors’ names and contact info with you on the website under each city’s event page, and then at the event you’ll receive a detailed vendor guide outlining each vendor and their work. You will also have a chance to hunt down your favorites in our Tunnel of Love, which is a meet-and-greet area during the reception where vendors hand out business cards and freebies to our guests.
I’m a wedding planner. Can I attend The Big Fake Wedding as a guest?
We encourage wedding planners interested in attending as a guest to bring one of their brides or grooms with them as a guest! We also ask that any wedding vendors who attend as guests refrain from handing out marketing collateral of any kind out of respect for our participating vendors.
Can The Big Fake Wedding come to my city?
Before we choose to head to a new city, we need a great venue, media partner (magazine, blog, etc) and a few solid vendor leads. It also helps to have some great Brand Ambassadors in place. If you think we should come to your city, please encourage your vendor friends to apply here!
How do you choose the vendors?
We choose the vendors through word-of-mouth referrals and through the vendor applications we receive from interested wedding professionals. We like to offer our brides a wide range of styles and price points, and we try to find vendors with character and quality that we can believe in.
Can my fiancé come?
Bring someone (or a posse of someones) who will let you have fun and will allow you the time and freedom to take it all in, and if that’s your fiancé, then yes, bring him! If this doesn’t sound like your fiancé’s cup of tea, then bring a bridesmaid or your momma.
I won’t be able to attend anymore. Do you offer refunds?
We don’t offer refunds for the tickets, but you are welcome to give away your ticket so that someone else may go in your place.
Can I bring my camera?
We do ask that you leave your cameras at home since we will have some incredible photographers on hand to capture every detail for you. Taking photos with your phone is totally fine, but we’d prefer you leave the heavy duty photography to our professionals! You can see the photographers’ work after the event on our blog!
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The Big Fake Wedding® is a bridal show alternative complete with an emotional vow renewal ceremony, light bites and a dance-party reception. "Wedding guests" are brides- and grooms-to-be who get to truly experience the wedding vendors in action.