It is important to preserve your wedding dress to remain pristine even after the big day.
You can extend the life of your wedding dress and keep it looking as good as new by following these simple preservation tips! If you're curious about the longevity of wedding dress preservation, read on!
Your wedding dress's initial washing is the most important component in determining how long it will be preserved.
Therefore, it is crucial that you have your clothing properly cleaned before deciding to preserve it.
If you choose an at-home kit or a provider that doesn't include cleaning in their package, you will need to have a professional clean your wedding gown.
You shouldn't take your wedding dress to the same dry cleaner your dad takes his button-down shirts to just because they provide dry cleaning.
Since washing a wedding dress is so different from dry cleaning regular garments, it's important to take it to someone who specialises in doing it.
In addition, if the wedding dress is white or off-white, even a minor stain will become considerably more noticeable as time passes due to oxidation.
Because of this, the longevity of the preservation is directly proportional to the quality of the cleaning.
Companies' promises to preserve dresses are not all the same. Certain providers guarantee the longevity of preservation for a century or more!
For your gown to last as long as possible, it is essential that you use a trusted preservation service.
During the warranty time, if your dress starts to yellow, a reputable company will offer to clean and restore it at no cost.
When picking a preservation service to ensure the longevity of your dress, pick the one you feel confident in.
Your wedding dress's lifespan depends on more than just the preservation service. Hanging your dress might cause stress to the fabric and lead to distortion; therefore, having it professionally stored in a box is recommended.
Plastic clothing bags can cause your dresses to fade if you use them. When you take your dress out of its package, be careful not to get dirt on it. Also, direct sunshine and high temperatures can damage your dress.
Fingertip oils may not be visible to the human eye, but they can discolour and yellow a white clothing with time.
As a result, your wedding dress might gradually fade and turn yellow if exposed to sunlight. Lastly, mould and mildew can grow on your garment if it gets wet or is exposed to humidity.
To extend the life of your preservation efforts, store your dress in a dust-free, climate-controlled environment that is out of the reach of children and animals.
>What Exactly Is Wedding Gown Preservation?
The preservation of a wedding dress includes a series of steps, the first of which is a thorough cleaning with cutting-edge machinery to remove any traces of dirt or makeup from the big day.
The next step is to package the dress properly so it is protected from future yellowing or staining due to exposure to contaminants.
A dry cleaner may have to spend a lot of money on expensive equipment to clean sensitive fabrics, despite the easy process.
Most dry cleaners will send your wedding dress to a facility that specialises in cleaning and preserving these garments because of the high risk of damage they pose.
What Happens If I Don't Have My Dress Cleaned And Preserved?
Imagine the day you're getting married. Makeup, hairspray, deodorant, dance floor filth, beverages, food, cake, and so on were just a few of the items.
Your beautiful wedding dress will suffer apparent and undetectable discolouration as a result of all the action on your special day.
It's easy to forget the tiny lipstick stain you blotted away with a damp napkin on your wedding day, but after a few years, that spot will turn into an unattractive brown patch on your wedding gown.
If nothing is done to your wedding dress after the big day, not only will the fabric become stained, but the fibres also will be yellow over time.
Unless your dress is properly treated, it will eventually fade because the fibres naturally break down.
In addition, a wedding dress left hanging in a closet for too long can cause the fabric to stretch, and a wedding dress that was folded incorrectly might create permanent cleats.
When Is A Wedding Dress Too Late To Be Preserved?
No need to stress if your wedding dress is a bit dated or if you haven't yet taken it to the cleaners, no matter how many weeks or months have passed since the big day.
A wedding dress can be cleaned and kept any time; however, doing it sooner rather than later is preferable.
Your dress may need to be restored before it can be preserved, but a reputable wedding dress preservationist will be able to work their magic.
Cleaning the gown is the first step in preserving it, and it's important to do so thoroughly so that any stains, apparent or otherwise, can be removed.
That's right, and there are invisible stains.
