Deborah Chan
Framing your wedding dress is a great way to preserve it and turn it into a beautiful piece of art or a keepsake. It is a growing trend, with many companies offering this service. Wedding dress preservation services can help remove stains, prevent future yellowing, and protect your dress for years to come. You can either opt for a professional framing service or a DIY approach. Professional services include The Beautiful Frame Company, which offers hand-crafted, tailored frames, and Artist Russell Collins, who provides framing services as well as materials for those who want to mount their dresses themselves. DIY options include using a wedding gown preservation kit or creating your own shadow box frame.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding dress preservation | Anti-yellowing, stain removal, protection from UV light and pollutants |
| Wedding dress framing | Full-length shadow box, half-size frame, UV-filtering glass |
| Wedding dress preservation and framing companies | Wedding Gown Preservation Kit, The Beautiful Frame Company, Artist Russell Collins, Custom Framing Designs, Michael's Crafts store, local framing shop |
| Wedding dress preservation and framing costs | $250, £495, £900, £930, $200, $300-$1000 |
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What You'll Learn
Full-length shadow box framing
The process of framing your wedding dress begins with gown preservation and restoration. You can either opt for a local dry cleaner or an online service to clean your dress. Many of these services offer anti-yellowing and stain removal treatments to enhance the longevity of your gown. If you cannot remove a minor stain or rip, you can cleverly hide it with a fabric fold or a strategically placed accessory. Additionally, you can include accessories like tiaras, veils, earrings, and shoes to complete the display and capture the essence of your wedding day look.
Once your dress is ready, you can proceed with the framing process. Shadow box frames are typically made of high-quality MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard). These boxes consist of four sides and a back sheet that are cut, glued, and stapled together. The back of the box usually includes fixings to attach it to a wall. You can customize the inside of the shadow box with shelves and compartments to display additional memorabilia, such as your bouquet, shoes, gloves, or headwear. The box is then lined with museum-quality acid-free mountboard, which can be glued or simply pressed into position.
A popular method of mounting a wedding dress within the shadow box is to use a half-sized box. The dress itself serves as the liner and background for the bodice. The dress can be lightly stitched to the mountboard to secure it in place. Alternatively, you can use plastic H-shaped tags or sew loops to attach the dress discreetly. The bodice can be displayed on a mannequin or filled with acid-free tissue to give it structure.
After finalizing your design, it typically takes around 4-6 weeks for your frame to be delivered. Once you receive it, all that's left to do is fix the frame to the wall and carefully hang your dress and accessories inside. Your wedding dress, preserved in a full-length shadow box frame, becomes a cherished reminder of your special day and a potential heirloom for future generations.
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Professional vs DIY framing
Framing a wedding dress is a great way to preserve it and turn it into a piece of decor that you can display in your home. If you're considering framing your wedding dress, you may be wondering whether to go the professional or DIY route. Here are some things to consider when making your decision:
Professional Framing
Professional framing services, such as The Beautiful Frame Company, offer a full preservation and framing service for wedding dresses. They can guarantee that your dress won't be damaged during the process and that the material won't fade or discolour due to pollutants or UV light. You can work closely with the company to choose the type, size, and depth of the frame, as well as the perfect angle for your dress. The cost of professional framing can vary depending on the company and the type of frame you choose, but it typically starts at around £900.
DIY Framing
If you prefer a DIY approach or don't want to part with your dress for several weeks, you can also frame your wedding dress yourself. Artist Russell Collins offers a DIY wedding dress framing service, providing you with all the materials needed to mount your dress. This option is suitable if you have some knowledge of framing and are happy with the level of preservation you can achieve. The cost of a DIY framing service can start at around £495 for a standard frame, while an upgraded frame with UV-filtering glass can cost upwards of £900.
Preservation Kits
Another option for preserving your wedding dress is to use a preservation kit. These kits can help remove stains, prevent future yellowing, and keep your dress protected for decades or even centuries. Some companies, such as Wedding Gown Preservation Kit, offer an industry-leading 100-year guarantee to ensure your dress remains pristine. Preservation kits can be a more affordable option, but they don't include framing services.
Factors to Consider
When deciding between professional and DIY framing, consider your budget, the level of preservation you desire, and how soon you need the frame. Professional framing can provide a higher level of preservation and guarantee, but it may be more expensive and take several weeks to complete. DIY framing offers more flexibility and a faster turnaround time, but the level of preservation may not be as high.
Ultimately, the decision between professional and DIY framing depends on your specific needs and preferences. By considering the benefits and drawbacks of each option, you can choose the best method to preserve and display your wedding dress.
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Dry cleaning and preservation
Choosing a Preservation Method
Firstly, decide whether you prefer a DIY approach or professional service for dry cleaning and preservation. While a professional service guarantees the dress's safety and offers advanced cleaning technologies and logistics software to track your gown, a DIY approach allows you to clean and preserve your dress at home with readily available materials.
Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning your wedding dress is crucial to remove stains and prevent future yellowing. You can either engage a professional dry cleaning service, or attempt to remove stains yourself with gentle methods like soapy water for jewellery.
Preservation Kits
If you opt for a DIY preservation method, preservation kits are available from companies like Wedding Gown Preservation Kit™. These kits have been trusted by over 3 million brides since 1913 and offer a 100-year guarantee against yellowing.
Professional Preservation Services
Professional preservation services, such as The Beautiful Frame Company, offer hand-crafted and tailored preservation and framing solutions. They utilise techniques like maintaining the pH balance, using museum-grade UV protective glass, and stitching through seams to ensure long-term preservation.
Framing
After dry cleaning and initial preservation, the wedding dress is ready for framing. You can opt for a standard frame or upgrade to UV-filtering glass to protect against UV light damage. Framing costs can vary, with standard frames starting around £495 and upgraded frames with UV-filtering glass starting at £900.
By following these steps and choosing a suitable preservation and framing method, you can effectively preserve your wedding dress as a cherished memory.
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Displaying your framed dress
Displaying your framed wedding dress is a great way to preserve the memory of your special day and create a stunning piece of art. If you want your dress to serve as more than just a commemorative keepsake hidden in your wardrobe, consider the following tips for displaying your framed dress:
Choosing a Display Area
Think about areas in your home where you can display your framed dress. You may have more space than you think! The frame is typically less than 30 cm deep, so many brides find space behind a door opening, in a stairwell, or along a walkway. Choose a cool, dry environment that doesn't receive direct sunlight to protect the dress from fading or discolouration. Ensure you can safely fix the frame to the wall for added security and longevity.
Framing Options
You can opt for a full-length shadow box to display your entire dress or choose a half-size frame if you're short on space. In a half-size frame, the skirt is folded up behind, emphasising the bodice as the focal point. Consider whether you want your dress displayed on a mannequin or mountboard within the frame. You can also frame just your wedding accessories, such as shoes or jewellery, to create a unique display.
Professional Framing Services
The Beautiful Frame Company, a UK-based business, offers bespoke dress and accessory framing services, tailoring each frame to the style of the dress and the couple's home. They carefully preserve the dresses using techniques like maintaining the pH balance and employing museum-grade UV protective glass. Artist Russell Collins provides a similar service in Milton Keynes, and Ironbridge Fine Arts & Framing offers Fine Art Trade Guild-commended framing for dresses of any shape and size.
DIY Framing
If you're feeling crafty, you can create your own DIY wedding dress shadow box. Framemyfrock.com offers a three-step process to guide you through framing your dress and transforming it into a work of art.
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Framing costs
The cost of framing a wedding dress varies depending on several factors. Basic frames often start at around $200, while custom-made frames can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more. Shadow box frames, which are perfect for preserving three-dimensional elements like lace or embellishments, typically range from $300 to $600.
The complexity of the framing and the materials used also influence the price. Quality materials such as acid-free mat boards and UV-protective glass are essential for preserving the dress and preventing deterioration, yellowing, and fading over time. These materials can add $50 to $300 to the overall cost.
Additional features like inscription plates, fabric backing, and creative layouts that incorporate mementos such as invitations or photos can enhance the presentation but will also increase the overall costs. Inscription plates typically add $50 to $100, fabric backing costs around $100 to $300, and creative layouts that incorporate mementos can add $200 or more to the final price.
Location is another factor that affects framing costs, with urban areas generally having higher prices than rural regions. It is recommended to research local framing shops for personalized services or consider online framing services for convenience and potential cost savings.
Before deciding on framing, it is important to consider the size and shape of your dress, especially if it has unique features like long trains or voluminous skirts. A custom frame might be required to accommodate unusual shapes, which will impact the overall cost.
It is also worth noting that additional costs may be incurred for cleaning and preservation services to ensure your dress is in pristine condition before framing. These services can include anti-yellowing treatments and stain removal, which can be provided by local dry cleaners or specialized online services.
Overall, the cost of framing a wedding dress can range from $200 to upwards of $1,000, depending on the various factors mentioned above.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few companies that offer wedding dress framing services, such as The Beautiful Frame Company, Artist Russell Collins, and Wedding Gown Preservation Kit. You can also find local framing shops that offer this service.
The cost of framing a wedding dress varies depending on the company and the type of frame you choose. Basic Invite, for example, offers a discount code for their framing services. The Beautiful Frame Company's services start at £900, while Artist Russell Collins offers standard frames from £495 to upgraded frames with UV-filtering glass from £930.
Framing your wedding dress is a great way to preserve it and pass it down to future generations. It also serves as a decorative piece of art in your home that can spark conversations with guests about your special day. Additionally, it can be customised to your personal taste and tailored to the style of your dress and home.
