What even is a trunk show?
You did it! You've gotten engaged (congrats btw) and you've dived head first into the world of wedding gowns. We are SURE you have seen all your favourite bridal boutiques throw around the term "trunk show". Come visit this and that trunk show, but have you ever thought... what the f**** is a trunk show.
THE BASICS
A trunk show is a designer-exclusive event where a boutique receives the newest collection of gowns directly from the designer. These gowns aren’t typically part of the everyday boutique lineup. Instead, they arrive for a limited time, often just for a handful of days, before returning to the designer. For brides, it’s a rare opportunity to step to try on gowns that you normally wouldn't find in your hometown.
THE WHY
for the boutiques
We are going to be so real with you here, carrying bridal samples is EXPENSIVE. Every collection our designers debut, we have to carefully select which gowns work are trending and asked for, while "knowing our Bride" and catering to her tastes, budgets, and dreams... talk about pressure right?
for you
If you've had an eye on a dress from a designers newest collection, this is the time to visit. Many designers offer exclusive perks or pricing during trunk shows, making it the ideal moment to say yes with confidence. On top of all of that, You’ll see and try on gowns months before they hit the wider bridal market.
THE EXPERIENCE
At Always Knew I Needed, trunk shows are treated like any other day, with a few caveats. Your appointment still includes a private suite, a dedicated stylist, and time to savor the process but with the rare addition of gowns that would otherwise only be available in a designer’s showroom.
Because these events are limited and in high demand, we recommend booking early and arriving ready to fall in love. When your dream gown makes its appearance during a trunk show, it may not be available to try again for months—or ever.
THE SIZING CON
We are proud to be Ottawa’s destination for Canadian-made luxury gowns, carried in both straight and plus-size samples so every bride can truly experience the collection. Although for trunk shows, we are at the mercy of the designer for sizes available. We do our best to encourage our designers to send us a range of sizes so that all of our clients can take a part of the front row seat to bridal fashion.