Sponsored by Wedding Belles New Orleans

When you become a bride, there really should be a vocabulary sheet of bridal terms and definitions that comes along with the engagement. To a first-time bride, being well versed in the lingo could mean the difference in finding a dress and finding the dress. Fortunately, the experts at Wedding Belles New Orleans are spilling the tea. Wedding Belles New Orleans provides a luxury bridal shopping experience that attracts the area’s most stylish brides. Owner Amy Casbarian shares a few tips to help you shop like a pro and get the perfect gown.

What is a trunk show and why should you shop one?

Bridal trunk shows are limited engagement events hosted by a bridal boutique. The select styles of dresses from the bridal designer travel, hence the trunks. The show starts as soon as the dresses arrive at the hosting bridal salon. And once the show is over, it’s over. The dresses get packed up and are on their way to the next bridal boutique hosting.

For the bride, trunk shows are a great way to see gowns that may be different from a boutique’s usual selection and there is also a good possibility that no other girl in the area has tried these gowns since boutiques have exclusivity in the area for that designer. Shows are a great way for both the boutique and the bride to take a close-up look at new designs that aren’t carried in the store. This helps the store get a better feel for the fabrics that designer uses as well as find out how brides react to the dresses before the boutique carries a designer’s work.

“Trunk shows can be sent from a designer that we already carry in store,” Casabarian says. “In this case, the dresses are usually from the newest collection that will include pieces that we don’t carry or that we haven’t received yet because the collection is so new. Typically, if a trunk show is from one of our designers, there is an incentive for the bride to boost the designer’s sales for the new collection.” You see, designers often waive various additional fees for things like extra length, buttons, or special design changes as an incentive to purchase during the trunk show.

Designers always promote where their trunk shows will be held each weekend either on their social media or their website – so if the bride has obsessed over a particular designer, they can find out where the nearest trunk show will be held. For the fashion-forward bride, trunk shows often show a selection of less traditional, more runway-style gowns the boutique would normally only custom order.

Shop a show. When a trunk show is scheduled, brides should research that designer, their styles and collections. It is also important to note if the designer will do any customizations as some do and some do not. For those that do, the designer may be able to create the bride’s dream dress if she has the vision. Trunk shows are a great time to discuss customizations since a rep or the designer is often at the event.

It is important for the bride to remember that the trunk show pieces are usually only in store for one weekend, sometimes two, before they are sent back. These dresses won’t necessarily come back unless the boutique picks up the line or that particular dress. In other words, if she falls in love with a trunk show dress, she needs to be ready to purchase it then! Even if the store will be able to order the dress later, there is a good chance that any discounts will no longer apply. Be ready to commit!

Get your bridal questions answered by the Belles and stay in the loop on upcoming trunk shows. Visit weddingbellesnola.com to connect and learn more.