Thursday, March 15, 2012
This week is truly a dream week for all of you bargain-seeking brides. Today kicks off the Bridal Bargainista event, a great way to shop for pre-owned wedding decor (from aisle runners to centerpieces). We'll be there so be sure to plan to attend Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Find more details here. But, if you are looking for a steal on a wedding dress, join us bright and early on Saturday morning for the annual Goodwill Gala.
If you are not familiar with the Goodwill Gala, here's a quick rundown:
The Goodwill Wedding Gala is the ultimate way to save on your wedding dress. The Gala will take place from 6am to 9am on March 17 at the Goodwill Store in Rivergate located at 2101 Gallatin Pike North in Madison, Tennessee.
The dresses:
You will find bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, mother of the bride/groom dresses, flower girl dresses, and more from Alfred Angelo, Allure, Eden Bridals, Mary’s, Watters Brides, etc. No wedding gown will be priced over $400!!
The organization:
Proceeds from the sale of these items will benefit the mission of Goodwill, which is to provide employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities and others who have trouble finding and keeping jobs.
The inside scoop:
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Be sure to arrive early - last year there were 350+ brides in line at 6am to get their dream gown for less!
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Attendees will be treated to refreshments provided by C&K Catering and The Cupcake Collection.
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Rhonda Patton Weddings will provide inspirational wedding designs.
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Pre-owned wedding gowns have been cleaned by Nicholson Cleaners.
To read all about the organization, the event, and our tour of the Goodwill facilities, read our full feature via this link. For more information, visit giveit2goodwill.org or call 615-346-1665.
Before you go, browse the
Goodwill Wedding Gala Look Book for a sampling of the looks that will be for sale this Saturday (all for under $400) at the Gala.
How gorgeous is this wedding gown! I can't believe it will be available for under $400 at the Gala.
The Gala will will offer dresses for brides and bridesmaids too!
Look Book Credits - Vintage Car: 1959 Bentley from Matchless Transportation, Men’s Attire: Street Tuxedo, Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, DIY & Budget Wed Finds
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Wednesday, February 29, 2012
It took years before I did anything with my wedding dress. Following my wedding reception, it literally sat in my closet for 6 years! Now, I know a little more than I did when I got married and know that the way I handled my gown was the WRONG way to go! I asked Sara, our newlywed blogger, if she could educate us. She has followed the right procedures - she identified a place to preserve her gown early on and took her gown there shortly after the wedding. She went with Oakwood Cleaners where she'd received great service altering her gown. Her gown is now preserved and she is here to share what she has learned with you.
Sara's Gown Gets Preserved
Finding my dream dress was one of the things I most looked forward to once I was engaged. Once I found it, I couldn’t wait to wear it on our big day. I thought about the pictures I wanted to take, how I would accessorize it and what Nate would think when he finally saw me in it. The one thing I didn’t think of was the after. What would I do with my dress after the wedding? And I definitely didn’t think about how dirty it would get from walking through the grass for pictures and dancing the night away with my new hubby.
My dream dress, in all of its glory before it was dirty. Images provided by Betsy Limbaugh Photography.
It didn’t take long for me to decide that I wanted to preserve my dress. So much time had been spent on finding the perfect one that I couldn’t bare the thought of just leaving it in a heap in the bottom of my closet or even worse, throwing it away. Before the wedding I turned to Oakwood Cleaners for my alterations and they did such a wonderful job that I knew I wanted to turn to them to preserve it as well.
I was curious about the process of preserving a wedding dress, so I talked to Rhonda at Oakwood Cleaners during the process to get the scoop!
ABG: Why should a bride get her dress cleaned and preserved after her wedding?
Oakwood Cleaners: If you’re gong to resell it, just get it cleaned but not preserved. The main reason to preserve it is to preserve the memory for the next generation. If you’re sentimentally attached to your gown, and most brides are, you want to put the gown away so that 30 – 40 years down the road your daughter can wear it too. It’s not unusual to see young women wear their mothers’ or grandmothers’ gowns.
Having a wonderful time, while my dress is getting dirtier and dirtier. Images provided by Betsy Limbaugh Photography.
ABG: What happens to a gown if you don’t get it preserved?