Stains like sweat, perfume, white wine, or white cake frosting aren't always obvious at first glance.
Your wedding dress will be meticulously inspected under ultraviolet light by professional cleaners to find the sources of the stains that will become obvious if you do not have them removed beforehand.
This is why you shouldn't put off sending your beautiful wedding dress to a professional preservationist any longer.
After having it professionally cleaned and treated to prevent the fabric from yellowing, your gown will be steamed or hand-pressed, placed on an acid-free bust form, and carefully stored in a preservation chest to keep it looking new for years to come.
Dresses that have already yellowed significantly (a common problem with older dresses that haven't been properly conserved) or have concerns with moths or mould will need the attention of a restoration specialist.
A professional dress restorer may do wonders for a dress you thought was beyond hope because of stains.
Time is not as big of an issue if any stains you may have on your wedding dress occurred while the dress was hanging in a closet during your honeymoon.
Your gown may be saved from the depths of storage even if it has been sitting around for months or years; with proper care and cleaning, it may look as good as new.
Your wedding dress preservation firm should be able to get rid of the majority of the stains and store your garment such that no one will suspect that you almost forgot about it.
What Is The Ideal Time Frame?
Getting the dress cleaned and preserved as soon as possible after the wedding is important. Delivering the gown the following day, however, can be convenient.
The obvious reason is that the fewer time stains have to build in, the better for the gown's preservation when you bring it to a specialist.
If you catch a stain early enough, you can usually get rid of it without too much trouble.
There is a risk that letting a dress linger in your wardrobe for a long time will cause the fabric to fade.
Despite the fact that the degradation of the fabric may go unnoticed for a few weeks, it is nonetheless occurring and may affect the dress's long-term preservation quality.
Besides keeping it clean, the wonderful long white (or clear) garment bag is not favouring your dress.
Most dresses are either white or off-white, and the plastic used to store them in will cause them to yellow faster than they would otherwise.
Therefore, it would be best if you only temporarily used them to transport and store your outfit.
What Could Be The Cause Of Your Dress Preservation Not Lasting As Long As Promised?
Direct Sunlight
Do you remember the day when you were rearranging your furniture, and you saw an odd glow coming from under a piece of furniture?
Direct exposure to UV light, particularly harmful to organic materials, is often the cause of that bright spot on your wooden floor or carpet.
It should come as no surprise that UV light will destroy your wedding dress, as most of its delicate materials are biological.
You'll get a special box with the showcase chest to keep your wedding dress in exquisite condition until the big day.
However, it would be best to keep your preservation box somewhere dark, such as under your bed or in your master bedroom's walk-in closet.
Relative Humidity Is High
Keeping your wedding dress in a room with high relative humidity is another way to void the warranty on your dress.
Your preserved wedding dress should never be kept in a musty place like a cellar or garage.
Due to the "glasshouse" effect, mould and mildew may form inside the preservation box if it is kept in the bathroom or kitchen, where the humidity is usually higher than elsewhere in the house.
Taking Your Dress Out Of The Preservation Chest
If you take your wedding dress out of its preservation chest and treat it without gloves, you are significantly decreasing the likelihood that it will survive as long as stated.
In addition, removing the dress from the preservation chest exposes it to potential damage from dirt on the floor, oils on your hands, and other impurities.
Because of this, we'll provide you with a pair of white gloves and ensure your dress is packaged to let you check the hem without taking it out of its protective case.
Act Of God
You should also consider the possibility of an "Act of God," such as a flood or fire, which could destroy your wedding dress before the specified preservation period is up.
However, many brides have taken advantage of our Wedding Dress Preservation Service to lend new life to their damaged wedding dresses after experiencing unforeseen tragedy.
What Is Usually Protected By A Wedding Gown Preservation Guarantee?
The specifics of a guarantee may vary from one business to the next, but often they cover the following:
Anti-Yellowing Guarantee
Guaranteed against fabric yellowing, this is a great addition to your gown's lifetime protection plan.
