Monday, March 30, 2015
A bridal gown can last a lifetime, if you preserve it like Nashville bride Nicole did. As soon as she said goodbye to her guests, her bridesmaid sent her dress to Oakwood Cleaners. It's evident that preserving her gown was important and during our interview with Nicole, we were curious as to why she invested in preservation and about her experience.
Here's what we learned...
Nicole & Robert
Wedding Date: August 30, 2014
Wedding & Reception Venue: Hermitage Hotel
Tell me about your beautiful gown.
My gown is a Maggie Sottero. I went to multiple places in town and out of state and could not find the dress. I knew I wanted something with lots of texture and big but could not find it! A co-worker told me about The White Room and we found the dress on the designer website. The White Room had the dress and I ran out to Lebanon to try it on. It was a tie between this dress and one that was very similar but a different shade of cream. Ultimately this dress was the one, I was able to customize the back from a corset closure to a zipper. It was also so soft and luscious that I felt I could keep it on forever.
A lot of brides take their dress home and hang it in the closet after their wedding. What made you decide to take preserve your gown?
I knew that I immediately wanted it to go to cleaner (I had a bridesmaid pick it up from the venue and it to the cleaner the next day! lol). It was my dream dress and I wanted it to be preserved at some level. I did not want any spots to be left, and not be able to be taken care of because I waited until after my honeymoon to clean it. I felt that if you spend a fair amount on something it should be taken care of. No mater what that amount is. In the end it was only a couple hundred dollars between getting the dress cleaned or preserved. I felt spending that extra money for a lifetime guarantee of preservation was worth it.
Nicole's gown boxed and ready for preservation
Nicole's official preservation box
How did you find Oakwood Cleaners and which services did they provide?
I found Oakwood through a friend that used them for her dress. Oakwood cleaned and then preserved my dress. It took about 4 months but was totally worth it.
What do you plan to do with your gown?
Are you preserving it to become an heirloom? I am keeping my dress safe and tucked away for the future. I would love to have a place to display it. My dream would be a giant shadow box. .... but most likely I will have it in case my future daughters or daughter in laws would like to wear it. Maybe I will use it if we ever re new our vows.... the perfect thing is, it is back to being a brand new dress and my options are limitless :)
What advice do you have for other brides regarding custom gown creation, cleaning, preservation?
I want future brides to know that if there are a few things they may want to tweak about a dress to make it "the one" ask! Sometimes they can be modified before they are sent to you, other times the seamstress on hand can make the changes for you. Also think about what you see for the future of your dress.... this can help you prepare for what you want to do to your dress. I feel my dress is a classic look and hopefully that is what someone I know in the future will want and they can use it as their own. Whatever you do, do something to it. treat it with care and love, you wore it during such a special time.
Wedding day photos: George Street Photography
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Posted by Shab Engaged Bride |
Filed under: Alterations + Gown Preservation, Advice & Planning, Real Nashville Brides,
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Monday, February 16, 2015
Most brides spend much of their time thinking about their wedding dresses before the wedding, but not what happens to it after. For those who do put some thought into the care of their gowns post-wedding usually opt to take dresses to their local dry cleaners.
But did you know that all dress cleaners are not created equal? While some garment cleaning services promise to clean and store wedding dresses properly, many of them don’t take the time to do so thoroughly. Imagine the surprise on a bride’s face when she takes a peek at her dress three years from now and finds it yellowed and dull due to stains and improper storage!
Photo: Association of Wedding Gown Specialists
Nashville’s Oakwood Cleaners gives brides its guarantee that once dresses are cleaned, restored and preserved by them, they’ll still be in great condition years down the road. As a certified wedding gown specialist endorsed by the Association of Bridal Consultants, Oakwood’s claim to fame is its hand cleaning, anti-sugar stain treatment along with its use of acid-free tissue and archival-quality wedding chest storage.
Ready for even better news? After your dress is cleaned and preserved at Oakwood, you’ll receive a written international guarantee that your gown will never be any color but white once you open the box again. And when your daughter is ready to wear, you both can take it to any participating certified wedding gown specialist who will and press your dress free of charge.