Oakwood Cleaners: Preserving protects the gown from the environment, so if you don’t preserve a gown, it can be damaged fairly easily. Today’s environment is filled with chemicals, fumes, and pollutants that can damage the fabric. Even simply spraying your house for bugs could affect the fabric on your gown if it is left unprotected. And insects that you might not see could make a meal out of your gown, which is not something brides would want. Preservation will help keep your gown beautiful for the day it might be worn again.
Before and after of the back of my dress. Images provided by Oakwood Cleaners.
ABG: Explain the process of preserving a gown – what does it take?
Oakwood Cleaners: First the gown must be cleaned, and the level of cleaning needed depends on the stains on the dress and even the fabric. Once it is cleaned, we will preserve the dress using an acid free, archival museum quality box to hold the gown which will be in a muslin wrap. The way we box the gowns, if you take the muslin off, you can open the box. The lid is not sealed on the box and part of the reason we do that is because our preservation is museum quality and if you've noticed everything in a museum is exposed. Once you get the gown really clean, it doesn’t hurt it to be exposed to air because air will only react to stuff that is not clean but you do want to protect it and you don’t want to keep it open all the time. We don’t put windows on the boxes because we don’t want the dress to come in contact with plastic and glue.
The misconception in preservation is that it’s sealed and it's not, you can still open the box to look at the gown whenever you want to. We include a pair of white gloves but taking the gown out completely is not recommended. You can certainly unfold it while it is the box and look at it or show it to friends. And if you want to take it all the way out, you can bring it in to the store and we can assist you so that you avoid damaging the gown.
Before and after of the bottom of my dress. Images provided by Oakwood Cleaners.
ABG: What is the cost of gown preservation?
Oakwood Cleaners: The cost varies depending on a few factors. The fabric used and the overall designs are the main factors. The amount of detail also comes into play – if there is a lot of lace, or a large amount of beading, that is more difficult to clean and takes a bit more time.
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The train of the dress after, and clean! Image provided by Oakwood Cleaners.
ABG: What should a bride ask as she considers various preservation companies? What makes Oakwood Cleaners a specialist?
Oakwood Cleaners: Brides should consider the reputation of the companies they are looking at and also try to find brides who have used those companies in the past as a reference.
We consider ourselves the Greener Cleaner, which helps us stand out from other companies in the area. Our cleaning process is completely non-toxic and the cleaning process uses a solution made of silicone and it’s extremely gentle on the dress or anything we clean with it.. We’re able to clean a gown with lots of fancy trim better than the traditional dry cleaning methods. That’s the biggest advantage to the bride because it’s gentle on the garment. It’s safe for people who are working on the gown and safe for the person wearing the gown – it doesn’t hurt them and most importantly, it won’t leave smells.
We are also part of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, which means that we can honor any other members guarantee and they will honor ours. So if you move or something happens to your dress years down the line, you will be in good hands.
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Preserving helps maintain the details of the dress as well. Image provided by Oakwood Cleaners.
ABG: Can you preserve a veil as well as a gown?
Oakwood Cleaners: Yes, we can. We once worked on a veil that was first worn in 1856 by the bride's grandmother and we not only cleaned it we also attached some tulle to it and made it look more modern while leaving the beautiful original lace.
The results of my cleaning and preservation are amazing! I’m so glad I made the choice to get my dress preserved and that I went with Oakwood Cleaners. To learn more about their process and make an appointment for yourself, visit their website!
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
Filed under: Alterations + Gown Preservation, Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Eco-Friendly Weddings
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Your bridesmaids have rallied with you. They’ve held your hand while you vented. They celebrated and cried bucket loads of happy tears when you got engaged. They are prepared to work on your DIY wedding projects. They’ll be at all of your parties and the showers. If ever there was something you could do for them, it would be to keep them out of an ugly bridesmaid dress!
That's where Kerri can help. Kerri is the owner Kerried Away Couture, a business that specializes in custom made clothing for any personality. I spoke with this lovely lady who has a radiant, bright spot in her heart for bridesmaids. With Kerried Away Couture, you can choose whether all of your girls wear the same gown or if each girl's gown is designed to complement her personality. Read what she has to say about the advantages to custom-made dresses for your bridesmaids! You’ll be just as captivated as I was!
How does your business of custom bridesmaids’ dresses work? What does the selection process look like?
