LWPI again welcomes Sally Lorensen Conant to the blog! Sally is also known as the Gown Care Lady, and she has a wealth of invaluable knowledge for brides and certified wedding and event planners. Be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too.

Plastic bags are the worst possible choice for your gown because plastic emits fumes that can yellow your gown. If you have a bag made from muslin or tyvek, there will be no harmful fumes, but bags are not a particularly good choice for long-term storage. Hanging for long periods of time can distort the shape of your gown even if it is hanging from the ribbon loops attached to inside seams. All fabric, especially lace, will stretch if you hang it, and who needs a big bubble where the bustle should be or a saggy-looking bodice?

Having a professional clean and pack your gown in an acid-free wedding chest is a much better option. A professional will pack your gown so that it maintains it shape perfectly with a minimum of folds and creases, and the wedding chest takes up a lot less room in your closet than a big bouffant gown bag. Wedding chests also protect your gown from sharp objects that can slice into your dress. And they are a much more effective barrier against insects and mice than bags. A bride once came to me in tears because mice got into her bag before the wedding, shredded her train to make a nest, and left her a present of lots of little black stuff!

No museums that I know use bags to store textiles, and that, too, should tell you something: An acid-free wedding chest is a better choice than any bag.

LWPI is delighted to once again welcome Sally Lorensen Conant to the blog! Sally is also known as the Gown Care Lady, and she has a wealth of invaluable knowledge for brides and certified wedding and event planners. Be sure to visit her Website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too.

Six Things that Can Spoil Your Wedding Day

1. Drooping bustle: Whether your bridesmaids simply cannot figure out how to fasten your bustle or your gown is very heavy or someone just plain steps on your train, you will wish you had asked for extra hooks or buttons to keep your gown from dragging on the ground. Plan ahead, and attach several safety pins to the lining near the hem of your gown so they will be there when you need them. Here are some other tips for emergency gown.

2. Flowers that hide your gown: If you are going to carry a large bouquet, practice holding your flowers low. If you hold them too high they will hide your gown when you are walking down the aisle, and you will see more flowers than gown when you look at your video and your photographs.

3. Veils and hairstyles that hide your face: Make sure your veil frames your face — not hides it — after you lift your blusher. And remember not to obscure the right side of your face with your hair. That’s the side next to the groom, the side everyone wants to see when you are at the altar.

4. Relatives taking photographs: Uncle Charlie may be a great guy, but he is not trained to stay out of the way so that others can see you when you exchange your vows. And it is also not fair to relatives who want to be part of the celebration to make them spend the day behind a camera with one eye closed. Let a professional capture all those special moments and share them afterward with your family.

5. Unplanned schedule of events: Avoid leaving hours and hours between the ceremony and the reception if you possibly can or some guests may party so hard they do not make it to the reception. If there must be a long delay, offer guests some options such as a lounge in the reception venue or, for out-of-town guests, a list of nearby things to do. On the other hand, do not forget to allow enough time for photographs. No one really minds if you miss hors d’oeuvres  with your guests, but a dinner that gets overcooked because you are still taking pictures is a disaster. If you are having your ceremony and reception at the same location, you might even consider posing for your formal photographs before the ceremony, and then you will have extra time to spend with your guests.

6. Kids at weddings: If you plan to have a very young ring bearer or flower girl, be sure each gets to bed early the night before the wedding. Designate someone other than mom or dad (if they are in the wedding party), to watch them during the ceremony. For children at the ceremony, whether they are in the wedding party or not, things such as snacks in a Ziplock bag that opens quietly, clear (in case of spills) juice in boxes, and a coloring book with washable markers will hold their interest. At the reception, serving children’s meals promptly and having books and crayons on hand will help keep them at the table.

One more tip: After all your thoughtful planning, try to relax and enjoy each moment. It will all go by much too quickly, and your friends and family are there to share the joy of your special day — not to complain about missteps along the way.

Adapted from The Seven Biggest Wedding Mistakes by Rod Jovanelly at A Touch of Color Photography in Connecticut.

Today’s post comes from Sally Lorensen Conant, who is also known as the Gown Care Lady. Be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too. Having this kind of information available to potential bridal clients is a good idea for certified wedding and event planners. Plus, contacting this type of business expands your vendor contact base. Sally says:

Make getting dressed in your wedding gown, from head to toe, go smoothly on your wedding day. Most bridal shops press and stuff your wedding gown to prevent wrinkling, but here are some tips about what to do once you take your bridal gown home.

1. Take your bridal gown out of the garment bag if the bag is plastic and hang your bridal gown where it will be safe from children or pets. Wrap it in a clean sheet to protect it from light and dust.

2. Make a list of everything you will need the day of the wedding–including things for emergencies. Look here for ways to treat spills on your wedding gown the day of the wedding. If you are dressing in your wedding gown away from home, double-check your list before you leave the house.