To learn more, visit Oakwood Cleaners in person at their Nashville, Hermitage and Franklin/Cool Springs locations or visit oakwoodcleaners.com.
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Posted by Newlywed Leah |
Filed under: Alterations + Gown Preservation, Advice & Planning, Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories,
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Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Hello lovely Nashville brides!! I know that you have a million things on your minds and the alteration talk, like the budget talk, isn't a fun topic. But, it is a necessary one. Hop off Pinterest for a second and let's talk about wedding gown shopping and care. Before you fall in love with a dress, splurge to buy it and then hate it after alterations, get smart with today's expert advice.
I spoke with Rhonda, owner of Oakwood Cleaners, Nashville's go-to resource for special event gown care. We chatted at length about the most popular gown-shopping techniques and the consequences of not knowing how alterations work before buying your gown. Below are the common thoughts that Nashville brides have about wedding gowns. If one of them is yours, this is a no-judgment zone. Just read and take heed. :)
Thought 1: I will buy a wedding dress to fit my "ideal weight" versus my current weight.
I know what you are thinking. I'm going to buy a wedding dress in my ideal size versus my actual size and lose a ton of weight. It all sounds good in your mind but the reality is, you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself, during one of the most celebratory times in your life. Think of all of the congratulations dinners, the "I’m finally engaged" nights out with your girlfriends. And, when you are happily in love, you eat! At the football game next to your beau, laughing and eating hot dogs, or at your first Thanksgiving as an engaged couple, grabbing seconds. Even if you don't gain weight, and just stay where you are, you are already too big to fit into that "ideal" dress.
Rhonda of Oakwood Cleaners sees this ALL the time. "I totally understand brides wanting to look their best on their wedding day and planning to lose weight. However, this happens a lot," says Rhonda.
Here's her advice, and I'm paraphrasing:
A lot of brides do not end up losing the weight and the dress is too small. They bring the dress in for alterations a month, or even weeks, before the wedding and are expecting a miracle. This close to the wedding, brides are nervous, stressed and it's hard to love a significantly altered dress. The results aren’t ideal because the dress required so much altering that it changed its overall structure. Brides simply do not like the way it looks because of the significant alterations that had to be made. In addition, the costs to alter double, because it's considered a rush job.
It's not what many brides want to hear, but you should buy your dress to fit you now. Then, there will be fewer alterations but usually a greater satisfaction because you already know how it looks; there are fewer changes to the structure of the dress. It's harder to let a dress out than to take it in; however, keep in mind that you never really want to have a dress taken in more than two sizes. You will be much happier in the long run.
Thought 2: I will lose weight and get it altered right before my wedding day.
Oakwood Cleaners is a professional gown care center so they are entrusted with a lot of wedding dress alterations. They advise that you bring your dress to them 3-4 months before your wedding. Again, I know what you are thinking. I'll be much smaller by the time I pick up my dress so I will wait and take it closer to my wedding.
Rhonda definitely does not advise that you wait. As long as there is availability, Oakwood will work with you, but your costs and stress will probably double. You want to be realistic and give your seamstress ample time to alter your dress.
Thought 3: I love my friend's wedding dress! I will buy it and save tons.
Rhonda says, love the dress but be smart. Often, the dress may be many sizes too big or too small. You may think you are getting a deal but it may cost just as much to alter the dress. If you are going up or down more than two sizes, the structure of the gown may be comprised and it may not hang the way it was intended, especially when it comes to strapless gowns. The bargain may become an alterations nightmare because the seamstress is redoing the dress. Rhonda of Oakwood has seen many brides upset because the dress alterations cost more than the gown.
The best advice is to take your friend's dress to the pros at Oakwood Cleaners, or another competent seamstress, and have a consult before you buy the gown. Once they give you an estimate, you can decide the best route for you.
Contact Oakwood Cleaners to schedule your consultation or to get advice before or after you buy your wedding gown. They are very helpful!