We have an easy, three step proess, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be in this order, though we usually recommend it. First, you select the style. This includes bodice, length, straps, etc. All styles are mix-matched, meaning you can pick various things from different pieces and put them together. You can do a skirt from one style and a bodice from another. Brides often like certain parts of a dress, but rarely the dress in its entirety, so this allows you to be creative piece by piece.
Next comes fabric. We carry 100% cotton, 100% silk, silk blend, silk taffeta, etc. along with a handful of patterned fabrics. We also have access to hundreds of additional fabrics that are brought in on an add-needed basis.
Finally, the last step is detail. This is the fun stuff: pockets, bows, ruffles, double ruffles, waste bands in various colors—things that make the dress unique and add a flash of personality.
Three photos above by Evin Photography
Are there some common misconceptions regarding custom made dresses for bridesmaids?
Yes, mainly, it’s assumed that a custom made dress is the most expensive option. Our styles start at $185, but bridal discounts can potentially range from 10-15% depending on the number in the wedding party, possibly knocking your price down to $150. We do what we can to work with a bride’s budget. Also, none of the bridesmaids are required to pay the whole price at one time; 50% is paid in the beginning and 50% is paid after the dress has been completed.
Another misconception is that the dress will fit absolutely perfectly since it’s custom made. Most of the time, we’re unable to do a fitting with a bridesmaid because she isn’t from the area and can’t make it for a fitting. However, if she is able to come in, we’re happy to fit her! What we offer, then, is described as mixed-sizing, meaning that the top and bottom are different sizes based from measurements. We do offer a complete custom option, but it isn’t included automatically.
Photo by Divine Images
Mentioning cost, how do your dresses compare to bridal salons and ready- made dresses for the bridesmaids’ expense?
We offer more of a wholesale price because we’re not selling at a retail establishment. Everything is made in the U.S. I’m passionate about supporting the local scene, so I love incorporating this passion into my business. I’ve found that the prices of our dresses are typically less than or right at the prices of major retailers in Nashville.
How do alterations work with Kerried Away Couture?
An alteration package usually costs $25 for bridesmaids. This is essentially a guarantee that bridesmaids will walk out of our door knowing that the dress fits exactly how they want it to. Similar to fittings, bridesmaids must be in town in order to have an alteration. Also, we only work with dresses that we produce for bridesmaids.
Top photo by Photos By Alex; Bottom photo by Followell Fotography
What about wait time compared with bridal salons and ready-made options?
Most designers need anywhere from 3-5 months, but this varies according to the designer, not from where you’re purchasing your dress. I always request three months for bridesmaids’ dresses, because we’re not a huge operation, and so we never know when an influx of people will fall in needing dresses. I recommend that you schedule as soon as you can; most brides come to us at the six-month mark.
Can you describe the ease of having bridesmaids’ dresses custom made as opposed to other options?
We want to bring a personal aspect to the dress-making process; that’s what we’re about. Bridesmaids often get left in the wing of things. I always tell brides, to give me the name, email, and phone number of their bridesmaids and we commit to taking care of them. Brides can get with their friends and pick style, fabric, and detail and then just trust Kerried Away. We want to take stress off the bride, and this is our little way of doing just that.
Re-wearable designs! Photo by Joy Chambers Photography
Why do you think a bride might want a dress custom made for her bridesmaids? What is the thing that makes it most special?
We strive to sew together a memory. We’re always one on one, and never do we schedule two appointments on top of each other; we do this to enhance the experience. When bridesmaids wear our dresses, it’s not because they looked in a catalogue, pointed, and said, “That’s what I want,” but instead it’s something that they hand selected—hand crafted. Customizing everything gives a magical personality that reflects the bride and her friends.
Visit their store in Murfreesboro! Photo by Joy Chambers Photography
For more information, contact Lane or Kerri at Kerried Away Couture and make sure to mention that you found them on ABG!
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Posted by Betsy-Intern |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridesmaids & Bridal Party
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Attention all budget-smart or vintage seeking brides: I've got a hot-off-the-press goody for you this week...The Goodwill Wedding Gala Look Book is now available and you can see it here before anywhere else!! Take a few moments to enjoy some of my favorite looks and then check out the entire digital magazine, which includes a small sampling of the dresses that will be on sale (all for under $400) at the Gala.
