In one hour, you can find your perfect wedding entertainers, win a free honeymoon, enjoy fine champagne, delectable hors d'oeuvres and wedding cake, and get a bag full of high-end beauty products and coupons worth thousands of dollars in wedding services. Not a bad afternoon.

The new class of bridal shows and expos offers brides, grooms, bridesmaids and parents far more than they ever have, with experts lining up to show off their best work and their best-priced packages. It's now a Must for wedding couples to attend as many of these showcases as possible. Some are free, and some are for-pay, but all offer you chances to win valuable door prizes (and perhaps that free honeymoon!) and discover the top-notch wedding experts you've been looking for. Not to mention the chance to ask questions of wedding experts on-site, and get inspiration on everything from your flowers to your favors.

Attending one or more bridal shows gives you an incredible advantage in your planning, since nothing beats in-person experiences. Here are the top tips for making the most of your bridal show experience:

1. Sign on to mailing lists. Sure, you'll get a lot of e-mails and solicitations in the mail, but you'll also be on the receiving end of some terrific discounts and announcements about upcoming specials. And many vendors run contests such as $500 off your limousine rides, $250 off your honeymoon. All for writing down your contact information. Many brides and grooms set up a special e-mail account just for their wedding e-mails, so that their personal or work e-mailboxes don't get jammed, so there is no downside to signing on to these lists.
2. Print out labels with your contact information. Rather than stand there with a clipboard, writing out your name, address, phone, and e-mail thirty times, just peel and stick a label with all of your contact data, and you're set! Plus, no writer's cramp.
3. Know the questions you want answered. Write them down, if you wish. Most shows feature entertainers, photographers, florists, makeup artists, and other vendors, so what are your most pressing questions? These experts are in attendance to talk with you, and they're more than happy to answer even the most basic planning questions. This is your chance to get free advice from the pros.
4. Be open-minded. You might think you want chocolates as your favors, but don't skip that display table of pretty favors, since you could find the perfect company to suggest to your maid of honor for the shower. It's always a good idea to check every vendor out, and take business cards to share with the parents and the bridal party for their needs as well. Maybe you have a friend who's planning a wedding, and you know that she's been looking for garden-themed favors. You now have the perfect vendor to suggest!
5. Attend with your bridesmaids if your groom is burned out. Some grooms will attend one or two shows willingly, but they're not likely to spend every weekend going from show to show. So enjoy the experience of attending with him one weekend, and then going with the girls another weekend, perhaps with your parents another weekend. The more exposure you give yourself to a wider range of experts, the better. Comparison shopping is smart wedding preparation, and these bridal shows are an efficient option for multiple introductions.
6. Talk to other brides and grooms. While you're all in line for the buffet, get to know your fellow engaged couples, ask where they're having their event and what their details are. You might be able to inspire each other, as in the case where you found the perfect lakeside reception spot but it wasn't big enough for your guest list.but it's perfect for them. Look at other couples as additional resources for a give-and-take exchange of ideas. It's how things were done before message boards!
7. Stick around for the door prizes. Most companies will let you know if you've won by calling you that evening, but it's a lot of fun to be present to get your present.
8. Participate in audience games. Sometimes, entertainers will ask for volunteers to do a line dance or be serenaded, and there's more to it than just being the center of attention. Those who join in might be rewarded with a gift bag of prizes.
9. Come back if you have to. If you arrive early and find out that the fashion show isn't until later in the event, ask the event organizer for a hand-stamp so that you can re-enter the show later. Then, go run some errands and return in time for the fashion portion of the evening.
10. Don't be shy. If that Rolls Royce is parked outside, ask if you can climb in to check it out. You'll get the most from your wedding show experience if you're willing to speak up and ask questions. So ask the band if they have Your Song in their repertoire, and if they can perform it for you there at the show. Ask the makeup artist if she has discount rates for your group of six bridesmaids, or if you can get your makeup for free through a group booking. Ask the hotel events manager if you can look at their honeymoon suite now. The best things come to those who speak up, and as Woody Allen once said, "90% of success is just showing up."

Sharon Naylor is the author of over 30 wedding planning books and is the Q&A specialist at NJWedding.com. Sharon will answer any wedding-related questions at www.njwedding.com/expertadvice. She is a resident of Morristown, New Jersey. To view and purchase any of Sharon's helpful books, click here to visit the NJWedding.com WedStore!