Wedding Archives - Treasured Garment Restoration

October 12, 2018 In Cleaning, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

TGR Original: Devan’s Wedding Gown Preservation Journey

Red wine stains and dirty bar floors couldn’t keep this bride’s dress down. Bride Devan and her new husband Sam had their special day this past summer in Iowa, that included a memorable wedding dress cleaning immediately after. As you’ll see in this Q&A with Devan and her dress, a mother’s wedding contribution cannot be understated. Enjoy the journey Devan’s gown took from the dance floor to wedding dress cleaning and preservation.

When was your wedding and where did it take place?

Our wedding was on July 6, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa. The ceremony and reception both took place outside at Salisbury House and Gardens.

When did you know that your wedding dress was “the one?”

My wedding dress is a fit-and-flare with a lot of tulle on the bottom. I always knew I wanted a fitted bridal gown. I tried on lots of different styles, but I came back to one of the first dresses I tried on.

What is your absolute favorite memory from your wedding day?

My favorite memory from our wedding day was seeing my friends and family all in one place at the same time. It was such an awesome experience. I felt so loved and could not believe all of those people came to see us! I also loved getting ready in the morning with my mom, mother-in-law, and bridesmaids. It was a super relaxing morning and I loved getting pampered!

Why did you decide to get your wedding dress cleaned?

My mom took my wedding dress to the cleaner without me knowing. I’m super glad she did. We went to a bar after the wedding and my dress got super dirty on the bottom, so it needed a wedding gown preservation! I had also spilled red wine all down the front of the wedding dress, so it needed to be cleaned!

Why did you bring your wedding dress to Treasured Garment Restoration?

I am not sure why my mom chose Treasured Garment Restoration for the wedding dress cleaning. I am sure it was a close location to her house!

Treasured Garment Restoration is a nationally recognized member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists. This means we clean each wedding dress individually, with anti-sugar stain treatment, MuseumCare™ Preservation process to guarantee the wedding dress will not yellow over the course of a lifetime. This is the best way to ensure your wedding dress is protected for generations to come. Learn more about wedding dress cleaning and preservation at www.TreasuredGarmentRestoration.com.

June 6, 2018 In Wedding Trends

Royal Wedding Dresses Inspire The Masses

Styles of wedding dresses come and go with the times. From the puffy shoulders of the ‘80s to the newer bohemian style 2-piece dresses, there’s always a new trend around the corner. With the royal wedding only a few weeks ago, the new Duchess of Sussex is already paving the way for the next wedding gown fashion trend.

Meghan Markle’s dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy Couture, highlights elegance and minimalism with a bateau neckline as the focal point of the silk cady dress. Glamour Magazine even has an article showcasing “12 Meghan Markle-Inspired Wedding Dresses You Can Buy Right Now” that was posted just hours after the wedding ceremony. That’s how fast a trend can begin!

While Markle’s dress trend is just starting to boom, Kate Middleton’s long sleeve, lace dress sparked a princess-worthy fever 7 years ago. The Knot even listed some celebrities, like Nicky Hilton, who wore a dress admittedly inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge.

Middleton’s Alexander McQueen dress style doesn’t solely belong to celebrities. H&M made headlines for offering a replica of her dress for $299. Now you don’t have to spend the $434,000 on a royal gown to look like a princess.

If you want to incorporate a royal element into your wedding without caving on your personal style (or budget) you can wear a tiara. Both Middleton and Markle rocked the royal tradition and you can too. Whether you want to jump on the royal bandwagon or hold true to your style (despite the developing trends) find what makes you feel beautiful on your wedding day.

Regardless of what style you choose for your big day, don’t forget to have your dress cleaned and preserved after your wedding. Not only will your dress come back looking clean and fresh, but we also use an anti-sugar stain treatment that removes stains you might not even see that can show up years later on your dress. Being members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, we guarantee your gown won’t yellow and those “unseen” stains won’t show up for a lifetime. Give your dress the royal treatment by cleaning and preserving your gown at Treasured Garment Restoration.

July 28, 2014 In Clothing Tips, General, Short and Sweet, Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Weddings

Wedding Veils 101

We’ve cleaned just about every style of wedding gown and accessories you can think of. If you’re lost on what style veil you want you’ve come to the right place.
The diagram below shows a few ideas of the various styles you have to choose from. When choosing, make sure the style is in sync with the style of your dress as well. You want to choose a color that is either exactly the same or slightly lighter than the dress. It looks best to not go darker. Longer veils are the most common, however today many brides are choosing the vintage look with shorter veils like the birdcage or blusher.

