Dempublicents1
09-04-2007, 21:45
I don't know if I've mentioned this on here before, but I have the most wonderful aunt in the world. (This story and my ultimate question will take some prefacing). Just for anyone who doesn't want to hear the story of my family and my awesome, awesome aunt, skip down to the very last two paragraphs where I ask about where to have my wedding dress cleaned and preserved. =)
My grandmother was a seamstress for part of her life, and her mother (my great-grandmother) apparently hand made just about every piece of clothing she ever wore (and everything was hand-sewn with my granny - she never used a machine.) My grandmother and my granny, with my aunt's help, made wedding gowns and veils for my mother and two of her other sisters. All of them were gorgeous. When I was younger, my grandmother lived with us for a while and she used to tell me that she would make my gown when I eventually got married. Unfortunately, she passed away while I was still in high school.
Several years later, after my aunt retired, she offered to make prom dresses for two of my younger cousins. For some reason that I cannot fathom, both of them refused - preferring to find off-the-rack dresses. But I remembered seeing her offer to do so.
Soon after I got engaged, when I was just starting to really think about wedding plans, I called my aunt and asked her if she would be willing to make my wedding gown. After a few questions to make sure I wanted her to do it for the right reasons (ie. sentimental ones, rather than monetary ones - a homemade gown can be quite expensive), she agreed. The dress is absolutely gorgeous and, with a few last minute modifications she's planning on making, will fit me like a glove. I'm so excited about this dress and incredibly grateful to my aunt.
And, to finally cut to the chase, the last thing I want is for this dress to get ruined either at my wedding, or at any cleaner. I don't know if I'll ever have a daughter/niece/granddaughter/daughter-in-law/etc. who will be as sentimental as I am and want to reuse the dress, but I want to keep it preserved nonetheless. And I really don't know who to trust to do that. Everywhere I've looked has claimed that they are super-awesome and the "other guys" just don't know how to do it right.
So, I'm hoping for recommendations. Are there any nation-wide (US) chains that are really good? Anyone know of a great place in the Atlanta (or, really, anywhere in GA) area? Anyone have personal experience with this and know what to look for?
*And, of course, talking about other wedding-related or clothing-preservation stuff is perfectly welcome too! =)
My grandmother was a seamstress for part of her life, and her mother (my great-grandmother) apparently hand made just about every piece of clothing she ever wore (and everything was hand-sewn with my granny - she never used a machine.) My grandmother and my granny, with my aunt's help, made wedding gowns and veils for my mother and two of her other sisters. All of them were gorgeous. When I was younger, my grandmother lived with us for a while and she used to tell me that she would make my gown when I eventually got married. Unfortunately, she passed away while I was still in high school.
Several years later, after my aunt retired, she offered to make prom dresses for two of my younger cousins. For some reason that I cannot fathom, both of them refused - preferring to find off-the-rack dresses. But I remembered seeing her offer to do so.
Soon after I got engaged, when I was just starting to really think about wedding plans, I called my aunt and asked her if she would be willing to make my wedding gown. After a few questions to make sure I wanted her to do it for the right reasons (ie. sentimental ones, rather than monetary ones - a homemade gown can be quite expensive), she agreed. The dress is absolutely gorgeous and, with a few last minute modifications she's planning on making, will fit me like a glove. I'm so excited about this dress and incredibly grateful to my aunt.
And, to finally cut to the chase, the last thing I want is for this dress to get ruined either at my wedding, or at any cleaner. I don't know if I'll ever have a daughter/niece/granddaughter/daughter-in-law/etc. who will be as sentimental as I am and want to reuse the dress, but I want to keep it preserved nonetheless. And I really don't know who to trust to do that. Everywhere I've looked has claimed that they are super-awesome and the "other guys" just don't know how to do it right.
So, I'm hoping for recommendations. Are there any nation-wide (US) chains that are really good? Anyone know of a great place in the Atlanta (or, really, anywhere in GA) area? Anyone have personal experience with this and know what to look for?
*And, of course, talking about other wedding-related or clothing-preservation stuff is perfectly welcome too! =)