Deborah Chan
Wedding dresses are often made of delicate fabric that can easily be stained, faded, or damaged. Therefore, it is essential to think about proper wedding dress storage and preservation. Wedding dress preservation is a special cleaning and packaging process that ensures the garment retains its quality for years to come. This involves using highly specialized materials that are typically acid-free to prevent fabric degradation and discolouration. The preservation process also protects against yellowing, seals out dust and moisture, and helps preserve the sentimental value of the dress. There are professional services available that provide wedding dress preservation kits, including acid-free boxes, and breathable garment bags. These kits can protect your dress from dust, insects, moisture, and UV light.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Veil | Store in the box with the dress but ensure they do not touch |
| Preservation Box Material | Acid-free, lignin-free, chemically stable, permanent, durable, breathable |
| Storage Location | Cool, dry, dark place, e.g. closet or guest room |
| Storage Position | Fold loosely, avoid sharp folds, use acid-free tissue paper for support |
| Cleaning | Professionally cleaned, stains removed, repairs made |
| Preservation Company | Check their process, ask questions, ask for references |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a professional preservation service
Wedding dresses are often made of delicate fabrics and embellishments, so it's important to trust professionals with their cleaning and preservation. Professional preservation services use delicate fabric cleaning technology to ensure that your wedding dress is maintained as an heirloom for generations to come. They can clean invisible stains such as sweat, dirt, and oils, and prevent the decaying and
There are several companies that offer wedding dress preservation services. Trusted Wedding Gown Preservation, for example, is the #1 bridal dress cleaning and preservation company, trusted by 3,000,000 brides since 1913. Their Traditional Wedding Dress Cleaning + Preservation Kit costs $325, while the Celebrity Wedding Dress Preservation Kit costs $400. They also offer free 2-way insured shipping and gown tracking.
Affordable Preservation is another option that offers a complimentary shipping kit and free shipping and insurance. They utilize a 100-year-old preservation method and create a unique wedding gown preservation plan for each dress. They also offer top-quality gown preservation at the best price in the US.
Elegance Preserved is a premier bridal dress preservation team on the West Coast, offering free home pickup and delivery services in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. They also provide shipping services to brides outside these regions in the Continental United States.
When choosing a professional preservation service, it is important to ask questions about their training, experience, and the number and types of dresses they handle each year. Inquire about their cleaning process and whether they use gentle and pure solvents. It is also a good sign if they offer a warranty for their work or can provide references from designers or stores.
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Dry clean the dress
Dry cleaning a wedding dress is an important first step in preserving the gown. It is recommended to get the dress to a preservationist or dry cleaner as soon as possible after the wedding. Even if the dress appears to be in good condition, there may be invisible stains that will set in, oxidize, and darken over time. Exposure to heat, humidity, or acid will accelerate this process.
It is important to find a dry cleaner that uses a gentle and pure solvent for the gown. The dry cleaning process is not as simple as putting the dress in a box and handing it back to the customer. It requires the use of highly specialized materials to ensure the long-term physical and chemical stability of the fabric. These materials are typically acid-free.
After dry cleaning, the dress should be housed in an acid-free box and folded using special lofting tissues to support all folds and portions of the dress, such as the skirt, sleeves, and bust. The acid-free paper and storage box should be replaced every three years or so. The wedding dress box should be stored in a cool, dark place, away from humidity, such as a closet or under a bed.
It is important to note that the preserved wedding dress should not be stored in an airtight box. Breaking the seal of the box to examine the dress is not a problem, contrary to popular belief. In fact, anyone who does not want the customer to be able to inspect their work is likely not a true professional.
Overall, dry cleaning is an essential step in wedding dress preservation, and it should be done as soon as possible after the wedding to ensure the best possible outcome for the preservation of the gown.
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Avoid plastic and cardboard
Wedding dresses are made of delicate fabric and often feature intricate details, so they need to be carefully stored to ensure they last a lifetime. While plastic and cardboard boxes are commonly used for storage, they may not be the best option for preserving your wedding dress.
Plastic boxes are known to withstand moisture and wear and tear better than cardboard. They offer excellent protection against water damage, making them ideal for humid climates. However, plastic containers are not breathable, which can lead to mould and mildew if any condensation forms inside. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your dress is thoroughly cleaned and dried before placing it in a plastic box. Even then, you should still remove the dress and let it breathe from time to time.
