Tips For Wedding Dress Preservation
Congratulations! We are so happy you are considering Hometown Cleaners for wedding dress preservation. Your wedding day is going to be memorable, and we would like to play a small part in preserving your memories. Do you already have your “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”? We know whatever you choose is going to be perfect. Many brides don’t realize they should include the cleaning and preservation of their bridal gown in the wedding budget, but we are glad to know you are prepared.
Do you have a designer dress, or are you wearing a family heirloom? Here are a few tips for the preservation of your wedding dress.
Difference Between Dry Cleaning And Wedding Dress Preservation
Did you know Hometown Cleaners has been in the garment care industry for more than sixty years? That means we cleaned and preserved hundreds of wedding dresses and know how to work with various bridal fabrics. What is the difference between dry cleaning and wedding dress preservation?
Dry cleaning is one of the methods used to clean the bridal gown before it is preserved. Depending on the type of fabric and ornamentation, Hometown Cleaners might use wet cleaning on the dress. If you are passionate about protecting the environment, you will be happy to know that our state-of-the-art dry cleaning and washing machines use only hypoallergenic, biodegradable, organic solvents and detergents.
Wedding dress preservation is the method where the clean dress and accessories are wrapped in acid and lignin-free tissue paper, and placed in an appropriately-sized archival storage box. The preservation work is generally done while wearing white cotton gloves to prevent the transfer of oils or dirt during packaging. The shoulders and bust of the gown are lightly stuffed with acid-free tissue paper to help them hold their shape. Then the dress is laid on a layer of tissue in the box or container, and each fold is cushioned by tissue to prevent heavy creasing. The steps are repeated with every accessory stored with the dress. Heavier items like shoes are preserved in a separate, smaller box.
When you ask for a wedding dress preservation quote, remember to list the accessories you want to keep with the dress, then the service provider knows what to include in the price.
When Should One Preserve Their Wedding Gown? How Long Is Too Long To Wait?
A wedding gown worth preserving is an investment and should be treated with care. Ideally, the dress should be cleaned the day after you wear it. Why? A wedding is naturally accompanied by stains, whether grass stains at the bottom of the dress from the photo shoot, a hint of makeup, or slight perspiration stains under the arms. The longer the mark sits on the fabric, the more it reacts and might become difficult to remove. Hometown Cleaners offers a free pick-up and delivery service you can reserve online. While you are on your honeymoon, we can collect your wedding dress, clean it, and preserve it. In our experience, it is best to preserve your gown as soon as possible after the wedding.
How Should I Store A Preserved Wedding Gown?
Now that you know how to preserve the wedding dress, how should you store it? Keep the gown in a dark, cool, and dry storage area with a regulated climate. Don’t keep it in the attic, basement, or garage where temperatures vary from season to season. Avoid heat, direct sunlight, and spaces where the humidity level is more than 50%. Inspect your dress and other items at least once a year while wearing white cotton gloves, to see if there are stains that should be treated. After each inspection, fold the items slightly differently to minimize creases.
Hometown Cleaners is a full-service solution for all your dry cleaning, laundering, and alteration needs. Have you seen us in your Hometown? We have nine convenient locations across the Treasure Coast, Jupiter and Juno Beach, Florida. Do you want to clarify the cost of wedding dress preservation at Hometown Cleaners? Contact us today.
