ORANGE, Conn. — The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists (AWGS) has partnered with Columbus, Ohio-based Wish Upon A Wedding, which grants wishes for weddings and vow renewals to couples across the country who are facing illness or life-altering circumstances, it notes.
Members of the AWGS, it reports, will provide gown care and gown preservations to help commemorate the celebrations of love.
“Our members, represented in more than 500 cities around the world, specialize in caring for wedding gowns, both old and new,” says Kermit Engh, AWGS president.
“When we learned about the truly remarkable dream weddings made possible by Wish Upon a Wedding, our members immediately volunteered to offer our services to these couples in crisis,” relates Engh.
He adds that, “Most recently an AWGS member took his alterations team to an awardee who was too weak to leave her home for gown fittings.”
Couples seeking help may apply to Wish Upon A Wedding, AWGS indicates.
Individuals and companies, too, may offer support to this nonprofit which has allowed countless wedding and hospitality professionals the opportunity to provide goods and services to couples enduring great challenges, it points out.
Brides are also encouraged to donate gowns that can be sold to raise money for granting wishes, AWGS adds.
Recommended by wedding gown designers and endorsed by the Association of Bridal Consultants, AWGS notes, it describes itself as a not-for-profit trade association with members offering MuseumCareTM ZeroCarbonTM green gown care in eight countries.
Members, it continues, are certified to ensure that wedding gowns and heirloom textiles of all kinds are cleaned according to established museum standards and preserved in archival-quality materials.
“Brides benefit from the personal, interactive service offered by members in local communities, but the guarantee is truly an international warranty because each member honors the guarantee of every other member no matter where in the world they may be,” AWGS says.
AWGS notes that it partners with major wedding media, too, and sponsors the National Bridal Sale Event held annually the third Saturday in July.
The firm points out it has also taken a leading role in Come Find Your YES!, a national awareness campaign encouraging brides to shop locally.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].