Wondering How It All Works?
Let’s Unravel It Together
Getting Started
How do I begin the process of transforming a wedding dress?
Just reach out through our Work With Us page to get started! We’ll schedule a consultation (in-person or virtual) to look over your dress, talk through your ideas, and explore which keepsakes or heirloom pieces are the best fit. From there, we’ll guide you step by step — you don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out.
Can I work with you if I'm not in Missouri?
Yes! We work with clients all across the country. After your initial consultation, you can ship your dress to our studio, and we’ll handle the rest with virtual consultations, photo updates, and lots of communication along the way. We’ll also walk you through how to pack and ship your gown safely.
Do you only work on mother's wedding dresses or can I use mine?
You can absolutely use your own wedding dress. While many of our clients choose to repurpose a parent or grandparent’s gown, we also create keepsakes and heirloom pieces from your own dress, especially with alteration scraps or after the wedding.
What kinds of dresses work best for this?
Most traditional wedding dresses can be transformed, whether they’re lace-heavy, beaded, satin, tulle, or somewhere in between. We’ll work around any delicate or worn areas and focus on the most beautiful and meaningful parts of your gown. If you're unsure, send us a photo and we’ll talk it through.
How many keepsakes can I get out of my dress?
That depends on the dress and what you'd like to create! Typically, we can get one or two larger items, like a robe or rehearsal dinner dress, then quite a few smaller items to use up every last inch of fabric if you desire! We'll help you figure out the best use of your dress based on your vision and what it offers.
What do you do with the leftover fabric?
Any usable leftover fabric, appliques, beads, and buttons are returned to you in an unbleached muslin bag to help preserve the remaining fabric for future use. Many clients come back later to create Christmas ornaments, christening gowns, or First Communion gowns using the remaining material.
Does the dress need to be cleaned before I bring it or send it to you?
For the best results, we recommend sending a clean gown. If your dress was stored in a preservation box and still looks clean and fresh, you’re good to go — no need to have it cleaned again.
If the dress was never cleaned or preserved, has significant staining, spotting, or needs freshening up, we can hand-treat or eco-clean it for a $100 fabric care fee.
Please don’t attempt home cleaning methods as they can damage delicate materials and make stains harder to remove. If you’re unsure, feel free to send us a photo and we’ll walk you through your options.
Light aging or yellowing is totally fine and very common with older gowns, even those that were traditionally preserved in a cardboard box. We’ll always work around any areas that aren’t ideal and focus on the most beautiful parts of the fabric.
What if my dress has stains, discoloration, or damage?
It’s more common than you think, and it’s totally okay! We’ve worked with dresses that had yellowing from decades of storage, mystery stains from oxidized preservation boxes, and even some with noticeable reception-night celebration evidence (we love a well-loved gown!).
Discoloration, yellowed sequins, or small tears don’t mean your dress is unusable. We design around damaged or stained areas as best we can and focus on showcasing the most beautiful, meaningful parts of the gown. In some cases, we may recommend a gentle hand treatment or eco-cleaning for a $100 fabric care fee.
But we also believe imperfections are part of your gown’s story, and sometimes, embracing a bit of that history makes the final piece even more special.
If you're not sure, feel free to send us photos and we’ll talk through the options together.
The Design & Customization Process
What happens during the design consult?
The consult is where the magic starts. Whether we’re meeting in person or virtually, we’ll walk through your dress together, talk about your vision, and identify the details you’d love to highlight — like lace, buttons, or special appliqués. We’ll sketch ideas, talk about sizing and use, and help you feel confident about what’s possible before we get started.
Can I help design the piece or request specific details to be used?
Absolutely! We want this to feel personal and meaningful to you. We encourage you to request certain features like using lace from the sleeve, bows from the back, or specific appliqué placements. We’ll offer guidance along the way so your ideas and the materials work beautifully together.
Can you combine more than one dress in a sinle piece?
