3 Important Tips Every Bride Should Know Before Having Your Gown Cleaned & Preserved
1. The cleaning process
Most gowns go through quite a beating on the wedding day. From sand and water to grass and dirt, gowns can acquire numerous types of soil from the ground-up. Did you know there are stains invisible to the eye? Sugar stains are the most common and don’t pose a problem until months and/or years later if not cleaned properly. Wine, champagne, beer, tea and soda are the most common threats. Sugar can also come in the form of self tanner, makeup, deodorant, perfume, and hairspray. An educated and seasoned preservationist will know the difference between the different types of stains and the appropriate steps to remove them, including the stains we cannot see. Keep in mind that preservation companies will clean the gown for you as part of the process and generally offer vast knowledge specific to wedding gown cleaning.
***Does your gown/veil have glitter on 1 or more layers? Is anything glued? Be very careful to hand over your gown to just any company. Make sure they know how to properly clean these special textiles! Our company has over 2 decades of experience working with ALL types of gowns!
Close-up of intricate lace fabric on a cream-colored garment.
2. Not all preservation methods work.
This is where most brides go wrong. But it’s really not your fault. Unless you’ve spent time in a museum and were properly educated about the science behind storing textiles, then you’re just a normal bride looking for the easiest and most cost-effective way to get this done. Let’s settle the confusion. There are 2 types of preservation. Sealed and unsealed. Sealed versions have a viewing window and are made of cardboard. These preservation boxes are designed to remain sealed, and many manufacturers advise against opening them because it may affect their warranty or guarantee. The challenge is that if you're discouraged from opening the box, it becomes difficult to inspect your gown over the years. Since only a small portion of the gown is visible through the viewing window, it could be years before you notice if something has changed.
However, the second method is unsealed (OUR METHOD). These boxes utilize stable polypropylene boxes with no viewing window. The gown is layered with archival tissue and wrapped in muslin. These act as filters to protect the gown from light, humidity, bugs, and dust. The tissue will also absorb any acid near or on the gown, helping prevent it from turning yellow. This preservation method is widely used in museums around the world. If you ever need access to your gown, you'll always have it. According to conservationists, it also provides a much safer environment because you can inspect your gown whenever necessary while still maintaining its long-term protection. If the day comes that you decide to wear it again, you can! Our method offers so many benefits to you and your gown!
3.Storing your gown
Once your gown is cleaned and preserved it’s up to you to store it safely. Stay away from a garage, storage unit, attic or basement. Temperature and humidity changes can wreak havoc on your precious heirloom. We recommend storing it flat in a cool, dry closet, under a bed, or in a guest bedroom. One of the benefits of our museum-quality preservation method is that your gown is never permanently sealed inside the preservation box. You'll always have access to it if you ever need to share it with family, have it photographed, or wear it again in the future. However, we recommend keeping the preservation box closed during storage and only opening it when necessary. This helps minimize unnecessary exposure to dust, moisture, oils from handling, and other environmental contaminants.
If you ever decide to wear your gown or veil again, no problem! Simply have it professionally cleaned after wearing it, and it can be returned to its original preservation packaging for continued long term protection.
