Janet’s Wedding Gown Preservation in North Carolina
Janet’s beautiful wedding dress was actually handmade by her great-grandmother. It’s been worn by the women in her family over the past 56 years–how incredible is that?! Read more about Janet’s wedding and unique gown below!
When was your wedding and where did it take place?
Edward and I got married on October 11, 2013. We had the ceremony at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons, North Carolina then had the reception at Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
How long did it take you to plan your wedding?
We were engaged for 13 months, so used that whole time to plan our wedding! We both live in Arlington, Virginia so had to take several trips to North Carolina to book vendors and finalize the details.
Tell us more about your amazing wedding dress!
My wedding gown was made by my great-grandmother, by hand. She made it for my grandmother, who wore it for her wedding in 1958. It was worn again by my mother in 1983 when she married my father. So to me, this gown is timeless and an absolute treasure in my family. I am so grateful to have had such a talented great-grandmother!
When did you know that this heirloom wedding dress was “the one”?
I actually did consider a few other dresses, but when it came time to make a decision, I knew there was no other gown that would have the rich history that this one had. I’m so happy I decided to wear it–I couldn’t imagine my wedding day without it.
What is your absolute favorite memory from your wedding day?
My favorite memory from my wedding day was sharing the day with all of our closest family and friends. We kept our wedding fairly intimate so that we could really spend time with those closest to us. It is a very rare occasion that we can all be together, and Edward and I were so pleased that the families got along so well.
Why did you want to get your wedding gown cleaned and preserved?
I wanted to preserve my gown because if I have a daughter one day, I would absolutely love to keep the tradition going and have her also wear this dress. It’s an incredible family tradition and one that I hope lasts forever!
Why did you decide to get your wedding gown cleaned by a member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists?
Shores Fine Dry Cleaning in Winston-Salem, NC has an excellent reputation in the area. Their experience with fine clothing, including wedding dresses and other formal dresses, gave me confidence that they would do a great job. Shores also cleaned my dress prior to my wedding as it had yellow spots, including a large darkened area from age, and they did an excellent job with it. My dress was whiter than when my mom wore it 30 years before!
Photographer credit: Renee Saunders, Millie Holloman Photography