3. Several days before the wedding, look over your wedding gown and wedding accessories and make sure everything is ready to wear. Hang your veil near the shower to smooth any wrinkles or let a Specialist help you. Visit here to read about free pressing for your wedding gown from a Specialist.

4. Wear your shoes around the house so you will be comfortable the day of the wedding. You might even rub the soles against a sidewalk or other rough surface to make them less slippery.

5. Arrange for someone (two “someones” are even better) without a fresh manicure or dark polish to help you dress in your wedding gown. Or hire a professional dresser who will take responsibility for your bridal gown all day and make sure you are dressed perfectly in a bridal gown that is not creased or wrinkled and is bustled properly.

6. Make sure you know how to bustle your wedding gown and show whoever is helping you dress how to do it, too. Pin five or six safety pins to the underside of your wedding gown. They will not show, and you will be glad they are handy if your bustle loops break.

7. Allow plenty of time to get dressed in your wedding gown. Allow even more time if it is raining.

8. Worth repeating–allow plenty of time to get dressed in your wedding gown. Allow even more time if it is raining.

9. Most important, remember to relax and enjoy every minute of your special day because your wedding day will go buy all too quickly!

Today’s post comes from Sally Lorensen Conant, who is also known as the Gown Care Lady. Be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too. Having this kind of information available to potential bridal clients is a good idea for certified wedding and event planners. Plus, contacting this type of business expands your vendor contact base.

Photo courtesy of Museum Services Corporation

I get calls every two or three weeks from brides who are worried because their gowns seem to be yellowing. Almost always the problem is the container. When the container is not completely acid-free, the acidic content will yellow your gown. Of course, you should ask the service that cleans and preserves your gown whether they are using an acid-free container before you trust them with your gown. However, you can also see with your own eyes if it is not acid-free because if any parts of the box or the bust form put into your gown to give it shape are brown, it is not acid-free.

Unless your container is one of the grey-colored boxes especially made for fabric conservation by a company such as University Products or Archivart, all parts of the box or bust form should be white. If they are not, it is not an archival-quality box. Some services use containers that are white on the outside and on the inside of the box, but the interior structure between the layers of paper is brown. This interior structure gives the box its strength, and it is made up of little ridges which are called flutes. If the flutes are brown, the box is not completely acid-free. Eventually the acid will migrate through the white paper coating the inside of the box and discolor the gown.

Some services offer pH-neutral containers. Such containers are not good either because they can re-acidify. Trees contain lignin, an acid naturally found in trees. Then manufacturers add still more acid during the paper-making process. When making pH-neutral paper, they add a neutralizer, but the neutralizer is soluble in water. If the container gets wet or is stored in a damp area, the neutralizer dissolves, and the paper re-acidifies.

When manufacturers make acid-free paper, all acid is completely removed, and the paper cannot re-acidify.

Windows, too, can cause problems. If there is a window in the container and it is not made from a neutral plastic such as polypropylene, it will give off gases that also can yellow the gown.

Be sure the service you trust with your gown uses archival-quality materials that are acid-free. Then avoid storing the container where there are extremes of heat such as the attic or humidity such as the basement. Basements are also dangerous because it is a law: if a pipe breaks, the water will find your gown.

There is hope for gowns that yellow, but you will need to find a specialist who can remove it safely because ordinary dry cleaning very rarely removes the discoloration.

Today’s post comes from Sally Lorensen Conant, who is also known as the Gown Care Lady. Be sure to visit her website, the Association of Gown Preservation Specialists, too. Having this kind of information available to potential bridal clients is a good idea for certified wedding and event planners. Plus contacting this type of business expands your vendor contact base.

Photo Courtesy of Coastal Cleaners Inc.

True story. A recent bride called this morning because she found a care label inside her gown with our number in it. She took her $9,000 Ines di Santo wedding gown to her local dry cleaner, and now ”it looks all wrinkled.” Unfortunately I hear the same story all too often, and it is usually because some cleaner who is not familiar with designer gowns has decided to wash the gown in water. Once the gown’s finish has been damaged in that way, the look of the gown can sometimes be improved by a Specialist, but it will never look as beautiful as it once did. Heartbreaking!

Even if the cost of your wedding gown is only a few hundred dollars, why risk its beauty by taking it just anywhere to be cleaned? You wouldn’t take a car you really cared about to the local gas station for repairs, and choosing the right person to care for your gown is important. Begin by looking at the label in your wedding gown. You will find that many designers use our Association’s care labels and recommend brides bring their gowns to one of our Specialists. Then you should ask lots of questions before trusting your gown to anyone. And if you are not happy with the answers to your questions, keep looking until you are. It is worth taking the extra time so that your gown, too, will have a happy ever-after!

