Preserve The Dress Of Your Dreams For Years To Come!
BD brides often ask us about what they should do with their gown after they’ve said “I do”. Some choose to donate of sell their dress, while many prefer to hang on to it. If you’re leaning towards keeping it, you’ll definitely want to look into cleaning and storing options.
Tips and Considerations
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- Time Is Of The Essence – Try not to wait too long to get your gown cleaned, the sooner the better! Ideally bring your gown in within a couple weeks of your big day. If you are away on your honeymoon, get a friend or family member to drop it off. If you wait too long, stains can get set in, which can cause damage, and make them more difficult to remove.
- Gown Drop-off & Stain Review – You do not need an appointment to drop your gown off. When you drop-off your gown, we will take a look at it and ask you about any stains we find… we need to know what they are from in order to treat each stain properly. Don’t worry, we’ve seen it all – from make-up to wine, cake icing to grass, food to dirt (even tar). That said, the more you can tell us, the better. Also, some stains may be invisible at first, but can cause damage down the road if left untreated… so if you spilt white wine or something clear on your dress, please let us know.
- Turnaround Time – Gowns are made with unique fabrics, delicate laces and many other fine embellishments, so this process will take longer than a standard dry-cleaning service. We estimate that it will take between 4 to 6 weeks depending on the condition of the gown. Often some items like beaded belts, bra cups and other details may need to be removed and put back on during this process, therefore some gowns may take longer than others.
- Storage Recommendations: For the short term, we recommend hanging your gown in a breathable garment bag (if you’re planning on donating it, selling it or wearing it again, etc.). For the long term, we do not recommend hanging it as it can stretch out and distort. Instead, we recommend preserving your gown by having it 1) elegantly folded and placed in an acid free box, and 2) storing it in a cool, dark, non-humid place (ex. on the top shelf of a closet). For best results, you’ll want to re-fold your gown every few years to avoid permanent creases. Make sure that your hands are clean and dry, or use cotton gloves when handling your gown.
- What Not To Do:
- Do not store your gown in a high humidity place or a plastic garment bag, as moisture can get trapped in it and cause mold/mildew.
- Do not store your gown in direct sunlight as heat can cause oxidization and color distortion.
- Do not pre-treat your gown. You may think you’re helping by applying a stain remover before dropping off your gown at the cleaners, but you can actually cause more damage than good. Let the professionals handle it.
Investment & Payment
Gown cleaning starts at $275 and boxing is $125. When you drop off your gown, we’ll be able to give you a firm price on cleaning after inspection. Not quite ready? Feel free to pop by Bridal Debut Gownhouse for a complimentary, no obligation estimate. We graciously ask for payment before we start the cleaning process.
