After months of careful planning your wedding nuptials have been done and the big day is over. You are ready to take the next steps into your future. The thank you cards have been sent out and the last thing on your list of to-dos is preparing your wedding dress for preservation and storage. For many, this is an unknown but doing it properly is important so years down the road, perhaps when your daughter marries, you can pull it out and it will be in pristine condition.
To many brides, the bridal gown is a representation of the love, excitement, celebration and the moment they committed to the one they plan on spending their lives with and that is why it needs to be professionally prepared for long term storage. In Vancouver, Kitsilano dry cleaners can aid you in this quest. They are experienced and knowledgeable and will help you preserve your wedding dress in the years to come. Here are some tips on preserving your gown.
Add Wedding Dress Preservation to Your Budget
When creating your wedding budget be sure to have bridal gown preservation on the list of expenses. Weddings are expensive and there may not be a lot of extra money around after the fact so make it a part of your big day budget. Then the money is allocated toward it beforehand. The average cost of cleaning and preserving can be quite pricey so it is important to know this upfront as it can be a significant expense but also a pivotal part of the wedding experience.
Do Dry Clean the Dress
There is a chance that after a day of celebrating and dancing that you have somehow managed to keep your dress clean without a visible mark on it. While this is not likely if it is the case be aware that some stains cannot be seen instantly but may appear over time. Clear liquids or even sweat can cause the fabric to discolour as time passes. Professional and experienced dry cleaning companies are trained to spot and deal with such issues so be sure to get them involved.
Find a Reputable Dry Cleaner
If you do not already have a dry cleaning company you already use regularly this may take a little research. It is worth asking around as word-of-mouth is usually a great way to find a good service. If this does not help look into using a dry cleaner who among their other talents specializes in cleaning and preserving wedding dresses as they will be more experienced in this.
Communication is Key
Once you have decided on the dry cleaning company you plan on using your role in the process does not end here. Make sure you discuss what you would like from them and ask how they plan on carrying out their end of the interaction. Be sure they use a virgin solvent as recycled solvents are not pure and can redeposit onto the fabric. Also inquire about their policy if any damage happens to the dress and whether they guarantee remains in good shape long term.
Check the Label
As with all articles of clothing a wedding dress has a label with washing instructions. Be sure to check this before doing anything to have the gown cleaned. Even if you are getting it dry cleaned bring it to the dry cleaner’s attention as sometimes even in the most professional of environments things can be overlooked. When dropping it off have a chat with the person in charge of cleaning it and ask if they have the capabilities to follow the label’s instructions.
Do Not Put Cleaning and Preservation Off
Any marks or stains on the dress should be dealt with in a timely fashion as they can set if not removed quickly. It really is a the sooner the better situation so waiting a few weeks to get to it is not good. Make it a part of the wedding ritual because if you want your dress stored in the best condition possible it needs to be done in the first few days after the wedding. If you are too busy ask a bridesmaid or someone else you trust to drop it off for you with specific instructions.
Properly Store it
Storing the dress in an oxygen-free box prevents oxidation and this is important. It should also be stored away from any sunlight or heat. Once it is clean find the perfect place for it and do not break the seal. If you follow these steps your wedding gown will look great in the years to come.