Gown preservation is something many brides put off for too long or decide not to do at all. This is a decision many regret down the road when their own daughter or family member shows a desire to wear the gown, or a piece of it. But not every gown-preservation company is equal. It’s a good idea for a bride - or her certified wedding and event planner - to do a bit of research before hand to make sure that such a family heirloom is best cared for. Where do you turn for answers to your questions? The Association of Wedding Gown specialists, which Lovegevity is excited to be partnering with, is here to help.

According to their website:

“You Can Trust Us to Give Very Special Care to Your Very Special Gown. Our Certified Wedding Gown Specialists™ specialize in caring for wedding gowns, both old and new with a written international guarantee honored by all of our members - represented in more than 500 cities around the world. You may arrange to inspect your bridal gown personally before it is carefully layered with acid-free tissue and folded into an acid-free, archival-quality wedding gown chest. Your wedding gown will never yellow and no latent stains will develop into dark brown spots because each of us takes an extra step to ensure that all stains, both seen and unseen, are removed from your bridal gown. And each one of us honors our commitment to the lasting beauty of your bridal gown! Return your MuseumCare™ gown preservation to any participating Certified Wedding Gown Specialist™, who will inspect and press your bridal gown without charge.

And now when you choose one of our Certified Wedding Gown Specialists™ to give your beautiful gown the care it deserves, you also choose to help safeguard the future of our planet as well. We offset all carbon dioxide emissions that result from the process of cleaning and preserving your wedding gown with our donations to Carbonfund.org, the leading nonprofit carbon offset and climate solutions organization, and Carbonfund.org uses our donations to help fund reforestation projects around the world. We are the first in the industry to offer carbon-neutral wedding gown cleaning and wedding gown preservation, and our ZeroCarbonTM gown preservations are unique.”

Be sure to check out the video above, an interview with Sally Lorensen Conant of the association, to hear more about why it’s important to preserve a wedding gown in an appropriate and timely manner. You can visit the association’s website, and for more information check back here in the future for more articles and videos about gown preservation.

There is no question that these days in wedding fashion - anything goes. Brides everywhere are trying to be “different”, whether it’s through their venue choice, musical selections or bridal fashion - especially bridal fashion. We’ve talked before about the growing popularity of colorful wedding gowns, pink and red come to mind, but what about the length of the gown? More and more brides are going short and showing off their legs - and fabulous shoes, of course.

When we say short you may immediately think of the 1980s, when supermodel Stephanie Seymore went short for “November Rain.” Pamela Anderson’s short, tight wedding gown may also come to mind. But what about the 1950s, when short gowns were in fashion and the silhouette of choice for many brides? Back then it was a full, ballgown skirt and a tiny waist, which guaranteed a sweet flare. With the popularity of vintage and retro touches on modern weddings it’s really no surprise that shorter wedding gowns are in vogue again.

It’s not uncommon to see second-time brides sporting shorter gowns because they’re often trying to achieve a less formal look. But this fun, flirty, shorter style is catching on with brides of all ages. The benefits are obvious. Shorter gowns lengthen legs, cinch waists, and keep spring and summer brides cool. They’re easier to dance in, and until the trend really catches on - they’re still a little “different” - which is something many brides crave. Retro fashion is all over the runways right now so it’s not unexpected to see it influencing bridal gowns.

What do you think? As certified wedding and event coordinators, have you seen many short gowns, or are they still unexpected where you live?

DRESS SOURCES: 1) BCBG Floral-Applique Taffeta Dress ($398.00); 2) David’s Bridal Tea-Length Satin Gown with 3D Floral Details ($449); 3) Melissa Sweet “Maddie” at Priscilla of Boston ($3500 to $4000); 4) Vera Wang “Edie” (Contact stores for prices)

* Could it be true? According to a new Slim Fast study, one in three British brides admitted to choosing overweight friends as bridesmaids so that they would look thinner. We don’t know of anyone who has done something like this, but then again who would admit to it? We’d like to call B.S. on this one, but we all know that true Bridezillas walk among us….

Photo courtesy of Anthropologie

* First it was J. Crew. Then Urban Outfitters got in on the fun. And now it’s Anthropologie’s turn. We have to admit that these gowns are sure to be a hit - just like everything else the Anthropologie brand has debuted. The new bridal collection will be available in Spring 2011, and brides will be able to schedule fittings at local Anthropologie stores. The gowns will retail from $750 to $5000, which means there will be something for most bridal budgets. If you have a bridal client with her heart set on a natural, rustic, ethereal wedding this may be the place for her to find that perfect gown.

