The Down-low on Wedding Gown Preservation

Thinking of having your wedding gown preserved? This is an important step if you want to keep your dress for a long time. There are certain costs you should expect, as well as measures all good preservationists make, and guidelines as to what you can and cannot do with your dress after its preservation. If possible, try to do this as soon as possible to help keep your dress perfectly in-tact for years to come.

Costs and Shipping

You can expect the total cost for dress preservation to range from $200.00 to $900.00. Most reputable companies will include shipping in the overall cost of preservation. Some companies will only preserve a dress and veil, while other will also let you include purses or shoes. Check with them, first. You do not need to buy extra insurance on your dress while having it shipped if you are working with a great preservation company: they include it. Many companies will also include a warranty on their work for a limited time period. Ask the company you want to work with about their offer of a warranty.

What a Preservationist Will Do

Preservationists will carefully clean, then repack your dress and send it to you in a box. Do not trust a company if they want to send it in a garment bag. Usually, they will pack it in an unsealed costume box with tissue paper or a liner, or an archival storage box. This assures that the fabric can breathe, will not be damaged from moisture, mold, mildew, or re-acidification of the boxy. They may also include instructions with the box of how to further upkeep their work. Then, they will ship it back to you, free of charge.

After You Get Your Dress Back

After you get your dress back, feel free to carefully remove it from the box. As a precaution against skin oils, you may want to wear cotton gloves (sometimes included in preservation costs) or carefully wash and dry your hands beforehand. You can inspect it regularly. Just clear an area in which to inspect it, and then carefully repack it in the box in the same way it was shipped to you. Store it flat in a closet in the living area of your home that is regularly cleaned where the temperature is regulated throughout the year. It should stay beautiful for years. 

Facts on Preservation and Cleaning for Wedding Gowns

Preserving your wedding gown is important to keep it just as beautiful as it was the day you walked down the aisle. There are many options for both cleaning and preservation. Here, we will take a look at all of them, as well as what methods are recommended if you want to keep your wedding gown in great condition for years to come. Do not trust what everyone says, as well as what all cleaners may tell you. Our final verdicts might just surprise you!

What Experts Say

Experts in the gown preservation business can help you to preserve your gown properly. Experts who preserve historical gowns (such as those in museums) are able to keep gorgeous and old gowns looking brand new by using preservation methods that some wedding gown preservation companies may offer. By far, most preservationist experts and archivists say that these types of methods are the best because they allow a garment to breathe, be kept free of insects, stains, mold, mildew, and more, and will not cause your garment to yellow, shrink, or get destroyed over time.

What Cleaning and Preservation Methods are Available?

You may send your dress off for cleaning and preservation, or have it done at your local dry cleaners. No matter who you are considering, ask what methods they may use. Some use dry cleaning (which might damage some very fragile beading, appliques, or materials), or wet cleaning (which is the use of very gentle soap and water). If dry cleaning, ask that they use a virgin cleaning solution. After cleaning, most reputable companies will either preserve your dress using the museum method or by boxing it up in an archival box. They may or may not seal this box.

Final Verdict

But which person do you turn to for the best cleaning and preservation? Here are some tips: Do not let the cleaner put your dress in a dry cleaning bag or a plain cardboard box, as this can cause the dress to deteriorate or stain. Do not let them hang it on a regular hanger, or use chemicals that are particularly abrasive on very fragile fabric. Be sure to ask lots of questions before handing your dress over to anyone. Lastly, it is recommended that you research more about whether or not to have your box sealed before you make that decision. 

To Seal or Not to Seal: The Wedding Dress Preservation Question

After your wedding, you want to have your gown preserved for years of enjoyment. There is a debate amongst brides, preservationists, and others about whether or not to seal the preservation box that your dress is placed in. Here, we will look at the argument for sealing the box up, air-tight. We will also look at what great preservationists should do for your dress, as well as questions you should ask your preservationists.

What a Preservationist Does

Most preservationists will tackle caring for your dress with a few steps. They should inspect, clean, and then seal your dress in a preservationist box that is solid or has a clear-plastic window. A preservationist takes great care to thoroughly clean your dress with environmentally safe solvents that are also safe for even the most delicate of fabrics. They try to get rid of even spots that only black lights can see on your dress to prevent future discoloration. Putting your dress in a box packed in tissue paper or on a bust form keeps it from staining or stretching out over the course of time.