Whether you wear a classic white dress for a formal ceremony or a bright hue for a casual beach nuptial, this guarantee will ensure your dress looks as good as the day you bought it.
The guarantee term is the time during which the preservation firm will re-treat your outfit at no cost to you if you discover any more yellowing.
Anti-Staining Guarantee
Second, a typical warranty covers any stains not removed following the original cleaning.
The preservation service will gladly re-treat your gown at no additional cost if you find any discolouration after you've had it sent back to them.
A Lifetime Guarantee Vs. A 100-Year Guarantee
The time period a firm will allow for retreatment is an integral, yet frequently misunderstood, part of a warranty.
A "100-year" guarantee will live much longer than a "Lifetime" guarantee, despite the former's more appealing tone and widespread use in advertising.
Ponder that for a moment. If a woman lives to be 27, she will have married an average of once.
Only 51 years of protection are equivalent to this offer. In addition, our special 100-Year Warranty ensures that your garment won't fade or discolour for at least 100 years—well beyond the normal lifetime guarantee!
When considering the assurances provided by organisations that clean and preserve wedding dresses, it is important to read the tiny print.
MyDressBox is are wedding dress cleaning and preservation specialists servicing all major cities in Australia and New Zealand, including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Wollongong, Geelong and many more.
Conclusion
Maintaining the dress's perfect condition after the wedding is a must. There are service providers who promise a century or more of preservation.
There is a systematic process involved in preserving a bridal gown. Dresses may become distorted if hung because of the stress placed on the fabric.
If your clothing gets wet or is exposed to humidity, mould and mildew can begin to form on it. When you take your dress to the dry cleaner, it will likely be sent to a separate location where delicate items are cleaned and preserved.
The first step in maintaining the gown is giving it a thorough cleaning, during which any visible or invisible stains can be removed.
Your dress will be steamed or hand-pressed after it has been cleaned and preserved, and then it will be stored on an acid-free bust form in a preservation chest.
You should get the dress professionally cleaned and preserved as soon as possible after the wedding.
Most of your wedding dress is made of living organisms, and this means it will be destroyed if exposed to UV light.
Plastic containers will accelerate the yellowing of white and off-white clothing.
Wedding gowns that have been preserved should never be kept in a damp or musty location such as a basement or garage.
If the preservation box is maintained in a damp or humid environment, such as a bathroom or kitchen, it may develop mould and mildew.
In addition, your dress could be lost before its designated preservation time if an "Act of God" such as a flood or fire strikes.
The length of time a company will provide you to try fixing a problem covered by your warranty is an essential (and often misunderstood) component of your warranty.
The longevity of a "100-year" promise is significantly greater than that of a "Lifetime" guarantee. By the time a woman reaches age 27, she will have been married once on average.
Content Summary
- It is important to preserve your wedding dress to remain pristine even after the big day.
- If you're curious about the longevity of wedding dress preservation, read on!
- Because of this, the longevity of the preservation is directly proportional to the quality of the cleaning.
- For your gown to last as long as possible, it is essential that you use a trusted preservation service.
- When picking a preservation service to ensure the longevity of your dress, pick the one you feel confident in.
- Your wedding dress's lifespan depends on more than just the preservation service.
- Hanging your dress might cause stress to the fabric and lead to distortion; therefore, having it professionally stored in a box is recommended.
- Plastic clothing bags can cause your dresses to fade if you use them.
- Also, direct sunshine and high temperatures can damage your dress.
- To extend the life of your preservation efforts, store your dress in a dust-free, climate-controlled environment that is out of the reach of children and animals.
- A dry cleaner may have to spend a lot of money on expensive equipment to clean sensitive fabrics, despite the easy process.
- Most dry cleaners will send your wedding dress to a facility that specialises in cleaning and preserving these garments because of the high risk of damage they pose.
- If nothing is done to your wedding dress after the big day, not only will the fabric become stained, but the fibres also will be yellow over time.