* Do you Tweet forever? Sounds strange, but every day there are more couples incorporating technology into their wedding ceremonies. One couple recently incorporated Twitter and Facebook into their wedding, and in fact they used an iPad to help officiate. The groom immediately took out his phone to tweet that he “just got married!” It went on Facebook, too. We have a feeling this is only the beginning…

* This next one isn’t exactly a new trend, but it appears to be gaining momentum. More grooms (and bridal couples overall) are taking dancing lessons ahead of their big day. “I think a lot of it’s due to the shows that you see on television that promote couple dancing,” said Traci LeBlanc, a ballroom dance instructor who offers wedding dance lessons through The Dance Center in Traverse City. Dance lessons are a great way for a stressed-out, engaged couple to spend some time together and unwind. Plus, we all know that dancing is great exercise. This is one trend we’re definitely excited to see grow!

* And finally we know that you guys are just as excited as us to read a true love story. This couple got their happy ending - even though at one point they thought it was never going to happen for them. Ryan Price, an Airborne Ranger in the U.S. Army, lost both of his legs in 2008 after driving over an IED in Afghanistan. It’s a miracle that he survived, doctors say. At first their relationship wasn’t meant to be because who wants to start something with a man leaving for another part of the world? But then Leslie Terry heard that Ryan died, and … well just read it for yourself. What a great story!

So, as always: Tell us your favorite wedding stories of the week, or share the links with us! You never know what you’re going to run across in this industry.

Ever so often you’ll find yourself face to face with a bride who wants to push the envelope. We’re not talking cupcakes at the reception or guys in her bridal party - we’re talking fashion. There is a growing number of brides who want to skip the Victorian white gown and instead summon their inner Scarlett O’Hara and opt for a red one. Or blue. Or baby pink. We’ve seen them all, and the right bride can pull it off, but it does take some confidence and finesse.

If you have a fall 2010 bride who is up on the trends and wants to make a splash at her ceremony a colored gown may be the perfect suggestion. A lot of top wedding-gown designers have actually shown dresses recently that have no white in them. Zilch. Nada. Consider the following:

In our opinion a bride should wear whatever she wants. It’s her day, afterall, and we’d venture to guess that a bride who wants to wear red - or purple or black - has friends and family who expect nothing less. And if she decides she wants to wear white? Well, that’s what vow renewals are for, right? And her certified wedding and event planner will be there to guide her along her second time, too.

We recently talked about what to do when professional wedding and event planners come across a super-frugal bride. But let’s face it, it really comes down to one question: When will a bride ever get to wear her wedding gown again? Sure, a wedding gown is money well-spent if you consider it a family heirloom, but it sure would be nice to get the chance to feel like a princess again. Well, here’s your chance! The Bride’s Ball, held in New Bern, N.C., is just the opportunity for you and your groom to strut your stuff (and do it all for a good cause.) Here’s more from LWPI certified wedding planner and instructor Pam Duvall:

Photo courtesy of Bridal Wave TV

The Bride’s Ball is an event to help raise awareness and funds for cervical cancer research through The National Cervical Cancer Coalition. We invite you to wear your wedding dress or tuxedo again and re-live the wonderful memories of your wedding day, whether it was recent or years ago!

Almost every woman wants to wear her wedding dress again. The Bride’s Ball offers the perfect opportunity for women and men to experience a night they’ll always remember, and support a great cause. Brides get the chance to re-live the magic and memories without the stress. Brides To Be get to see glamorous gowns, beautiful decorations and have the experience before their big day. You can invite all your current or past bridesmaids, groomsmen, family and friends! Ladies can wear their wedding gown, or any semi-formal dress, while the men are welcome to wear a tux or suit.

Regardless of your marital status, The Bride’s Ball is giving men and women of all ages and marital status a fabulous reason to feel like a king and queen for an evening. There will be door prizes, auction items, entertainment and on-site portraits! For an additional fee, you and your sweetheart can even renew your vows! Fun for everyone! Our fundraising efforts improve the organization’s ability to educate the public and health professionals, and support women battling pre-cancerous conditions. But most of all, NCCC is a support organization for women and families who are facing the challenges of dealing with cervical cancer and its treatment.

Over the years the organization has developed a hotline, a group of phone pals, a nationally recognized web site, and a national NCCC Conference for cervical cancer patients and survivors. It has also sponsored medical experts to speak on the subject of cervical cancer to professionals and the lay public alike. As a nonprofit organization, we are dependent in large part on the generosity and creativity of our members, neighbors and friends. There are endless opportunities to give back, either by attending or by sponsoring The Bride’s Ball. You can donate money, sponsor a table in your name, or even sponsor a portion of the evening such as the photo booth, the favors, or the invitations.

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So there you have it. A great cause. An excuse to get dressed up (and who doesn’t like to do that?) And a reason to wear the most beautiful (and expensive) piece of clothing you’ve ever bought … again. It’s a great foundation to support, and Lovegevity encourages all its certified wedding and event planners to get out there and support the community. If you’re too far away to take part in this ball why not consider hosting one of your own?