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Alterations + Gown Preservation, Advice & Planning, Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories,
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
If the forecast calls for rain, on any part of your wedding day, you’re bound to be a little frazzled. (See our rainy day feature with Myrick Studios here.) When it comes to your wedding dress, Rhonda, owner of Oakwood Cleaners, has gown care advice that will save you stress.
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Mentally prepare. Know that your dress will get dirty, rain or shine. Keep perspective. You are marrying the man of your dreams. Not much else matters beyond that.
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Physically prepare. Cover your walkway to minimize contact with mud and grass.
muddy wedding dress before cleaning
wedding dress after being cleaned by Oakwood Cleaners
After your wedding, DO NOT DO ANYTHING to your dress.
I know your first instinct will be to wipe off the mud or even worse, grab soap to try to clean the stains. Those are the worse things you can do. Often, when you rub fabric, it can cause stains to go deeper into the fibers.
Instead, go on your honeymoon and enjoy it! When you return, take your dress to Oakwood, Nashville’s gown care expert. You have some time, but don't wait too long. Oakwood recommends that you bring in your dress weeks after your wedding, but not months. The sooner you get your dress to the pros at Oakwood, the better the results.
Be realistic. Oakwood has made brides cry tears of joy with their results, but it is a process and results will vary. They cannot perform miracles, but their before and after results speak for themselves.
before
after
before
after
before
after
Oakwood Cleaners' Locations:
4833 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage, Hermitage, TN, (615) 885-1281
73 White Bridge Road, Paddock Place Shopping Center, Nashville, TN (615) 620-6095
2000 Mallory Lane, Suite 170, Cool Springs Market Shopping Plaza, Franklin, TN, (615) 764-0222
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Alterations + Gown Preservation, Advice & Planning, Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories,
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Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Most of you already know to take your treasured bridal gowns to Oakwood Cleaners for cleaning and preserving. But, did you know that Oakwood Cleaners is also a great resource for your bridesmaids and mothers?
When my sister's best friend got married in Atlanta, my sister headed over to Oakwood's White Bride Road location and was measured for free. Their service of maids and moms goes beyond just measurements. Here's an overview of what they offer your bridal party:
1) Complimentary measurements
Let's say your bridesmaids are local. Let them know they can call Oakwood Cleaners in Nashville for an appointment and get their measurements taken for FREE! This is a great option if the dresses are being bought in another city or online. For instance, for my sister's BFF's wedding, all of the bridesmaids dresses were being bought in Atlanta so my sister emailed her Oakwood's measurements to the Atlanta retailer. Super easy. The folks at Oakwood were helpful and pleasant. The dress ended up needing only minor alterations. In contrast, for my wedding, my sister's dress needed a lot of altering following less than accurate measurements.
2) Alterations
Once you receive your dress, schedule an appointment and take your dress back to Oakwood Cleaners for alterations.
Tips: Take your undergarments and wedding day shoes (if dress is long) to get an accurate idea of what alterations are required. Allow at least 4 to 8 weeks for alterations to be completed. Less time might be doable if only straps and hems are needed to be altered. They can also alter your dress after the wedding if you want to convert it to a shorter version.
Left: Oakwood assessing alteration needs. Right: Us at the wedding in Atlanta.
The Atlanta wedding party; Photo by Nadia D Photography.
3) Pressing
Often when you receive your dress from the designer, it will be wrinkled, especially if it's been shipped. Take your gown to Oakwood Cleaners and they can press your dress. Many brides drop off all of the bridesmaid dresses so all of the gowns are pressed.
Photo: The Bride Room
Bridesmaids whose dresses were pressed pre-wedding by Oakwood Cleaners.
Brides, bridesmaids, mother of the bride or groom: Contact the Oakwood Cleaners nearest you to schedule your measurement, alteration appointment or to drop off your dress for pressing or of course cleaning.
Oakwood Cleaners Locations:
4833 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage, Hermitage, TN, (615) 885-1281
73 White Bridge Road, Paddock Place Shopping Center, Nashville, TN (615) 620-6095
2000 Mallory Lane, Suite 170, Cool Springs Market Shopping Plaza, Franklin, TN, (615) 764-0222
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Alterations + Gown Preservation, Advice & Planning, Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories,
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