Here are some great example of some vintage looks we’ve seen

These are two ideas if you’re looking for a shorter headpiece or veil. On the left is a gorgeous floral headpiece. On the right we have the birdcage mentioned above.

If you want to go a little longer so you can still flip the veil over your head, the shoulder length is a great way to go as well. Its short enough for it to not get in the way and is a style many brides are going to today.

The cathedral veil is a gorgeous, longer set veil that has a lacy or more detailed around the edge

Lastly, this version can come in various lengths. It has a very mid 20’s, Gatsby feel to it which some brides love to use as a vintage and classy touch to their wedding outfit. This look is often called the Juliet Cap.

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.

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.

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.

August 27, 2012 In General

It’s All About the Dress!

Betty Altheide 1953

It was a warm Saturday in Minneapolis, July 18^th, 1953. Betty Schuler arrived at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in her beautiful white eyelet layered wedding gown and she was a bit nervous, yet excited as she was about to become the bride of John Altheide. Betty recalls that it was rather warm that day and that there was no air conditioning; “I don’t remember the temperature exactly, but I do know that no one fainted” (as was the case in many hot, summer weddings in those days).

After growing up in Edina, MN, Betty went on to college at William Woods University, an all-girls school in Fulton, MO. John grew up around St. Louis, Mo and attended Westminister College, also in Fulton, MO. How did they meet? “It was December 3, 1949, we met on a blind date going to a Fraternity party”, she blushed, as John stands by, in disbelief, that she even remembers the date!

After they finished school, John went into the Air Force. They got to see each other only about 3 or 4 times in the ensuing 2 years that he was enlisted. After 1 year, he proposed to her.

Betty proceeded with all the wedding planning on her own since John was not around. The ceremony was held at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, the reception was held at the Edina Country Club. She purchased her dress at Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis and remembers that the dress plus the hoop skirt she wore with it was under $100.00. She was careful with the dress at her wedding, no cake spilled, no punch spilled, no drinking at the reception—so it was looking great after the big day.

The newlywed couple then spent their honeymoon at Maddens Resort in northern Minnesota where they actually were able to spend some time together to really get to know each other. John, having been in the military for a couple of years, had been doing his own laundry, and Betty was alarmed to find that he didn’t spend much time sorting his colors—all of his underwear was pink! They then moved to St. Louis, Missouri after the wedding. It seems that everything worked out through the years — Betty and John just celebrated their 59^th Wedding Anniversary this summer—and they’re looking forward to number 60 in 2013!

In the spring of 2012 when Betty and John and their children were cleaning out their nooks and crannies, they came upon the dress, yellowed and stained, and it was sent to Treasured Garment Restoration for evaluation. If the gown was so well protected the day of the wedding, what happened, then, with the horrible spills we saw on it when it came to be restored? “Well”, Betty explained, “35 years ago –when the dress was 25 years old—there was a party amongst our friends and the requirement was to bring or wear something from your wedding. So, I wore my wedding gown!” Amazingly, Betty was still able to wear the gown after 25 years and 2 children and her only comment was “yes, I fit into it, but I didn’t sit down all night”.

Fortunately, this spill was only 35 years old. After careful testing, TGR was able to

If it had been spilled 59 years ago, it is possible determine that the latent stains – aka

that these stains may have created holes caramelized sugar stains would be

in the fabric. able to be removed!

We, at Treasured Garment Restoration, have seen a number of things show up on vintage wedding dresses that can re-ignite memories of the day… and we are truly passionate about restoring and preserving the each unique dress along with the memories it symbolizes for our customers!

One thing remains constant– it’s all about THE DRESS! Brides will spend countless hours looking at photos, magazines, (now Pinterest) and shopping for the one dress that makes them feel like a princess for the day. Each dress is unique and could tell a story of its own—if only a dress could talk!

1953 Gown, oxidized (yellowed) and stained. After – restored to white in 2012!

March 16, 2012 In General

Care Label Caution?

In case you can’t read this label clearly it states:

“Caution Dry Clean Only Dangerously Flammable If Washed”

Now, I’ve seen some interesting marketing ploys before, but I’m not quite sure what this one is after!

I sure hope the bride who wore this dress didn’t spill anything on her wedding dress at the ceremony or the reception! Seriously, I’m not aware of any textile that would spontaneously combust when introduced with water. As members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, Treasured Garment Restoration and our parent company, St. Croix Cleaners, can certainly clean this dress and any other wedding dresses with wild labels on them. Learn more about our wedding dress cleaning and preservations here.