Why Seal Your Box?

Sealing your box does make your container air-tight. Those that say that this is a good idea say that is helps to control the entrance of things like spores, mold, mildew, or insects. When you seal a box, you are also protecting your dress from fluctuating moisture levels in your home, any errant chemicals or substances floating in the air, and more. The most typical damage seen to fabulously delicate wedding dresses involves small insects, like silkworms, silverfish, and moths. Placing a seal on your wedding box can keep any and all insects and creatures away from your dress.

Check with Your Preservationist Company of Choice

If you are curious as to what method your preservationist company uses, ask them. Many times, reputable preservationist companies are more than happy to tell you about the process they use on your dress, chemicals involved in the process, and how they will re-package your dress. They can also give you more information about things like where and how to store your dress, what to do if you want to take your dress out of the box (or if you should), their overall cost, as well as if they offer a warranty of guarantee on their work. 

Real Dangers of DIY Wedding Dress Cleaning

When wading through wedding dress cleaning advice online, you may think that all the warnings against DIY cleaning may just be a load of malarkey. However, there is some truth to the fact that DIY wedding dress cleaning may not be the best for your dress. Here, we will take a look at the real risks that DIY cleaning may pose to the longevity of your gorgeous wedding dress, and why all this talk may not just be rumor from the professional cleaning industry.

What’s All the Hubbub?

Your first thought may be that professionals simply post these warning online to deter people from cleaning their dress themselves in order to boost their businesses. While in some cases this may be true, in most they are just being frank about what damage you could possibly do to your dress should you decide to clean it yourself. Professionals have the right equipment to thoroughly clean, preserve, and store your dress, whereas you may not. This is especially true if your dress is vintage, extremely delicate, or if you do not have access to all the equipment needed for this task.

Not Getting Your Dress Clean Enough

One of the risks DIY cleaners may run into it not actually cleaning their dress thoroughly. Failure to do this may result in later staining, yellowing, or browning. This is particularly something that you want to avoid if you want to keep your dress pure white, or if you plan on introducing it into your family as an heirloom dress. The most embarrassing thing could be, years from now, to take out your dress to show it to your anxious daughter, only to find it is stained beyond repair. Even worse is not noticing it till the wedding day. This will not happen if you contact a professional.

Other Damage

Permanent distortion of the materials, shape, and size of the dress is another huge concern. You may find that a dress become misshapen, faded, stained, or worse after improper DIY cleaning. This type of damage, sadly, cannot be undone like staining can. Damage such as this may mean that a dress can never be worn again by anyone. Often, distortion happens because of the fact that people do not have the right equipment or materials needed to properly clean very delicate fabrics. Professionals, however, have these materials on hand. 

Examining Wedding Dress Preservation Kit Warranties

Looking for the best in wedding gown preservation? If so, you may be curious about things like cost difference in preservationist services, which container offers the best long-term protection for your investment, and possible warranties and guarantees that certain companies may or may not offer. Here, we will take a look at warranties that preservationist companies offer you, either as part of your package, or for an additional fee. We will also let you know what you want to look for in these types of promises.

The Process

The process for preserving your dress should be about the same, no matter what company you go with, or whether they offer any promises on their work or not. All good preservationists will inspect, thoroughly clean, and then put your wedding dress in a specialized box. The best companies will either pack your dress with tissue paper or place it on a bust while it is in the box to keep it from becoming misshapen. They may or may not seal the box. Most of them include shipping and handling costs, and will insure your dress while it is in their care.

What is Offered by Companies

In addition to the above process, most companies offer a warranty or guarantee on their work. If the person you are wanting to clean your dress does not back-up their work, you will probably want to consider another company to do the job for you. Ask to read the warranty before you purchase your package. Usually, these warranties will cover a dress for your entire life, or for up to a certain number of years, which varies among companies. You may be able to buy a longer warranty for a little extra money added to the cost of your overall package.

