There is all kinds of lingo out there in bridal land, and one term in particular is the most confusing. The trunk show.

It conjures up all kinds of images, right?  Dresses in a trunk, maybe some models?  Possibly cocktails? If you are lucky, the last is present!

Most bridal salons don’t carry the entire collection of gowns from any one designer, so they host “trunk shows” where an entire collection is present at the boutique for a limited period of time. During a traditional trunk show, women schedule appointments and work one-on-one with a sales person at the salon (as in a normal appointment).  The main differences are that the focus during the appointment will be on the visiting collection instead of the regular collections the boutique has to offer, there are sometimes refreshments, and often a designer (or a designer’s representative) is present to help show the gowns and offer guidance. The idea is that brides-to-be have the opportunity to see and try on styles that are not usually available in the boutique and hopefully choose their gown.

To provide additional incentive for brides, especially because of the limited time the dresses are available at the boutique, there is commonly a discount offered (usually 10% off), or customization fees waived, or a free veil, or even a combination of all three.  Trunk shows are great for women who like the designer featured and are seriously considering one of their gowns, or have already found a  favorite gown from that designer and are waiting for the trunk show to have one last pass at the collection to make sure and/or to take advantage of some of the incentives.

For women who are still shopping (and not ready to choose a gown) or are just beginning, trunk shows can sometimes prove stressful.  This is because there is some degree of expectation on the shop’s part that you are ready to choose your gown (assuming you find the right one), and you may find yourself feeling pressured to make a decision. Also, during trunk shows customers are often discouraged from looking at gowns by other designers at the boutique, which can feel limiting. But don’t let that scare you! Trunk shows can be a lot of fun and are a great way to see all the newest gowns from your favorite designer (and maybe score a glass of champagne).