You’re down to the last few weeks before your wedding. The venue is set, the two tier mocha buttercream wedding cake has been ordered – you’ve even got the homemade jam wedding favors wrapped. But still, you have the nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something. It has something to do with that stunning beaded gown you’ll be wearing. Sure you’ve had it sized perfectly – and you have all the accessories to go with it, but what are you going to do with it after the wedding?

For many brides, a wedding dress is not only a big financial investment – but also an emotional one. Not only is it a keepsake of one of the most special days in a bride’s life, it can also be a heirloom to pass on to future generations. That’s why it’s so important to have it properly cared for after the wedding.

You might not realize it,  but your wedding gown goes through a gauntlet of stain-causing obstacles on your wedding day – from buttercream icing to dirt and grass along the hem. (Those shots of you and your sweetie in the open meadow behind the barn are lovely, but they can wreak havoc on your dress!) And if it’s hot, well, sweat stains can also leave their mark. If left untreated these stains can lead to yellowed fabric years down the road as you dress sits in storage.

That’s where the exclusive online Wedding Dress Preservation service with the Wedding Dress Preservation Kit comes. The kit stands today as the original service to help brides nationwide have their dress museum quality cleaned and preserved using methods that he company developed over a century ago.

Many of the methods used to clean and preserve gowns have evolved over the years and the company is one of the first in the United States to employ the renowned SystemK4 cleaning process, once only reserved for museum preservation and now attainable for brides across the nation at an affordable price.

The best part of the service? You’ll never need to leave your home! Simply order the kit from www.weddinggownpreservationkit.com and it arrives at your door in 5-7 days. You can pre-order weeks or months before your wedding day. Pack up your dress into their exclusive preservation kit which includes free shipping insurance and in a few weeks your gorgeous gown comes back looking brand new in its very own preservation chest.

Photo One and Two:  Anita Martin Photography

Sponsored Post.

Jodene and Matt’s Winnipeg at-home wedding was everything that they hoped it would be; cozy, unique and heartfelt. Surrounded by their nearest and dearest, they shared vows that they wrote together in the perfect intimate ceremony. After saying their “I dos”, they trotted off to their favorite restaurant for a dinner that has us drooling with envy.

Here’s what their photographer, Mairen Kops of Lucky Girl Photography had to say about this stylin’ lil’ wedding:

Matt & Jodene have such a great sense of style and it was evident the moment I walked into their home.  Matt an architect with an affinity for modern furniture showed me a Blu Dot catalogue for photo inspiration and I instantly knew that this was going to be such a cool shoot!  Their theme for the day was just a regular Saturday afternoon, doing the things they love to do on the weekends.  We started out at our studio where I had artist Bones Jones do a surprise mural on the the chalkboard that I thought would compliment there style.  Then off we went… First coffee at Parlour, some browsing at Hut K, and then a very fast and chilly walk in their neighbourhood park.  The ceremony at their house surrounded by their closest family and friends was perfection.  Followed  by hugs, laughs and champagne and then off they went to Bistro 7. 1/4 for the night.  What a great day!

Jodene, 36 & Matt, 37

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Wedding Date: January 12, 2013

Number of Guests: 18 (16 adults and 2 children)

Wedding Cost: $8,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: The bride and groom’s home

Wedding Reception Location: We celebrated at home for a bit after the ceremony, then went to have a wonderful dinner at a wonderful restaurant in our neighborhood – Bistro 7 ¼

Allison and Austin tied the knot in what Allison calls a “planned elopement”. After discovering that none of the local venues quite fit their style, Allison started researching other cities that might fit their vision better. On a whim, Allison looked at prices for a Parisian elopement, and when the couple realized the trip could be under budget, they were sold. They said their “I dos” under a cherry tree in front of Notre Dame in an intimate ceremony that has us dying of jealousy.

Their ceremony was followed by a tour of Paris’s best kept secrets, with talented photographer Brant Smith in tow to capture the magical moments of the day.

BTW, if you are inspired by this Paris wedding, check out our post on How to Get Married in Paris.

Allison, 25 & Austin, 23

Paris, France

Wedding Date: April 26, 2013

Number of Guests: 4

Wedding Cost: $8,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Under the cherry blossom trees at Notre Dame

Wedding Reception Location: Dinner was at Pramil Restaurant, 9 Rue du Vertbois, 75003 Paris, France. In between the ceremony and dinner, we took a photo shoot. To get a variety of pictures, I booked a 2CV tour. I told our guide, Cedric, that I wanted to visit the most beautiful places of Paris that are not in the travel guides and he did exactly that. My favorite spot was la Campagne à Paris and Austin’s favorite was the Temple de la Sibylle in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont.

When you have a barn wedding you may have a barn that speaks for itself and doesn’t need any dressing up. Or, you may feel like personalizing it a little with a monogram, bunting or other detailing that makes it more “you.”

One simple addition to a barn is adding your monogram. I like these moss covered letters hung on the barn.

An incredibly simple (and by far the most cost effective monogram!) idea is adding your initials in chalk with a heart like this couple did. It’s so sweet and is great for a rented venue because it can be removed after the wedding very easily.

These couples clearly take the cake with their inventive ideas. I love this couple’s modern and classic addition to their barn venue. Adding curtains and a poster isn’t terribly complicated and adds so much.

Of course adding simple touches can still differentiate your wedding from other barn weddings. Adding a wreath or flowers to the posts of a barn is easy but still makes a statement.

You could also hang vintage windows like this couple did. It’s an interesting alternative to an altar and is something that looks great both from the inside and outside.

Adding bunting or swaths or fabric outside the barn is another fun and striking DIY detail you could add.

Barns are already such a sight to behold, so whether you choose to accent the outside of the barn or not is up to you.  Opting for something that is easily set-up and taken down is ideal if you’re renting the site. Let your own creativity and personality dictate how much or how little you decide to add to your barn decor.

Image One: Elizabeth Anne Designs; Image Two: stylemepretty.com; Image Three: katebentleyphoto.com; Image Four: homeagainblog.com; Image Five: flickr.com; Image Six: abryanphoto.com; Image Seven: ericseibert.wordpress.com; Image Eight: ataliehagerinteriors.com; Image Nine : broadturnfarm.blogspot.com; Image Ten: jodimillerphotographyblog.com; Image Eleven: picasaweb.google.com

Susan and Steven’s gorgeous California wedding was, as their guitarist eloquently put it, “a lovefest”. Every detail of their special day celebrated the love and intimacy involved in forming lifelong relationships.

“We wanted it to be less of a production and the focus to be only on the declaration of love and commitment between Steve and I, our children and our wonderful, supporting friends and family,” explains Susan.

By limiting their guest list and incorporating their sons into their wedding, Susan and Steven achieved their goal of a wedding that truly focused on love and commitment.

Their beautiful celebration was photographed by the talented Kaysha Weiner Photographer.

Susan, 47 & Steven, 44 

Laguna Beach, California

Wedding Date: October 28, 2012

Number of Guests: 53

Wedding Cost: $25,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: The lawn at Strawberry Farms in Irvine, California

Wedding Reception Location: The restaurant veranda at Strawberry Farms, Irvine, California