What You Want

What should you look for in these promises? Most should promise against staining, like yellowing, or the appearance of brown stains on your dress after they have done their work. Some companies may also offer a special guarantee against insect infection. Carefully read the entire warranty, including what might make the warranty become invalidated. Sometimes, the rules that you need to follow in order to keep your dress under warranty can seem very extreme and strange. If this is the case for the warranty you are reading, you may want to consider trying another company who offers better terms of warranty. 

Believe it or not, the cost of a gown preservation should not be the first thing you consider when choosing who to send your wedding gown to for preservation. The most important thing to look for is experience, not price. Here is why.

The Right Equipment Matters
Sometimes, dry cleaners have little to no idea about the proper process for preserving a wedding dress. They likely don't have the right equipment. Dealing directly with a preservation company that has the right equipment and years of experience means you can sleep a little easier. 

They're Called Specialists For a Reason
Focus on finding a company that only preserves wedding dresses. They have the experience, skills, equipment, and knowledge that you need to keep your dress looking great for years. Many of these companies have a large staff that painstakingly inspects, cleans, and preserves your gown to the best of their ability. 

What is the best wedding gown storage strategy? Once you have paid the bill for bridal gown cleaning and drying, you would be in need of a wedding dress box. Should the box be taped, sealed or should it be something else entirely?

Preserving the wedding gown is not just a custom but also a desire for almost all and sundry. You wouldn’t want your wedding gown to get damaged. You wouldn’t want to indulge in poor quality wedding gown storage. When you put in your heart and money in selecting the gown and then wearing it on one of the most important days in your life, you should also attend to it properly after you have used it on the big day. You never know when you would want to unpack and open the wedding gown storage box again to show it to your kids or to gift it to your daughter. Thus, you have to make plans for uncertain times or an indefinite time.

The best wedding dress box is a preservation box. You shouldn’t use a taped box or a normally sealed box. It is a special preservation wedding dress box that you must use. Here are four reasons why you should endorse such a wedding gown storage tactic.

• A preservation box would provide lifetime guarantee of the protection of the gown. Such boxes are completely sealed. The wedding gown will not come in contact with air, dust or dirt which would inevitably damage the dress. Wedding dress storage should be in a controlled environment and thus the preservation box is the best solution.
  
  
• A preservation box is not prone to moisture or growth of mold and mildew. The seal is study enough to shield moisture. Humidity is an enemy of the wedding dress. Moisture damages the quality, texture and even the color of the wedding dress. When you use a preservation wedding dress box, you can be sure of having the dress preserved, whether it is the hottest summers or the chilliest winters.
  
  
• Such a wedding dress box also helps in preventing insects and pests from invading the box and building nests in it. Some insects and centipedes also gorge on the fabrics which is completely undesirable. Use such a wedding gown storage box after bridal grown cleaning to protect your investment and to treasure your emotional possession.
  
  

Irrespective of what type of material the wedding gown is made of, fabrics wear out over time. The colors fade and due to exposure to light, dust, dirt, moisture, body oils, stains and insects, the gown can lose all its elegance. Using a preservation box, you would also be protecting the quality of the fabrics and the aesthetic brilliance of your bridal gown.

Before you delve into the various DIY dress preservation methods, you have to decipher if DIY wedding dress cleaning is a viable idea. Wedding dress dry cleaning is different from washing or dry cleaning ordinary clothes. It requires a great deal of patience, expertise and deft hands as well as the right tools to go about DIY wedding dress cleaning. Unless you are up for the challenge, you should entrust the task of wedding dress dry cleaning onto a professional.

If you wish to go ahead with DIY wedding dress cleaning then you must accustom yourself with the requisites. First, you must read the instructions on the label. What type of cleaning agents can you use, what temperature must be maintained and whether you can use a washing machine or have to hand clean the dress. These are some quintessential elements of DIY wedding dress cleaning.

Second, you must understand the quality and type of fabric that has been used. Gowns may be made of silk or blended silk, a combination of different types of silk or some other fabrics like polyester. There may be some beads or sequins. You may have some additional designer elements. Accessories or accentuates might be sewed in or glued onto the gown. All such factors would have to be taken into consideration before you can embark on your DIY wedding dress cleaning adventure.