Yes, we can combine multiple gowns into a single piece. This is especially popular for blending elements from your dress and a mother or grandmother’s gown into one robe, christening set, or bouquet wrap. We’ll make sure the fabrics work well together and come up with a design that honors both stories.
Can items be made to fit multiple siblings?
Yes! Many of our heirlooms are designed with flexibility in mind. For example, our kimono-style robes and 6–9 month christening gowns are intentionally created to fit across a range of sizes. We can also adjust sizing based on your preferences or future plans. Just let us know what you’re hoping for and we’ll guide you through the options.
What if there isn't enough usable fabric for what I want?
We’ll be honest and creative with you. If your dress doesn’t have quite enough usable fabric for your dream piece, we’ll offer alternatives such as adjusting the design or combining it with a coordinating fabric. We can also suggest keepsake ideas that make the most of what’s available.
Can I place a second order later if I have leftover fabric?
Yes, and many of our clients do! We return any usable leftover dress material to you in an unbleached muslin bag to help preserve it for future use. You can always reach out down the road to create additional keepsakes, like Christening Outfits, First Communion gowns, or gifts for family.
Shipping & Studio Visits
Is it possible to drop my dress off in person?
Yes! This is our most preferred option. If you're local to the St. Louis area, you’re welcome to bring your dress to our studio in Eureka, Missouri. We’ll schedule a time that works for you and handle everything from there.
How do I safely ship my dress to you?
We recommend using a tracked and insured service like UPS or FedEx. Fold your dress neatly and place it in a sturdy box, avoiding vacuum-sealing or compression bags. We’ll send you a simple step-by-step shipping guide once you’re booked, and we’ll confirm the moment your dress arrives safely.
What happens once you recieve my dress?
Once your dress arrives, we’ll send you a confirmation and schedule your design consult (if it hasn’t happened yet). From there, we store your dress safely and begin building your custom piece based on our conversation. We’ll also keep you updated along the way with progress photos or milestone check-ins.
Do you offer virtual consultations?
Absolutely. We work with clients all over the U.S. and offer virtual consults via phone or video. You'll get the same personalized guidance and design process as our in-person clients, just from the comfort of your own home.
What if I change my mind after I've sent or dropped off the dress?
We understand this is a big decision. If you change your mind before production begins, we’re happy to return your dress, you’ll just cover the return shipping. If work has already started, you are responsible for the cost of any labor completed up to that point. We’ll walk through what stage we’re in and what fees apply.
How do you handle return shipping for finished items and leftover fabric?
Once your heirloom pieces are complete, we’ll carefully package and ship them back to you along with any leftover fabric unless you ask us to hold onto it. Return shipping is paid by the customer, but we always insure your package for peace of mind and provide tracking so you can follow its journey home.
Timing & Gifting
How far in advance should I reach out for a custom piece?
The sooner the better! We recommend reaching out at least 8 to 12 weeks before you need your finished piece. Some simpler items may take less time, but others (like robes, gowns, or multi-item orders) may need more, depending on our schedule. If you have a specific event or date in mind, just let us know and we’ll help you plan accordingly.
Can you accomodate a short timeline?
Sometimes, yes. We take rush requests on a case-by-case basis depending on the item and our current production calendar. If you're working with a tight deadline, reach out right away and we’ll let you know what's possible. We always do our best to say yes if we can.
Can I order something as a surprise for someone else?
Some pieces make wonderful surprise gifts, like robes, bouquet wraps, garters, or loungewear, because they don’t require fittings. More fitted pieces like reception/rehearsal gowns require in-person fittings to accomplish the right fit. If you’re not sure whether your idea can be a surprise, just ask! We’re happy to guide you toward the best options.
Do you offer gift packaging or wrapping?
Every item is thoughtfully packaged to feel special and gift-ready. Smaller keepsakes are placed in either an organza bag or a clear giftable box, depending on the item. Gowns and robes come with a wooden hanger and a breathable zippered garment bag, perfect for storage or gifting.
