July 24, 2014 In General, Short and Sweet, Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

Bridesmaids Dress Themes

If you need help getting started on ideas for your bridesmaids dresses, start here! Bridesmaids are meant to compliment you on your big day. Having a fun theme among the girls can make the wedding day more fun, meaningful and of course, memorable. See if any of these ideas are themes you could use!

1.Different colored dresses in the same style
Different-Pastel-Shades
Having different colored dresses can be a unique way to satisfy all bridesmaids.
If you choose to do this you should pick a palette that makes sense together and compliments the theme of your wedding as well

2. Same colored dresses in different styles
Diff style
OR you could do the complete opposite and let everyone choose a style that better suites their body, but in a color approved by you.

3. Statement items
bridesmaids-with-hats-1
Even if you do all decide on different dresses, you can pull all the looks together by having one common statement piece.
This could also serve as your gift to your bridesmaids. whether its a headpiece, necklace or even some kind of fancy footwear.

4. Have a common item among the bridesmaids AND groomsmen
wedding_sunglasses1
We’ve all seen the wedding party theme where they all have the same sunglasses or socks
Maybe you wont do this idea, but you can find your own way of bringing the entire party together.

5. Have an overall theme, let them choose the dress
20s
For example you could choose the roaring 20’s or maybe another decade.
This way everyone can find a way to represent themselves in a unique yet similar way.

 

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July 17, 2014 In General, Short and Sweet, Weddings

Quick Fixes for Wedding Day Disasters

With all the stress building up to your wedding day, having something go wrong the day of can drive a person insane. So here are a few quick ideas to fix unexpected problems that may arise!

Chalk– Have a stick of chalk with you in case of emergency stains such as salad dressing, wine, or food falling on to your dress. Just lightly cover the stain with the chalk. That way you wont have the wet mark from trying to remove it. Then later you can come back and try getting rid of it or bring it to us!

chalk-uses-unusual-590kb060810
Rings– Worst case scenario, the man of honor forgets the rings. Instead, use a close family members rings or someone you admire for the ceremony. Then later you can exchange them for your rings later on.

Missing Bouquets– If the flowers you ordered came in and you wound up one short, take one of the table decorations and create a make shift bouquet. Another idea is to break up the bouquets that did show up and create smaller ones so everyone has the same one.

Your Dress Wont Fit– Bring extra safety pins and an emergency sewing kit. You can also bring extra accessories to cover up any unexpected splits and stains.

alterations (1)

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June 30, 2014 In Clothing Tips, General, Short and Sweet, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

Buying a Used Wedding Dress

Weddings can be very expensive. A great way to cut some of the cost is to consider buying a used wedding dress.
Considering the dress is only worn once, you can often find great
deals on beautiful, gently used gowns.
Their are numerous sites and shops you can visit that buy and sell dresses.

However because they are used, be sure to be extra cautious
when ordering a used gown.
We have found some of these tips to be helpful with
brides shopping for a pre owned dress.

Model - faded

Be sure to get thorough pictures or check the gown out yourself before committing. Stains or stags can often go unnoticed at the right angle. Make sure the images you’re looking at are of the owners album and not the model pictures you can find online. So when chatting with a seller, be sure you know what your buying.

Make sure you’re buying at the right price. A little internet research can go a long way. If you’re nervous about buying online, at least make sure you’re paying a fair price. Especially considering this dress has been worn before.

The dress you buy doesn’t need to be in your exact size. We’ve mentioned in previous blogs what when buying you’re dress its better to go to big than too small. We can always take a dress in but adding fabric is much more difficult. We have a exceptional team that can work with you and your dress to make sure it fits you perfectly.

Be aware of the sellers return policy. Ask the seller exactly what the return policy is. That way if you get it and its in way worse condition than they led on, you can send it back.

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June 23, 2014 In General, Short and Sweet, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

How to Save Money On Your Wedding Day

The last thing you want is to start off your new marriage in debt from your wedding.The average cost of a wedding in the US in around $25,000. If this price seems way out of budget for you, we’ve researched and talked to brides about some great ways to save a few dollars for your big day!

1. Get a friend ordained
You can now go online and file with the state to have a friend ordained and have them officiate your wedding.
This can shave off a few hundred dollars from your wedding bill.
Plus it can serve as a great memory to have someone close to you pronounce your marriage.
Friends

2. DIY on the small things
If you have access to craft materials DIY projects can save major dollars. However, this can also take up a lot of time and effort. So if you do choose this route, recruit friends to help out so you don’t spend weeks focused on one project.
DIY

3. Hire a wedding planner
This may sound like a tip that will cost you more money, when in fact it can save lots you if you choose carefully. A wedding planner often knows all the secrets around your area that can save you thousands of dollars. They often know the right people and can get you deals while also showing you where you can skip certain costs you wont need.

4. Buy Pre-owned
The internet makes it easy to find quality pre-owned wedding dresses. This can save a huge portion of your wedding bill. Check out sites like www.preownedweddingdresses.com or even www.tradesy.com for beautiful dresses that are in great condition. Even after the wedding, try getting some money back by selling your dress to another bride.

5. Buy in season
One huge mistake many wedding planners make is buying flowers or foods that include off season items. When it comes to flowers, buy in bulk and something that’s in season. Bigger flowers can also save you money because they have larger stems so they cost less per bouquet.
Flowers

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June 18, 2014 In Clothing Tips, General, Short and Sweet, Weddings

Dressing The Groom

We covered dress styles for the bridesmaids and bride.
But what about the groom’s attire?
There are a variety of styles in tuxedos that you may have never even known about.

Luckily you have us to walk you through a couple of the styles we see here at St Croix Cleaners and Treasured Garment Restoration.


