Preservation & Restoration

Your wedding gown will likely be the most beautiful, and most expensive dress you ever buy.

When you buy your dress, ask the retailer about suggested cleaning and storing procedures. If you consider these points carefully, your elegant gown can become a wedding tradition and grace other beautiful brides in future generations.

Before purchasing your gown inspect it carefully and check the cleaning and storage requirements. Wedding gowns decorated with beads, sequins, lace and other ornate trim may cause problems during cleaning.

After the wedding, have your gown cleaned and protected for future use. For best results, have it cleaned within several weeks. The longer stains and soil are left in your dress, the more likely they’ll become permanently embedded.

After cleaning, have your gown stored securely in a suitable dust-proof box. Keep it in an cool, dry area such as an interior closet. High temperatures may cause oxidation of finishes or trims and moisture may cause mildew.

Depending on when you store the dress, it may need to be recleaned and professionally pressed before it can be worn again.

Many of today’s brides are considering wearing their mother’s or grandmother’s elegant wedding gowns. These old gowns, locked up for so many years in trunks and stored in the attic, may look neglected, but many of them can be restored.

A professional dry cleaner, skilled in the restoration and treatment of wedding gowns, can breathe new life into these heirloom treasures. Choose your cleaner carefully, not all are heirlooming specialists.

Before you make a final decision, have your dry cleaner look over your gown. He will check for tears and examine the areas which came in contact with the skin for stains and grime. He will inspect the skirt and train for stains and decide whether or not the gown can be perfectly restored. Don’t worry about yellowing. If the fabric is still good, a restoration specialist can achieve amazing results.