Umm...What is a Trunk Show?

You’re ready to dive into gown shopping! You start poking around the website of your favorite boutique and see they are advertising an upcoming Trunk Show! You think to yourself “What on earth is that?”. We get it. It’s understandable to be unfamiliar with the concept; bridal gown shopping is not something one does every day!

A Trunk Show is an event hosted by a bridal boutique where they brings additional gowns from a particular designer to the store for a limited amount of time. Brides will have their bridal appointment and shop as they normally would, but there will be lots of additional gowns for them to see! Every Trunk Show is a bit different, so it’s important to do a little research beforehand to make sure the trunk show is beneficial to you!

A Trunk Show will feature either a designer’s newest collection straight from the runway, or they will feature what’s called a “Best Of” collection, showcasing the designer’s tried-and-true best sellers from the past several seasons.

There are also Trunk Shows intended to preview new collections, in which a designer sends gowns to stores as market research before they send them down the runway. This is a great opportunity to see exclusive gowns before they are available to the public!

And lastly, a Trunk Show can also feature a guest designer that a store doesn’t normally carry. This is a way for stores to gauge their clients’ interest in a designer before adding them to their permanent collection, and adds variety to their inventory.

The benefits of attending a Trunk Show are endless! Often there will be a special promotion or incentive offered by the store for participating in the Trunk Show. Designers will also often offer their own incentives, such as discounted customizations or free upgrades.

So how do you know if attending a Trunk Show is right for you? If there is a particular designer whose gowns appeal to you and you want to try as many of their gowns as possible, attend one of their Trunk Shows! You’ll have the opportunity to see gowns that aren’t typically in-stores for a truly personal bridal look. Just be advised that these events often book up quickly, so don’t hesitate to reserve your spot. Also it’s important to attend a Trunk Show prepared to say “Yes” to your dream dress. Since these gowns are only available for that particular event, you won’t have the opportunity to revisit a gown down the road. So ensure that you have those essential guests in tow, and be ready for a fun and exciting shopping experience!