These three basic styles are once you often see going down the aisle.
However, it’s all about the details. There are many specific factors that go into picking the perfect tux for your event.

First up is the buttons

There is also a one-button suit which is better suited if
you’re going for a hipper more laid back event.
A good rule to live by when it comes to buttoning etiquette is to always leave the last button unbuttoned.

You also have to consider what type of lapels you’re interested in.
Here are a few of the styles you’ll see.

Lastly, the pockets. For this detail, you should make sure what you choose matches the number of buttons the tux has.

The most important part of choosing the right tux is choosing the right tailor to fit you.
Suits almost always need a few alterations. Bring it to our experts and we’ll be sure you look great on your big day!

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June 10, 2014 In Clothing Tips, General, Short and Sweet, Wedding Dresses, Weddings

5 Tips To Choosing Bridesmaids Dresses

1. Find a style that suits everyone

Talk to your friends and see what styles they DON’T want. It’s no surprise that dressing multiple bridesmaids is a challenge. Show them the styles you’re interested in and have them decide amongst themselves on the final choice. Another trend is having the same dress but fit differently to each bride. That way everyone has something that’s flattering.

Capture7 6

2. Find something they would wear again

Because of the cost of bridesmaid’s dresses, find something they could wear another time other than just your wedding. The average cost of a bridesmaids dress is between $100-$300. Make it worth it for them.

3. Make sure the style matches your wedding

Try to find a dress that makes sense and is in sync with the overall theme of the wedding. We’ve all heard the saying “We wouldn’t want to outshine the bride” but it’s possible for everyone to be happy here.

 gray-mismatched-bridesmaid-dresses-500x333

4. Take into consideration the weather

This may seem obvious, however it’s easy to overlook. The time of year should make sense with the style you choose. Even the time of day should be considered.

5. Have an alteration specialist in mind

To ensure that all the dresses fit right, keep an alteration specialist in mind for your bridesmaids to go to. St. Croix Cleaners has staffed excellent seamstresses to help each one of your bridesmaids create the perfect fit.

ALTERATIONS

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May 12, 2014 In Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

Wedding Dress Design & Alterations

The season of fancy dresses, dancing all night, chicken dinners and green beans, romance and wine is fast approaching.  That’s right, it’s almost wedding season – are you ready?

If you’re looking for quick alterations for your fancy dress, or need to get that bridesmaid gown ready for the upcoming wedding, we can help!  Enter Treasured Garment Restoration’s Wedding Dress Designer and Alterations specialist, Darcy Zeppernick, featured yesterday in the Pioneer Press!

“Zeppernick has worked with many brides to restore, update and redesign vintage wedding gowns. Updates can include removing the sleeves, reducing the neckline and adding things like buttons or a sash. Other options include using fabric from the existing gown and incorporating it into a new dress. Existing fabric can be made into a bodice or used as trim.

“We can do nearly anything the bride wants,” Zeppernick says. “We try to figure out what it is about the gown that they like and what they would like to change.” ”

Read the entire article here.

One of Darcy Zeppernick's Wedding Dress Designs - 1920's Inspired.

One of Darcy Zeppernick’s Wedding Dress Designs – 1920’s Inspired.

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May 2, 2014 In General, Short and Sweet, Wedding Dresses, Weddings

Choosing the Right Style Wedding Dress

wedding-gown3

When the time approaches to go wedding dress shopping its important to do your homework. Wedding dress lingo can often be confusing. That’s why we’re here to give you a few of the basics you need to know going into the store.  Here’s our tips:

First, we have the Trumpet silhouette. This is a form fitting bodice that hugs the hips and begins to flare out about mid thigh. This is a very common trend that is fabulous for women with straight figures. The trumpet will help dramatize the curves of your silhouette. It is also very similar to the Mermaid with the only major difference being where the flare starts. With the mermaid the flare begins right at the knee so it  is a bit more drastic.

 mermaidtrumpet1
Mermaid                                                      Trumpet

The A-line, also sometimes called princess, is one of the more universal styles for brides. This style looks good on almost all body types which is why it is so popular. This style starts with a fitting bodice that begins to flare are the waist. One of the major benefits of this style is the level of comfort you have with the dress not being as constricting after it flares.

aline
A-line

The Ball Gown Silhouette is very similar to the a-line. However, with the ball gown style we have a much larger skirt. Both the ball gown and a-line styles define the waist more than the other styles. This style can be really fun because it leaves room for layers or a dramatic design.

ball gown
Ball Gown

Another style we see is the Empire. This style is almost completely defined by the waist line. The dress drapes the body in a way that makes the bride look taller. This style is also thought of to be one of the most comfortable styles to go with and looks good on all body types.

empire
Empire

Another, more sleek and form fitting version of the empire would be a Sheath dress. Sometimes you might hear this one refereed to as the column dress as well. The sheath dress hugs the curves and is often made of lighter fabrics.

column

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July 2, 2013 In Weddings

10 Things to Do After You’ve Found “The One” Dress

10 things to do after buying Wedding Dress

Just because you’ve found “the one” doesn’t mean that your gown-shopping extravaganza is complete. Make sure you cross these items off your to-do list before you head down the aisle.

 

1. Order Your Bridesmaid Dresses

Now that you know the style of your gown, you can begin researching bridesmaid dresses, decide on one you love and place an order. You don’t have to mimic your dress completely, but match fabrics or design details for a bridal party (and pictures) that looks pulled together.

2. Decide on Your “Something Blue”

Whether you plan to pin a piece of blue ribbon to the inside of your dress like Kate Middleton did, or you’d rather slip into a pair of blue peep toes and accessorize with sapphire gems, don’t let this lucky charm become a source of stress by waiting until the last minute to pick it out.

Read more on The Knot.com: 10 Things to Do After You’ve Purchased Your Wedding Dress

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