The most exciting, important day of your life is now just a memory, all of the festivities have ended, the bills are paid, the gifts have been opened, and it’s finally time to begin married life together. However, there’s still one more very important detail that shouldn’t be overlooked; cleaning and storing your beloved dress . Procrastination is the wedding gown’s worst enemy and taking care of it properly is something that should be done as soon as possible.

The Various Methods of Wedding Gown Cleaning and Preservation

Regardless of the cleaning and preservation method used, wedding gowns should be stored completely cleaned and wrinkle-free in a cool, dry place. Many brides opt for dry-cleaning and then sealing the dress inside a preservation box, although many who are well versed in caring for garments and heirloom fabrics don’t recommend actually sealing the box after cleaning, and instead use different methods of storage.

The cleaning process will largely depend on what the fabric is made of, what the label recommends, and what type of embellishments the dress features. For those made mostly from polyester, wet-cleaning should be a safe method to use, and is also one that tends to be best for those gowns that are heavily soiled or stained.

The dry-cleaning method uses one of three different types of cleaning solvents, including perchloroethylene, which is the most commonly used and also the preferred choice for gowns made from rayon or silk. This type of solvent may work well at getting the fabric clean, but it may damage beads or sequins along with any glue that was used to hold them in place.

For dresses that feature a large amount of embellishments, the older and petroleum-based Stoddard solvent may be the better choice, although this type is rarely used except in the oldest of dry-cleaning establishments due to recent fire hazard restrictions.

Hydro-carbon is another petroleum-based solvent that’s relatively new to the dry-cleaning industry. Also called Exxon DF-2000, this solvent is safe for beaded gowns, but isn’t quite as effective at deep cleaning or degreasing as the first two options.

With any type of solvent or cleaning method, having experience and knowledge in caring for bridal gowns is imperative, so be sure to get a recommendation or referral before taking your dress to one particular dry-cleaner. Ask several bridal shops for their advice and inquire as to who cleans their gowns on a regular basis.

Wedding Gown Storage Options

The main goal of storing wedding gowns is to protect them from various elements that will damage the fabric. Yellowing, mold, oxidation, dust, permanent creases, and even light are all things to avoid when preserving fabrics.

The three methods commonly used to store and preserve wedding gowns are boxing, bagging, or sealing:

• Sealing: Sealing a gown involves using an acid-free box, usually with a window, as well as acid-free tissue paper and cardboard shapes to keep wrinkles at a minimum. Many experts agree that sealing a box actually promotes mildew and mold growth, whereas leaving it unsealed allows the garment to breathe in an environment where the air’s humidity level remains at a constant level.
• Bagging: Using padded hangers and all cotton bags, wedding gowns are hung up, using twill tape to support heavier dresses.
• Boxing: The benefits of keeping wedding gowns unsealed in boxes is that they can easily be inspected from time to time, as well as refolded. When using the box method of storage, most experts recommend refolding wedding gowns after three to five years of storage to avoid permanent creasing or wrinkling.

Wedding Gown Preservation Companies

The internet is an excellent resource for locating an experienced wedding gown preservation company , or look through your phone book and also ask friends, family, and co-workers who they recommend. Preservation companies utilize various methods for cleaning and preserving dresses, such as the “museum method,” a popular choice that involves storing garments similar to the way museum conservators care for heirloom dresses. After gowns are cleaned, they are hung on specially padded hangers and covered with acid-free paper and stored in bags made from 100% cotton.

Other wedding gown preservation companies use large boxes to keep dresses preserved and safe from contaminants or damage. After being wet or dry-cleaned, gowns are hand pressed and then stored in preservation boxes that are kept either sealed or unsealed.

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Gown Care

Many women decide to care for and preserve their wedding gowns themselves, mainly for cost reasons, but also because some are wary about trusting their cherished dress to anyone else, even if they are a professional. Before you decide to take on the task of cleaning and preserving your own gown, there are a few things you should be aware of first, such as the type of fabric and how to best care for it.

Of course, dresses that are mainly plain fabric are easiest to clean, if yours has many beads, sequins, or other embellishments, you may want to have it professionally steam cleaned instead of trying to press the gown yourself. However, using a thick cushion on your ironing board, you can always press the gown from the inside, allowing the beads or sequins to press gently into the cushioning rather than damaging the fabric.

Dresses with a lot of tulle may also be difficult to care for yourself as this type of delicate fabric burns or melts easily when pressing, and also fares much better being spot cleaned rather than wet-cleaned.

There are many do-it-yourself wedding gown preservation kits to choose from that contain everything you’ll need to preserve your dress like the experts do. A typical kit contains detailed instructions, the bridal gown garment bag, padded hangers, acid-free tissue paper, twill tape, and usually gloves for handling the dress after it has been cleaned.

Renting a Wedding Dress

If finances are an issue, or if you aren’t the sentimental type interested in saving your gown, you always have the option of renting your wedding dress instead of purchasing one. Traditionally, men have been the only ones with the luxury and option of renting their wedding attire, but now women are also realizing the benefits. Even those brides who can afford to spend a few thousand dollars of their budget on their wedding dress may decide on renting for practical purposes. Some bridal shops and boutiques will even alter or modify their dresses, tailoring them to the bride’s specifications so that she’ll feel as if she’s still wearing a gown that will be unique to her.

With all of the many beautiful designs of brides dresses and exquisite fabrics to choose from, most brides-to-be have absolutely no idea where to begin when it’s finally time to start shopping for their wedding dress. While some women have a crystal clear picture in mind of what they’re looking for, others, like myself, find they have a hard time narrowing down their choices when making this ever important decision.

Here’s how I tackled the problem of finding the right dress, and ended up quickly finding the one of my dreams that made me feel just like a princess on my wedding day.

• Bohemian: Think earthy, free spirited, ethereal
• Casual: Think relaxed, pure, breezy
• Classic: Think timeless elegance, ladylike
• Glamorous: Think drama, sophistication
• Modern: Think trendy, simple, chic, minimalistic
• Romantic: Think princess, femininity

Try to choose a dress that fits with the type of wedding you’re having as well as being a reflection of your personal style. If you are having an elaborate affair, you’ll of course want to wear a formal gown, whereas a more relaxed, simple style of dress would obviously be more appropriate for a beach wedding.

Word of mouth is a great way to find wedding gowns. Ask your friends and family for their recommendations and experiences with any bridal salons in your area, or where they may have done business in the past and were happy with the service they received. Also, thanks to the internet, brides-to-be have innumerable choices right at their fingertips. With helpful reviews and customer opinions listed on most sites, it’s easier than ever before to rule out some dresses over others.

Bridal magazines are also a great resource for finding all of the latest styles and current trends in bride’s dresses as well as attire for the whole wedding party. When you head to the shops to try on different gowns, be sure to take some clippings and pictures of any dresses that may have already caught your eye so it’ll be easier to find what you like. And while it may be tempting, don’t make the mistake of taking an entire entourage of people with you when you’re trying on dresses. An extra opinion or two is great, but more than three will likely cause stress and chaos.

I completely bucked the trend and took my then fiancée with me to look at wedding dresses. Since I value his opinion and we usually share the same taste in most things, and we also love spending time together, it made perfect sense for us to go together. After we found a few I really liked, well, that we both liked actually, I headed back to the store the next day with my mother and sister and came home with the perfect dress. My husband was still surprised on our wedding day, but he also got to share in the experience with me.

Take your time when shopping for brides dresses, have patience, keep an open mind, and when you spot the absolute right one for you, you’ll just know it.