Third, you must be able to mix the detergent or the cleaning agents properly and apply them to the gown with deft and sensitive hands. Delicate handling is demanded in DIY wedding dress cleaning because the gowns are susceptible to damage even at the slightest errors or mistakes.

Fourth, you should decide whether you are going to steam press or iron the gown before DIY dress preservation. If you are hiring professional wedding dress dry cleaning services then they would use steam cleaning and prepare your gown for DIY dress preservation. If not, then you are on your own.

DIY dress preservation is not a daunting challenge once your dress is cleaned properly. You simply need a preservation box which will come with the seals and every packaging material which will ensure the safekeeping of the gown forever.

Unless you have sufficient experience in handling gowns or in washing, you should not try out DIY wedding dress cleaning. It is always best to hire a professional, even though you may want to save some money.

How do I choose a gown preservation company?

At Team Wedding we get that question a lot. The truth is that there are many local and national gown preservation services, so how do you choose one?

Just ask...

1. Do they specialize in wedding gowns and other types of special occasion attire?
2. How long have they been in business?
3. Does the company employ eco-friendly processes? Do they use harsh chemicals to clean gowns?
4. Can the preservation box be opened to inspect the gown?
5. Do they have a good reputation? Search online for wedding gown preservation reviews.
6. Do they have a customer service line to call and ask questions? Is the staff knowledgeable and easily accessible?
7. What is the cost? (Don't let cost be the deciding factor. Cheapest is not always best. Do your homework)
8. Can other accessories be included? Are there additional costs?
9. Is insurance included and/or available?

So, who does Team Wedding recommend for preservation services?

Team Wedding, owned and operated by Top Wedding Sites, has been an authorized dealer for The Wedding Gown Preservation Company since 2002 and a customer too! We've actually used their service to clean our own family's cherished bridal gowns and christening outfits. Since we're repeat customers, they've obviously done a great job. We trust and recommend them. We also offer the kit at the lowest price anywhere. 
See it elsewhere for less? Contact us.

We understand you love your dress and may have reservations about sending it out to be cleaned. That's why we're partnered with The Wedding Gown Preservation Company, a trusted and respected specialist in gown cleaning and preservation since 1913! They utilize an environmentally friendly, green dry cleaning process using hydro-carbon machines and eco-friendly soy cleaning products. Make sure you're ordering their kit and not one appearing similar. Not all wedding gown cleaners are specialists!

Why Bridal Stores Choose Professional Gown Preservation vs Dry Cleaning
Most dry cleaners treat a dress the same way that they treat other delicate items, by putting them in the same machines as everything else. That also means batching things together which in itself isn't a bad thing, it just takes care. When you consider that your local dry cleaner has 99.5% of their business not being wedding dresses, it just means that your wedding gown doesn't get the focus it deserves. 

Important things like how to handle the delicate fabrics used in wedding gowns or how to deal with specific wedding dress issues that arise during cleaning. With professional gown preservation companies you know they know wedding dress cleaning, so they have a process to manage issues and know how to handle every use case. They know wedding gowns better than anybody else. 

In addition, there are some of the solvents that dry-cleaners use that can melt beads and sequins. If the beads and sequins are glued on these solvents can dissolve the glue which mean they will fall off and create a real mess for you. Even the best dry cleaners may not be aware of this because they don't focus on cleaning wedding dresses day in and day out.

Let's say you find a great local dry cleaner who knows how to handle the above situations. The next thing to do is make sure you ask them to put your wedding dress into an acid-free boxes. Make sure it is acid free (and so is any packing material). Acid can wreck dresses and yellow them over time, you must make sure you check this. 


Gown Preservation Company Only Do Wedding Dresses 
Sending your wedding gown to a company that specializes in gown preservation has many advantages. Between thoroughly trained staff, expertise and machines customized for wedding gowns and easy delivery options in this internet age, it is easier, faster, safer and a better result. 

When all you do is wedding dresses all day, you pay special attention to the hem and bodice areas for extra dirt, perspiration and body oils. You also do spot cleaning with the right chemicals and using the proper methods, and you know how to handle delicate sequins and trim.

Finally, most professional Gown Preservation companies will give you a lengthy guarantee. That piece of mind is something no local dry cleaner can match.