The heirloom restyle creations take into account the history and heart of each piece. I enjoy hearing the stories and sentiment behind each item, and I’m honored to be trusted with such special pieces. As a sentimental person myself, I feel privileged to be a part of restoring and recreating an heirloom piece that will continue to be cherished for generations.
Heirloom Restyles
Creating custom wedding veils from vintage heirloom items is such a special way to honor a loved one. Heirloom restyling can be as simple as refreshing and repairing an existing heirloom veil, or using materials from a vintage gown to create a modern wedding veil. Not into veils? We can also work together to create hair pins or clips utilizing the vintage materials. This is also a great time to consider creating custom accessories for other members of your family, so that you can all have a special token with a cohesive style. No matter the item, it all starts with a complimentary consultation.
Overview
Meeting in person is the best way to review your vintage items, discuss what aspects are most important to you, and come up with a plan for the final vision. We will also talk about the realities and limitations of working with delicate pieces. At this visit you should bring along any items you would like to add to the custom project (lace, personal embellishments, etc.) and, if possible, your own gown/attire so that we can get a feel for the whole look. We will talk about options, designs, logistics, and timeline.
This is a collaborative process where we work together to design the perfect custom veil or headpiece. From here we move forward with mockups, check-ins, and delivering the final product.
Consultation
Through the fabrication process it’s important to me that you get to see where we are at and have an opportunity to request changes. These can either be in person by appointment, or via text/email, whatever works best for you and your schedule. Typically just one check-up appointment is sufficient, but we can certainly schedule more if needed for you to feel 100% with the plan.
Check-ins and mock-ups
Final Product
At this final pick-up appointment, we will try on your item(s), review storage and transportation, and answer any final questions you may have.
Timeline
How long should you plan for this whole process? In general, I prefer 3-4 months for elaborate projects (significant lace work), and 2-3 months for more simple projects (minimal changes to embellishments, minor lace work). Depending on my overall workload I may be able to take on short timeframe projects. Timeline will be discussed in the initial consultation. I only take on projects that I am confident can be completed in a reasonable time frame, and delivered no less than 2-3 weeks prior to your wedding date. During the fabrication process we can adjust the timeline if needed for either of us, as long as we discuss it as soon as able.
The price point for heirloom restyling depends on many factors. A more simple project like refreshing a vintage veil could range from $150-$500, and a more elaborate restyling (lots of lace work) generally ranges from $500-$1200. I price every project based on the cost of labor and any additional materials needed. We will discuss an estimate for your specific project during the consultation, a range will be given, and I will track my time spent on the project to calculate the final cost. Number of appointments/check-ins do not affect cost. A deposit of 50% may be required depending on the scope of the project, with the balance due at pick up.
Costs
"Bethany is a magician! I showed up to her about 9 months before my wedding with my grandmother’s 1950s wedding dress in a trash bag. She took a very yellow, discolored and so so fragile dress and washed the fabric until it was IVORY. It was incredible and I honestly didn’t think it was salvageable. She used the lace from the dress to create an heirloom veil that will be special to me and my family for generations. My grandmother passed before we were married and it was all that more special to have her wrapped around me on my wedding day. Don’t hesitate to take your project to Bethany!"
"I feel so lucky to live in a city that has it's very own vintage veil expert! After finding an antique cathedral length lace veil on Etsy, I needed help to make it realistically wearable. Bethany at August Veils brought my vision to life. She reshaped the internal structure to sit properly on my head and frame my face. She also installed sturdy clips. Despite the weight of such a long & dramatic veil, it was comfortable & didn't budge at all. Most importantly, Bethany was extremely professional and thorough. She patiently taught me how to put on the veil and store it correctly. Her skill and guidance made what was initially an intimidating accessory into a totally wearable and show stopping part of my wedding outfit."
