We care for what matters.
Tami Parks, owner
A Legacy of Care, A Vision for the Future
How a 15-year-old girl and a floating wedding gown sparked a business that would serve generations.
Every bride dreams of her wedding gown being perfect—and preserved for years to come. But what happens after the wedding, when the cake is gone and the photos are framed?
That's where we come in.
At Great Lakes Wedding Gown Specialists and Clothing Care, we understand that wedding gowns aren't just dresses—they're heirlooms, woven with love, tradition, and memory. Our story begins not with a grand opening or a marketing plan, but with a girl learning from her mom in a humble family-owned dry cleaning shop.
I was just 15 when I first learned how to clean and preserve wedding gowns from my mother. She was a master of her craft, and I soaked in every detail at the side of the pressing table and spotting board. Even as I went away to college, got married, and started a family, that knowledge stayed with me.
In 2000, everything shifted. My mom’s health declined, and she had to begin stepping back from the business. But with little ones at home, I wasn’t ready to step in full-time. Our family cleaners started outsourcing gowns to a preservation hub in Mississippi. And then came Hurricane Katrina.
In the storm’s aftermath, I kept imagining gowns floating down the Mississippi River—symbols of hope and love swept away. That haunting image sparked something in me. What if I could bring that expertise back home? What if we could once again be the safe, trusted hands brides turned to?
In January 2006, Great Lakes Wedding Gown Specialists, LLC was born. I worked out of my house, borrowed equipment from my parents’ cleaners, and became a certified member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists. Little by little, brides returned—and so did boutiques, trusting us with their clients' most treasured garments.
From 2007 to 2014, I also owned a bridal store, helping nearlyweds find their dream looks and continuing to clean and preserve gowns behind the scenes. But it was the care—not the sales—that pulled me in deeper. By 2014, I sold the store to focus on what I loved most: preserving the garments that hold the most meaning.
Then came the growth.
By 2020, our wedding gown care services had expanded so much that I acquired the former Lemon Fresh Cleaners at 983 Butternut Drive, turning it into West Michigan’s only 100% wet cleaning facility—a safer, gentler, and greener way to clean everything from couture gowns to everyday wear.
In 2024, my dad retired and officially closed Lemon Fresh, passing the torch to me. Great Lakes Clothing Care added a second location and a new chapter began.
Our Promise to You
When you trust us with your gown, your comforter, or your vintage heirloom, you're not just another customer. You're part of a story that started in a small-town family shop—and continues with every stitch, every press, every preserved memory.
We don’t just clean clothes.
We care for what matters.
Closet Care Through the Seasons: A Textile Specialist’s Approach
I rotate my wardrobe four times a year (March, June, September, and late November), and I try to keep it intentional—holding onto what I love, letting go of what no longer fits or suits me, and caring for my clothes so they’re ready when the next season rolls around.
