Timing:
Ideally, within the first three months after the wedding you should have your wedding gown professional cleaned and preserved.  Pick a reputable company that specializes in cleaning and storing gowns. Even if the dress looks clean, there are can still be stains that will not show up right away.  Some of these stains can become permanent if not removed in a timely manner.  The wedding gown cleaning and wedding gown preservation process takes approximately four to six weeks if done professionally depending on the time of the year.

Process:
The cleaning process often begins with the hem because it is usually the most soiled. Most professionals gently scrub the hem by hand and spot treat any stains. The biggest stain culprits are grass, mud, perspiration and body oils, make-up, and sugar (from wedding cake or wine).

After the dress is cleaned and treated for preservation (which prevents yellowing and protects the fabric against deterioration) gowns are either steamed or hand pressed. It will then be fitted onto a bust form and properly folded in an acid-free tissue or museum quality muslin.  The dress is then placed in an acid-free preservation chest with a display window. If you have included any accessories, such as veils, gloves, garters, hats they are usually cleaned and preserved as well. Once the wedding gown cleaning and wedding gown preservation process is complete, the gown is returned to the customer.

Storage:
Proper care and storage of your wedding dress will keep it looking great and as wonderful as it was on your wedding day.  Once you receive your wedding dress back from the cleaning and preservation process store your gown in a cool dry area with a relatively consistent temperature. Never store your gown in an attic or basement! Ideally it should be stored flat to prevent shifting inside the preservation chest, such as under a bed or at the top of a closet.

Cost:
Wedding gown preservation doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Wedding Gown Preservation Company is one of the most reputable companies in the business and offers two packages through its select authorized dealers. The Affordable Preservation Company is their top online dealer with great prices and exceptional customer reviews. They offer the Traditional line ($149) and the Celebrity Line ($189). A growing trend for these services is to order a preservation package online.  These packages include a box to ship your gown into the cleaning facility along with pre-paid shipping labels, as well as insurance.

Proper gown cleaning, preservation and wedding gown storage will result in a gown that can be treasured for a lifetime or passed to daughter, relative or friend in the future without any concern about the condition of the wedding dress.

What is the difference between ‘wedding dress storage’, ‘wedding gown cleaning’ and ‘wedding gown preservation’?

Wedding dress storage may or may not include wedding gown cleaning. Storage primarily involves the wrapping/packaging of the wedding gown in fabric safe materials, such as acid-free/acid-neutral tissue or unbleached muslin, as well as an acid free box. Proper storage should allow fabric to ‘breathe’ (not be vacuum sealed), as well as keep out dust, dirt, insects, and moisture. A dress should be stored in a room where the temperature and humidity levels are constant and not in an attic or basement where there are extreme changes in temperature and/or humidity. The storage box should also lay flat if possible.

Wedding gown cleaning may be either a wet or dry cleaning process depending on the fabric and other materials used on the gown. Basic wedding gown cleaning cleaning (wet or dry) usually provides a basic cleaning of obvious dirt and stains that are visible to the naked eye. However, basic wet or dry cleaning typically does not protect the gown from yellowing over time, fabric deterioration, or protection against invisible stains that can surface over time and damage the fabric.

Wedding gown preservation involves a thorough cleaning of both visible and invisible stains, applying a specialized treatment to the fabric to prevent yellowing and protect the fabric from deterioration, making any necessary repairs to prevent future damage or unraveling, as well as optimal packaging for storage as described above.

How much does Wedding Gown Preservation cost?
Top quality preservation by a highly reputable company does not have to be expensive. Although some companies will charge upwards of $800 for museum quality preservation, you can get the same high quality for a lot less if you do your homework. The Affordable Preservation Company offers a choice of 2 top quality packages starting at $149. Most dry cleaners will charge as much, if not more, for just basic cleaning alone and are typically not specialists in working with wedding gowns.