A semi-custom wedding gown designer and manufacturer in Cincinnati, Ohio. O N A M I S S I O N T O E M P O W E R B R I D E S T O C O N F I D E N T LY REALISE THEIR UNIQUE STYLE.
Founded in 2016 by Teresa Eklund. Cincinnati born & raised. UC DAAP Graduate 11176 Main Street. Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 www.reneegrace.com 513.659.8824 info@reneegrace.com @reneegracebridal
Our Unique Approach Semi- Custom [ S E M - E E KU H S -T U H M ] A DJ ECT I V E
To take an existing style and alter it to your individual style and fit.
Fit customizations might mean combining a dress top with a diferent sized skirt, or if the bride needed a custom cup in a dress. Design customizations might mean adding straps to a strapless gown, adding sleeves or combining the skirt from one dress with the bodice of another.
The Story
Renée Grace Bridal was born out of a desire to both create and empower. The brand’s story is intertwined with the life of its creator. After thirty plus years of custom bridal, making friend’s, relative’s, and her own wedding gown, Teresa Eklund decided in 2016 to simply go for her dreams and start Renée Grace. The idea behind the brand was to create high quality gowns, fit to empower women on their wedding day.
“My dream of being a fashion designer started when I was just 7 years old. A little over 40 years later I am truly living the dream. I get to come to work every day and play with beautiful fabrics and work with a very talented team of people. Dreams really do come true!”
Teresa Eklund is the owner and designer behind Renee Grace Bridal and began making her expertly crafted garments in Cincinnati in 2016. She has been working in the industry for more than three decades. Starting out making her first custom gowns while still at UC as a fashion design student, Teresa has been enamored with bridal ever since.
She often did custom wedding gowns when customers couldn’t find what they were looking for at the shop, and once word got out, Teresa started making dresses in Cincinnati. The year Steve and Teresa got married, she did fifteen other weddings as well. Hand-crafting anything from just the wedding gown, to the entire wedding party. Since then, Teresa has continued to design gowns, taking her business full time, first selling to other bridal shops, and now opening her own store.
The Atelier Teresa has a team of experts: seamstresses, cutters, and pattern makers with years of experience in their craft. Renée Grace Bridal employs 10+ and operates in a 5,000 sq ft renovated home in Cincinnati, Ohio.
DESIGNED & MADE WITH LOVE IN THE USA
For Teresa, weddings are about celebrating love and the couple getting to craft a life together. This idea inspires the handcrafting and love put into the dresses made at Renée Grace. From first sketch to final stitch, every piece of the process is made with the finest of detail by Teresa’s team in the USA.
RenĂŠe Grace Bridal has over 70 styles for individuals to choose from. Brides can arrange to have their appointment in the atelier where they can discuss with our designers, their style and vision for the dress.
Or they can arrange in-home appointments where consultants are available online and dresses are shipped to try on. After the bride finds the dress, the team meets with the bride for virtual fittings through video calls.
The Process
After scheduling an appointment, the bride meets with our expert designers, who provide a curated selection of gowns to match the bride’s vision and style.
The bride then works with our designers to customize the gown chosen to create the dress she’s envisioned. This includes lace choices, straps, fit, or any other desired change or addition.
Our team takes upwards of thrity measurements of the bride, and starts to work on the internal structure of the dress, hand crafted to support the bride in comfort.
The bride then is fitted for the internal structure and external elements. This ensures each detail enhances the overall design and fit of the dress.
The last fiiting is when family and friends to come, we pop the champagne, and the bride gets to step into the dress she always dreamed of. Perfectly reflecting her unique personality and fitting her like a queen.
Fighting Human Trafficking
With empowerment at the forefront of the brand’s mission, Teresa wanted to find a way to empower women all over the world, along with her brides. The brand is committed to doing so is by ethically manufacturing their gowns in Cincinnati and sourcing high quality materials. They are also commited to supporting organizations that are fighting human trafficking.
Teresa spent 7 years helping to work with local and international organizations by helping to create jobs for at risk and rescued women. Through this work, she became passionate about empowering women and fighting human trafficking, a passion she carries with her in everything she does.
WITH THE MISSION OF EMPOWERING WOMEN I N M I N D, R E N É E G R AC E HAS COMMITTED TO D O N AT I N G A PO RT I O N O F E ACH DRESS BOUGHT TO A N O R GA N I Z AT I O N T H AT IS WORKING TO FIGHT H U M A N T R A F F I C K I N G. T H E BRAND PL ANS TO DO SO BY SUPPORTING BOTH A21 AND DRESSEMBER, T WO E STA B L ISH E D O R GA N I Z AT I O NS W I T H SIMILAR MISSIONS.