What Is A Trunk Show? Here’s The Secrets You Need To Know

Shopping for your dream wedding dress is an exciting time, but it can also be something of a learning curve! You’ll find yourself discovering styles you never thought you’d fall in love with, experimenting with materials and often, even learning new terminology. Today, we’ve got a term to share with you that you may not have heard before, but by the end of this blog, we hope it’ll be a phrase you’re excited by!

May 12, 2025

What Is A “Trunk Show?”

A trunk show is a special event where a designer brings a wide selection of dresses to a bridal boutique for a short period – often a week – to allow brides to view, try on and purchase gowns that the boutique may not normally have in stock. Sometimes, the dresses aren’t even available to the wider public yet, so trunk shows are amazing opportunities to get your hands on something exclusive!

Where Does The Name Come From?

Once upon a time, merchants travelled around selling their wares out of trunks. Similarly, designers would often transport dresses in trunks to different boutiques. This little slice of history is where we get the term “trunk show!”

Why Should Brides Attend Trunk Shows?

Many brides will follow their favourite designers on social media and it’s not uncommon to spot something you love whilst scrolling. If you’ve fallen for a dress you’ve seen online, only to find that none of your nearest bridal boutiques stock it, you can end up feeling so down in the dumps, you could be your “something blue!” This is where a trunk show truly shines… At a trunk show, designers will bring most – sometimes all – of the dresses from their collection to a boutique, so there is a far greater chance of “the one” being available for you to try on!

If you’ve not got a specific dress in mind, but you know you like a designer’s style, a trunk show is a great chance to look through a much wider range of dresses, sometimes including gowns from previous collections, or even dresses that have yet to be released! Not only that, but often a member of the design team will be in attendance, giving you an exclusive chance to ask questions, discuss customisation and receive some all-important styling advice! Some designers even offer exclusive perks to encourage you to buy at the event. All trunk shows are different, but they all come with a sense of energy and excitement, which we think is irresistible!

Is A Trunk Show The Same As A Sale?

Not necessarily! Whilst some designers offer exclusive discounts, a trunk show is less about grabbing a bargain and more about having access to dresses you may not find anywhere else.

What Else Do Brides Need To Know?

Trunk Shows can be very popular, so you’ll usually need to book an appointment in advance. The appointment will run similarly to a normal bridal boutique experience, with the added bonus of having a designer’s whole range to choose from, as well as the possibility of meeting a representative from the design team and nabbing any extra goodies on offer! When you know which designer is featuring at a trunk show, we recommend doing a bit of research and choosing a few styles you’re particularly interested in trying on. Most boutiques will be able to let you know if a dress you’ve got your heart set on will be featured at the trunk show.

Is Bys Vyken Bridal Holding A Trunk Show?

You guessed it, we are holding a trunk show right here in Bristol!

From 6th-12th June, we’ll be welcoming the Kismet collection from Serene by Madi Lane to Bys Vyken Bridal. We already stock several Serene styles, but their ethos of combining superior craftsmanship with diverse design and affordability aligns so perfectly with our own values that we can’t wait to have a wider selection for our brides to fall in love with!

Serene by Madi Lane recognises the uniqueness of each bride, celebrates all body types and age brackets and believes in placing understated sophistication over designer extravagance. Their Kismet collection features a wide range of modern gowns, pairing off-the-shoulder elegance with clean lines and flowing silhouettes, embracing the simplicity found in true beauty.

Our trunk show appointments will be charged at £25 and will last for two hours, with limited places available. The whole Kismet collection will be available to try on (as will any of our other dresses!) and Kismet dresses will be discounted by 10% during the event.

We hope to see lots of you there, so if you’re ready to say yes to a Serene by Madi Lane dress, please get in touch to book your place!