You come across an ad that says “Maggie Sottero Trunk Show this weekend.”  What does it mean?  Basically, a trunk show heightens the experience of selecting your bridal gown.   Many designers have offered this option to salons in order to show more of their dresses on any given weekend, for that time only.  Often times, it’s a sneak peak of what will be shipped for the upcoming season, an exclusive “preview”.  You get to view and order from the designer’s brand new collection before it even hits the stores.

When a bridal salon carries a designer, it is not likely that they carry every style they offer.  A trunk show is an opportunity for the salon to offer you an extended inventory from a particular designer for that short time period.   An added bonus is usually a discount on these gowns that is offered exclusively during the dates of the trunk show.  Since some designers prohibit discounting, waiting to purchase a gown during a trunk might be worth the wait.

A trunk show might even offer the designer in person.  You may get to meet Madeline Gardiner from Mori Lee or David Tutera from Mon Cheri.  When the designers make a special appearance at a trunk show, they share their knowledge and answer questions about anything; from their inspiration, why they chose a certain fabric, to what might be the best fit for you.  While the bridal consultants should be skilled in this area, it is an added bonus to hear this right from the top, from the person that carefully designed each stitch of the most important piece of clothing you will ever wear.  So if you are looking for a wedding dress from Allure Bridals that you cannot find anywhere, you may very well find it at the next trunk show.  Or if your gown budget was $900 and the Casablanca dress is $1000…then the trunk show might be right for you.

This  blog is Part Two

Misconception # 4:  I need to get the approval of…

This trend seems to be growing.  I believe that too many “approvals” can create confusion and setbacks and they tamper with the “wow factor” that should be reserved for the wedding day.   Wedding gown shopping is an intimate experience.  It is an honor that should be awarded to a select few.  Think about whom has had the most influence on your life and share the experience with that person/people.   Who has honored you in your life that you can honor now?

Misconception # 5:  “I just started looking”  “I have only been to one store”.

I truly believe that our consulting staff has amazing taste.  I also agree that, like the brides, we have individual tastes.  When it comes to buying our bridal lines, we involve our entire staff.  They are the staff with years of experience.  They watch the models, listen to the designers, follow the trends and listen to brides every single day.  They pin girls in, hook girls up and, in the end, work with the seamstresses on achieving the proper fit.  They live the life of bridal styles and trends day after day.  It is with this knowledge that our girls go out and choose the upcoming line.  I make this point because I truly believe that all styles and tastes and trends are represented in the hundreds of dresses that we sample.  On the rare occasion that we feel that something is brought to our attention that we may have missed, we honor the request and try to get the sample for the customer.  With a huge selection, combined with the knowledge of the staff and as long as you feel complete, one store is all that is necessary.

This is your wedding.  There really are enough rules in life.  Selecting what style you choose to wear on your wedding day should does not come with a set in stone list of guidelines.  Keep it fun.  Keep it simple. Allow space inside to just be you.  Choosing your wedding gown should be a wonderful experience!