THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO
I N T R O D U C T I O N
33 years ago Ruth began sewing for clients, but her passion for sewing started from a much earlier age. Ruth’s curiosity to design came from the hours spent watching her father create building blueprints and engineering buildings. This inspired Ruth to be a ‘bridal architect’- building patterns, layering fabrics, customizing dress additions, in what came to be a degree from the ‘school of life’ in all things bridal. After becoming a newlywed, Ruth decided to leave her day job and pursue her passion of sewing and designing for brides. Armed with one sewing machine, a spare bedroom, and a “can do” attitude, Ruth took on any project that could help build her career and talents.
P A S S I O N W I T H P U R P O S E
By the end of 1985, Ruth knew that bridal alterations were no longer just a passion but something she wanted to pursue as a full-time career. With finely tuned skills in troubleshooting, problem solving, and patience beyond measure, Ruth was given her first opportunity as an in-house seamstress at The Rose of Sharon, a small bridal boutique in Plano, Texas. That bridal salon closed a few years later, but not before she had established herself as one of the top bridal seamstresses in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. With the support of her equally talented husband, Rodney, she has been able to grow her business over 33 years into the premiere establishment it is today. After selling his automotive business, Rodney was able to step in and run the day to day operations, which enabled the build and expansion of the current location…
T H E B U S I N E S S G R O W S
As the only daughter of Ruth’s three children, Rylee grew up with a keen knowledge of sewing and alterations. From spending playtime dressing up in her mother’s wedding gown to designing her own prom dress, Rylee always had a passion for gowns and designing. Upon graduating from Texas Tech University in 2013 with a degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Rylee spent a while climbing the corporate ladder before realizing that something was missing. Her true desire was to build a brand and a business she could be passionate about. The little girl who once played at the foot of Ruth’s sewing machine is now a co-owner in the business, with an energy, discipline and drive that is easily recognized the moment you meet her. It’s this dedication and passion for the business that has enabled Altered for the Altar to grow from one employee to twelve…and it’s still growing. Including our newest addition Rylee’s daughter, Rae Lynn Halfmann, born August 8, 2018!
T H E N E X T C H A P T E R
After spending over 31 years as the in-house bridal alterations shop for a number of DFW’s top bridal boutiques, Altered for the Altar opened its first brick-and-mortar location in the Dallas Design District in July of 2017. This 5,000 square foot boutique was a long-time dream come true for Ruth and Rylee. Running a business together as a mother-daughter duo has had its ups and downs, but with Ruth’s dry sense of humor and traditional take on bridal trends, and Rylee’s vibrant personality and an adventurous interpretation of bridal fashion, brides from all over the world have felt right at home at Altered for the Altar. Their unique mix of traditional and adventurous, encompassing the full spectrum of bridal trends, allows Ruth and Rylee to more creatively interact with clients to make bridal dreams a reality. Make an appointment with them and from the moment you step through their doors you’ll be ready to be #AlteredForTheAltar.
