{ Attire Tips } Try It On!

Dress-fitting-seamstress-alterations

You would never walk into a store, grab a dress off the rack, pay for it and walk out, would you?  No, you would try it on first!  Especially if it was for an important occasion.

The same should apply for your wedding day!  After witnessing a couple of “wardrobe malfunctions” this summer, bride and groom alike, I have to remind you all:  Please try on your gown or tux before you take it home for the last time!

Yes, you may have had several fittings.  But things can happen between the last fitting and the final pickup.  You could have shed (or stacked) a few pounds.  The seamstress could make a mistake.  The tux supplier could have packed an incorrect vest size.

Open that bag BEFORE you leave the store, and try it on one last time.  Or at least once you get it home. You do not want to open that bag on the day of the wedding to find out that something is missing or wrong.  It’s so much easier to make corrections or adjustments when you’re not under the gun.

(A version of this article originally ran in August 2008 on The Portland Wedding Coordinator blog.) wedding planning portland oregon hood river ejp events portland wedding coordinator design weddings vancouver wa camas washougal lake oswego

More wedding advice and tips available over at EJP Events’s Portland wedding planning website.

 

 

Wedding Gown Preservation Services in Portland, Oregon

As the summer wanes, and our clients return from honeymoons, we receive a lot of inquiries about what to do with the wedding dress or sari.

EJP Events is an authorized dealer for the Wedding Gown Preservation Company, and we have had great results with them. You don't have to have had your wedding coordinated by us to take advantage of this service.

The gowns are expertly cleaned and wrinkles removed. Repairs can be done and additional items such as veil, train, and shoes can be cleaned and included in the box underneath a divider, in their own individual acid=free archival boxes.

Here is an example photo of a gown after the cleaning and archiving process in its archival storage box: Gown-preservation-box

If you are interested in having your gown preserved and you can make it to our location in Portland, Oregon, email info@ejpevents.com and we'll take care of you!

 

Best Wedding and Mother-of-the-Bride Looks from The Oscars 2014

Did you catch any of the Oscars on Sunday night? Although I haven't seen many of the movies, I love the red carpet and all the lovely dresses. There are always many stunners that would translate wonderfully to a Portland wedding, many with familiar and favorite wedding couturiers such as Reem Acra, Vera Wang, and Elie Saab. Here are a few of my favorites:

Oscars-2014-wedding-gowns-fashion

Clockwise from top left: Lupita Nyong'o in Prada; Jessica Biel in Chanel; Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Reem Acra; Cate Blanchett in Armani; Kristen Bell in Roberto Cavalli. All photos courtesy oscars.go.com.

Inspiration was readily found for mothers-of-the-bride and groom as well: my personal favorite was a crimson lace design from Reem Acra on Bette Midler – truly divine! Take a look at the rest of our picks below:

Oscars-2014-mother-of-bride-gowns

Clockwise from top left: Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab; Bette Midler in Reem Acra; Emma Watson in Vera Wang

What styles did you just LOVE from the Oscars red carpet this year? Did you get inspired to recreate a style that you saw into your own wedding day? Please post in the comments!

If you liked this post in the Fashion category, you might like some of the following:

 

{Wedding Attire Tips} Can I mix ivory and white at my wedding?

Today's tip is not just an attire tip, but it also touches on overall wedding design and colors.

I get a lot of clients every year who ask me if they can wear an ivory gown but have white tablecloths, and vice versa.  Or if they can use ivory and white on the same surface, for example, white tablecloths and ivory plates.  We receive so many inquiries like this that we decided to address it here on the blog at Portland Wedding Coordinator.
 
Some people seem to think that there is an etiquette or protocol issue at work here, but I have done some initial research at the Peggy Post and Martha Stewart sites, and to date have not yet found anything etiquette-related, except a reminder to guests not to wear white or ivory to a wedding.
 
So my feeling is that it boils down to your personal style and what you feel comfortable with.

Continue reading “{Wedding Attire Tips} Can I mix ivory and white at my wedding?”

{ Wedding Gown Cleaning & Preservation in Portland } What are you doing with your gown after the wedding?

Some people trash the dress. Others put it on eBay. If you are thinking of keeping your wedding gown to pass down to the younger generation, or if you want to get it in perfect shape for consignment, you will want to have your gown professionally cleaned and possibly preserved in an acid-free, archival container.

Wedding Gown Cleaning and Preservation in Portland Oregon
If you are just doing cleaning, your local dry cleaner may offer this service. Be sure to ask if it is done locally or sent out to a special service, and what is included. Gowns that will be stored for a long time should not be stored in plastic or vinyl which can come in contact with dress fabric and cause yellowing or discoloration. If a gown will be hung up, it’s best to store it in unbleached muslin fabric.

If your gown will be stored for a long time, hanging it can cause the weight of the gown to pull on the seams and stretch the fabric, causing damage. It’s best in this case to store it in an acid-free, archival-quality box.

At EJP Events / The Bridal Loft, we do offer this service not just to our own clients, but to anyone in Portland desiring cleaning and preservation of their gown. Simply call us at (503) 284-6756 or email info@ejpevents.com to make an appointment and we’ll take care of you. Pricing starts at $165 for cleaning and box only. I’ve attached links to the order form for those who are interested in the details.

In some occasions, dry cleaning may not be needed. There are some types of simple garments that can be dry cleaned at home. We learned a lot after reading this article on Tipsbulletin: How to Dry Clean At Home. If you decide on this route, you can still order the preservation service as described above, just let us know that the gown has already been cleaned.

No matter how you plan to have your dress cleaned, make sure to store it at room temperature and avoid places like attics, garages, and basements where temperature and moisture/humidity levels can fluctuate without your knowing. The top level of a closet in your house is a great spot.

Updated 6/28/2018

{ Attire tips } Can I mix ivory and white at my wedding?

Today's tip is not just an attire tip, but it also touches on overall wedding design and colors.

I get a lot of clients every year who ask me if they can wear an ivory gown but have white tablecloths, and vice versa.  Or if they can use ivory and white on the same surface, for example, white tablecloths and ivory plates.  We receive so many inquiries like this that we decided to address it here on the blog at Portland Wedding Coordinator.
 
Some people seem to think that there is an etiquette or protocol issue at work here, but I have done some initial research at the Peggy Post and Martha Stewart sites, and to date have not yet found anything etiquette-related, except a reminder to guests not to wear white or ivory to a wedding.
 
So my feeling is that it boils down to your personal style and what you feel comfortable with.
 

Continue reading “{ Attire tips } Can I mix ivory and white at my wedding?”