Cardboard boxes, on the other hand, are more breathable and environmentally friendly. They provide the ventilation needed to keep fabrics from getting damaged in dry locations. However, cardboard is not as durable as plastic and may not protect your dress from leaks or floods. If you opt for a cardboard box, ensure your storage location is not prone to water damage. Cardboard boxes are a good short-term storage option, but they may not be ideal for long-term preservation due to their susceptibility to wear and insect damage.
To preserve your wedding dress, it is recommended to use an acid-free, breathable box that eliminates light and protects from dust and accidents. Avoid plastic and cardboard boxes that do not meet these criteria. Instead, look for specialised wedding dress storage boxes made from sturdy materials, such as heavy board with a fitted lid.
Additionally, choose a cool, dry, and dark place to store your dress, such as a closet or a spare room. Humidity control is crucial, so avoid storing your dress near heat sources, excessive moisture, or direct sunlight, as extreme temperatures can cause damage and discolouration. Regularly check on your dress to ensure it remains in pristine condition.
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Use acid-free tissue paper
Wedding dress preservation is a special cleaning and packaging process that ensures the garment retains its quality for years to come. This involves using materials that ensure the long-term physical and chemical stability of the fabric, such as acid-free tissue paper. Acid-free tissue paper is perfect for storing items long-term. It is made without the damaging chemicals found in standard paper, so it won't discolour or yellow over time, or react with other materials or fabrics.
Acid-free tissue paper can be used to layer, wrap, fold or scrunch as infill to suit your requirements and storage purposes. It provides an extra layer of protection against the elements, particularly when packing fragile items, moving house, or preserving your items long-term or for seasonal purposes. When storing your wedding dress, you can use acid-free tissue paper between the layers of your gown to protect embellishments, beading, and fine lace, and safeguard delicate fabrics from yellowing and discolouration. Anywhere you have to fold the dress so that it touches itself, such as where the skirt is folded up against the bodice, or where the sleeves are folded in, separate the layers with a sheet or two of acid-free tissue paper. You could also put tissue inside the dress, particularly in the bodice, if you want to be extra careful. If the box is thick enough, roll some tissue up into a tube, scrunch it gently so it holds its shape, and insert it inside any folds to help the fold be more gentle, rather than a harsh line.
It is important to note that wedding dresses should not be stored in an airtight box.
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$86.95
Find a suitable storage location
The location you choose to store your wedding dress plays a significant role in preserving it. Wedding dresses are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, it is best to store your wedding dress in a cool, dry, and dark place. Regular closets may not have the proper climate control for your wedding dress, so it is important to select a storage location with these features.
It is recommended to store your wedding dress in an acid-free garment bag or box. Garment archival storage boxes are constructed from acid-free materials and crafted into solid, secure boxes that resist dust, dirt, and light infiltration. These boxes are designed to protect textiles from their two main enemies: ultraviolet rays found in sunlight and acid from sources such as skin, wood, and wood-based products.
If you choose to store your wedding dress in a breathable garment bag, ensure that it is made from acid-free material and avoid using any form of coloured tissue paper. You can also consider specialised storage options such as UV-blocking materials or a cover to shield the dress from light exposure.
Additionally, it is important to ensure that the storage location is large enough to accommodate the wedding dress without compressing it. If you plan to store your wedding dress for three years or more, a preservation chest is recommended.
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Frequently asked questions
Wedding dress preservation involves cleaning and packaging to ensure the dress retains its quality for years to come. It is best to have your dress professionally cleaned and preserved to remove stains, prevent future yellowing, and keep it protected. You can also purchase preservation kits to help with this process.
Wedding dress preservation kits are designed to securely seal and preserve your wedding gown. They can protect your dress from dust, insects, moisture, and UV light. The kits are made from acid-free materials and have a neutral pH, helping to prevent fabric degradation and discolouration.
The storage location of your wedding dress plays a significant role in preserving it. Look for a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a closet or a guest room, to keep your dress safe. Avoid storing it near heat sources, excessive moisture, or direct sunlight, as extreme temperatures can cause damage and discolouration.
Yes, storing the veil in the box with the dress is acceptable, but the two must not touch each other. Plastic, wire and trim on the headpiece or veil could damage the gown.
