The cake has been cut, the petals have settled, and the wedding is over, but what happens to the dress? Yes, you could just put it back in the garment bag and tuck it in a dark forgotten corner of your closet, stains and all, but something about that just seems wrong, right??? After all, you dreamed about this dress for no less than a year, searched the depths of the internet for a boutique that carried it, and waited months for it to be made from scratch, just for you. And, chances are, you spent a pretty penny on it. So what should you do?
How long do I have to get my dress cleaned?
As with any stain, the sooner you clean it, the better. The ideal cleaning window for most wedding gowns is between 7 and 14 days from your wedding day. The stains are still fresh, and, most importantly, the fabric is still strong. Waiting allows stains to oxidize and seep deeper into the fibers, making them more difficult to remove, and the longer you wait, the more delicate your fabric becomes with time.
What if I’ve already waited too long?
Not to worry, Dress Preservation also offers Dress Restoration services for aged, yellowed, or damaged gowns. This is perfect for brides who just missed their cleaning window or if you want to breathe new life into a vintage gown from a parent or loved one.
But what if my gown isn’t stained?
Oh, honey, it’s stained. But, if you’re one of the lucky ones, your stains are just invisible. Sweat, perfume, champagne, and body oils sink into the fabric and slowly turn into permanent yellow and brown stains over the years. Nobody wants that.
Where should I go?
Your first instinct may be to take your gown to your local dry cleaner. Hold that thought. A wedding dress isn’t like a suit, or even most cocktail dresses, for that matter. They’re designed to be worn for a day and aren’t designed for industrial dry cleaning methods. They can also be made out of many different layers and types of fabrics, each of which may react differently to dry cleaning chemicals. And, chances are, if you check the tag on your wedding dress, it likely says spot clean only. That is because, depending on which type of stain and where it is on the dress, a specialist will have to use a specific technique to address each issue. Unfortunately, there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we always recommend Dress Preservation to our readers. They’re America’s #1 online wedding dress preservation service and their gown care service has been trusted by brides since 1913.
How does it work?
With Dress Preservation’s at-home kit, you simply ship your gown to them; it’s professionally cleaned and preserved, then returned to you. They will also clean and preserve up to 5 accessories (veil, gloves, etc.) with your gown preservation, free of charge!
Wedding Chicks readers get free two-way insured shipping, with 24/7 GownTracker™ tracking when you use coupon code FREESHIPPING at checkout!
At Dress Preservation’s state-of-the-art facility, before a single cleaning decision is made, your gown goes through a full hands-on inspection under focused light. This step is where invisible stains get caught early, the ones that look like nothing right now but will turn yellow months later if left untreated.
Your gown goes through a a gentle, fabric-safe cleaning process built specifically for bridal fabrics, designed to lift both what you can see and what you cannot. While your gown is already in process, their in-house seamstresses handle minor repairs at no extra cost to you. Loose threads, small seam issues, and stray beads get fixed before your dress ever reaches the boxing stage.
Once cleaning and repairs are done, your gown is hand-steamed and pressed to bring back its natural drape. This step removes any creasing picked up during handling and restores the shape your dress had on your wedding day. So you see, it’s so much more than just cleaning! But they don’t stop there. They preserve your dress like the heirloom that it is.
Preservation
Your finished gown is placed into an acid-free preservation chest built for long-term protection, not a plastic bag or a basic cardboard box. This is the difference between a dress that lasts decades and one that yellows within a few years. To help the gown keep its shape, acid-neutral, lignin-free tissue wrapping is applied before boxing. A UV-protected viewing window lets you see the dress without opening the chest, which is designed to protect against light, humidity, and air exposure. We’re talking archival, museum-level quality! And they’re so confident in their work that each gown preservation comes with a 100-year warranty against yellowing!
But don’t take it from us; here’s what real brides are saying:
“After months of searching for the right preservation company, I’m so happy I chose this one. My dress was handled with outstanding care and returned in excellent condition.”
— Marina T., Google review ★★★★★
“I chose this preservation service on my friend’s advice, and I’m so glad I did. They cleaned and preserved both my wedding dress and my mom’s from the 1970s, and the results were just wonderful.”
— Raseena R., Google review ★★★★★
“Beautiful preservation box and excellent protection for my wedding dress. My gown looks perfectly cleaned and stored. On time delivery.”
— Linda S., Trustpilot review ★★★★★
“Seeing my gown after preservation made me smile. It looked clean, carefully handled, and securely packaged for long-term storage. Recommended for my friends and family.”
— Ognjen P., Google review ★★★★★
To see more about the process, follow them @dresspreservation on IG.
We partnered with Dress Preservation to bring you these essential tips on cleaning and preserving your most precious piece of clothing. As always, thanks for supporting our sponsors!
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