How gorgeous is this wedding gown! I can't believe it will be available for under $400 at the Gala.
The Gala will will offer dresses for brides and bridesmaids too!
Look Book Credits - Vintage Car: 1959 Bentley from Matchless Transportation, Men’s Attire: Street Tuxedo, Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center
If you are not familiar with the Goodwill Gala, here's a quick synopsis:
The Goodwill Wedding Gala is the ultimate way to save on your wedding dress. The Gala will take place from 6am to 9am on March 17 at the Goodwill Store in Rivergate located at 2101 Gallatin Pike North in Madison, Tennessee.
The dresses:
You will find bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, mother of the bride/groom dresses, flower girl dresses, and more from Alfred Angelo, Allure, Eden Bridals, Mary’s, Watters Brides, etc. No wedding gown will be priced over $400!!
The organization:
Proceeds from the sale of these items will benefit the mission of Goodwill. Goodwill helps provide employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities and others who have trouble finding and keeping jobs.
The inside scoop:
-
Be sure to arrive early - last year there were 350+ brides in line at 6am to get their dream gown for less!
-
Attendees will be treated to refreshments provided by C&K Catering and The Cupcake Collection.
-
Rhonda Patton Weddings will provide inspirational wedding designs.
-
Pre-owned wedding gowns have been cleaned by Nicholson Cleaners.
To read all about the organization, the event, and our tour of the Goodwill facilities, read our full feature via this link. For more information, visit giveit2goodwill.org or call 615-346-1665.
share
Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, DIY & Budget Wed Finds
1 comment »
Thursday, February 9, 2012
It's daunting enough to find our own wedding dress and dresses for our bridesmaids, nevermind finding THE tuxedo for our groom. Grooms are getting more and more stylish and luckily, the folks at Street Tuxedo have the men's inventory and keep a pulse on what's fashionable and can help him achieve exactly what he seeks.
We're going to help you jumpstart your tuxedo shopping with some advice from Rachael Street of Street Tuxedo on details that should be heeded and when when to start shopping for his attire.
Picture by Gambill Photography
What is the one thing you feel is overlooked by grooms/brides who come in to get their tuxedo?
They do not realize that they can try on their selection. We feel that the groom should not have to pick his tuxedo from a catalog or mannequin. He should get the same experience the bride got while searching for her perfect dress.
Pictures by Mary Rosenbaum Photography
How can the bride help their groom with tux shopping?
She needs to be present and offer opinions. She also needs to understand that, like her, he may have an idea in his head of what he would look like on his wedding day. She should be sensitive to that. She should give him some direction as far as her dress color and bridesmaids dress color as well as the theme/style of the wedding.
What is a realistic budget for tuxedo rental (for the groom/ groomsman)?
Most times the wedding parties are large enough that the groom gets his free (rent 5, 6th free) The average price is $120-160, but we have classic tuxedos starting at $60. Groomsmen pay for their own more times than not.
Just a few of the lines Street Tuxedo carries. More here.
How do guys in other cities get measured for their tuxedos to send to you?
They simply go to any local tuxedo shop and ask for their measurements. The majority of tuxedo shops don't mind at all providing this service. Street Tuxedo does this several times a day for out of town groomsmen, we know where that gentleman will be renting his tuxedo if he ever needs one in the Nashville area.
On the day of the wedding, how should the guys care for their tuxedos and can they avoid incurring any damage costs or replacement costs?
We do charge a $5 accidental damage waiver (DW). This DW however does NOT apply to that groomsman that has had one too many break dancing on the dance floor or decides to take a dip in the pool, FULLY CLOTHED. We just ask that you would treat our tuxedo as if it were your own.
What are the return options? Does Street Tuxedo pick up?
Tuxedos are due back the next business day. They can return to any ST location, it DOES NOT have to be the location they picked up at. We do offer to pick up at local hotels/venues if arrangements are made in advance (fees may apply).
Picture by jHenderson Studios
Picture by Gambill Photography
Fall in love with your handsome groom all over again after Street Tuxedo makes him look awesome. We can't encourage you enough to start (and probably finish) with Street Tuxedo when you start shopping for the right groom's outfit for your wedding or if you need something for his groomsmen that will complement what your bridesmaids are wearing.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos
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