- A wedding dress can be cleaned and kept any time; however, doing it sooner rather than later is preferable.
- This is why you shouldn't put off sending your beautiful wedding dress to a professional preservationist any longer.
- After having it professionally cleaned and treated to prevent the fabric from yellowing, your gown will be steamed or hand-pressed, placed on an acid-free bust form, and carefully stored in a preservation chest to keep it looking new for years to come.
- A professional dress restorer may do wonders for a dress you thought was beyond hope because of stains.
- Time is not as big of an issue if any stains you may have on your wedding dress occurred while the dress was hanging in a closet during your honeymoon.
- Getting the dress cleaned and preserved as soon as possible after the wedding is important.
- Delivering the gown the following day, however, can be convenient.
- There is a risk that letting a dress linger in your wardrobe for a long time will cause the fabric to fade.
- Besides keeping it clean, the wonderful long white (or clear) garment bag is not favouring your dress.
- It should be no surprise that UV light will destroy your wedding dress, as most of its delicate materials are biological.
- You'll get a special box with the showcase chest to keep your wedding dress in exquisite condition until the big day.
- However, it would be best to keep your preservation box somewhere dark, such as under your bed or in your master bedroom's walk-in closet.
- Keeping your wedding dress in a room with high relative humidity is another way to void the warranty on your dress.
- Your preserved wedding dress should never be kept in a musty place like a cellar or garage.
- Taking Your Dress Out Of The Preservation Chest If you take your wedding dress out of its preservation chest, treat it without gloves. You are significantly decreasing the likelihood that it will survive as long as stated.
- In addition, removing the dress from the preservation chest exposes it to potential damage from dirt on the floor, oils on your hands, and other impurities.
- Act Of GodYou should also consider the possibility of an "Act of God," such as a flood or fire, which could destroy your wedding dress before the specified preservation period is up.
- The specifics of a guarantee may vary from one business to the next, but often they cover the following: Anti-Yellowing Guarantee Guaranteed against fabric yellowing; this is a great addition to your gown's lifetime protection plan.
- The guarantee term is the time during which the preservation firm will re-treat your outfit at no cost to you if you discover any more yellowing.
- Anti-Staining Guarantee Second, a typical warranty covers any stains not removed following the original cleaning.
- A "100-year" guarantee will live much longer than a "Lifetime" guarantee, despite the former's more appealing tone and widespread use in advertising.
- Only 51 years of protection are equivalent to this offer.
- In addition, our special 100-Year Warranty ensures that your garment won't fade or discolour for at least 100 years—well beyond the normal lifetime guarantee!
FAQs About Preserved Wedding Dress
Can A Wedding Dress Be Cleaned And Preserved?
The pattern's intricacy and the fabric's fragility mean that a wedding dress cannot be treated like any other garment in terms of care. If you want your wedding dress to endure a lifetime, it must be cleaned and preserved properly. Here are ten tips if you want to keep your wedding dress in pristine condition.
Should You Preserve Your Wedding Gown?
For long-term storage, wedding dresses are carefully packaged in archival boxes utilising standard preservation techniques and materials. In addition, only clean wedding gowns should be kept for the long term. To properly preserve your dress, you must follow both of these procedures.
How Do You Hang A Wedding Dress Without Damaging It?
The dress can also be stored in a cool, dry wardrobe using an acid-free plastic garment bag. However, hanging the dress on a wire or wooden hanger is not recommended.
This is because the weight of a wedding dress, compared to that of a regular garment, has a pulling effect on the fabric as it hangs, potentially distorting the shape of the dress.
What Is A Wedding Dress Preservation Box?
Your wedding dress can be safely stored away from the elements and general wear and tear in a preservation box that has been properly made and chemically cleaned.
How Should I Store My Wedding Dress?
The best way to store your wedding dress is in a strong box under your bed, wrapped in washed, unbleached muslin. This will ensure that your dress is easily accessible in the event that you wish to keep it for posterity.