The hard part is over, you found the perfect wedding dress and the vision of you walking down the aisle in it is still in your head - now what?  There are several steps you will want to take to preserve the beauty of your wedding gown so that one day in the future your sister, daughter or niece may have the joy of wearing that special wedding gown as well!  If you make the decision to have your dress professionally cleaned and preserved, we recommend that you take it to a cleaning service that specializes in wedding gown preservation and not just a local dry cleaners.  Below we present information concerning wedding gown preservation to help you decide the best way to preserve your own memories.

If we do not address your specific questions or you would like to do a little research yourself, look at our sources or information at the bottom of the page.

• Why have your wedding dress preserved?

• How do they preserve a wedding gown?

• Where do I store my wedding gown now?

• How much does it cost?

• Additional information on wedding gown preservation

Why have your wedding dress preserved?

Stains- Stains cause damage to fabric over time but they can generally be completely removed if dealt with promptly. Sugar stains, such as spilled champagne, or chloride salts from perspiration may not be noticeable now, but if left untreated for a long period of time, they will turn into brown spots which might not be removable. For that reason you should have your wedding dress cleaned and preserved as soon after the wedding as possible. 

Fabric discoloration (yellowing)- the dyes used in your wedding gown fabric also include certain forms of acid.  Over time, this acid will be released as it breaks down which will cause the fabric to yellow.  Preserving your wedding gown includes "stuffing" your dress in acid free tissue and placing it in an acid free storage box.  Both the tissue and the box will help absorb any of the released acid and keep your wedding gown it's original color.  

Bacteria and fungal growth- if your wedding gown is exposed to moisture (from humidity in the air)  and extreme climate conditions such as temperatures over 85 degrees, bacteria and fungal growth can occur damaging the fabric of your wedding gown.  Storing your wedding dress in a plain cardboard box is dangerous as well because cardboard absorbs moisture, which will promote the growth of mold and mildew on your gown.

Oxidation leading to rust of metal components (zipper, etc...)- It is a known fact that metal that is exposed to oxygen and moister over time will begin to rust.  To slow down this rusting process, a dress preservation company may seal the box with a plastic wrap that does not let oxygen pass through it such as Mylar low residue plastic.  Also, they will place inside the box packets of oxygen absorbing chemicals which will help to absorb moisture and oxygen inside the box.  (You may have seen such packets included in a shoe box from a new pair of shoes or something that has been shipped to you.) 
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How do they preserve a wedding gown?

1. Generally a preservation company will begin with a thorough examination of the gown to analyze the fabric, dyes and ornamentation on the wedding gown.  The locate and type of stains will be identified and minor repairs may be done such as reattaching any loose beads or sewing a minor ripped seam.  (Some wedding dress preservationist will perform these repairs after cleaning.)

2. Next the stains will be removed with the safest cleaning agents suitable for you wedding gown fabric and type of stain, makeup, perspiration, wedding cake or champagne.

3. Then the gown will actually be cleaned in a solvent such as Hydrocarbon or Stoddard solvent (similar to the dry cleaning process) if appropriate for you wedding gown fabric.  Hopefully the preservation company you choose will have a designated cleaning tank just for wedding gowns to avoid any exposure to left over solvents from general drycleaning.  

4. Your wedding gown is then placed in an acid free box and formed with acid free tissue to support the wedding gown and to prevent excessive creasing.  **NOTE:  It is very important that you find out the actual type of "acid free" box the cleaning service uses.  Inexpensive acid free boxes are only covered with a coating of acid free material which may wear off or re-acidify within three to five years; leaving your dress exposed to moisture and possible mold and mildew growth.  Make sure the wedding preservationist uses archival-quality acid free boxes which will protect your dress from moisture, light, insect, and fluctuations in temperature and humidity.  You may even want to purchase a pH pen at a local hobby store or conservation company to determine if the packing materials are remaining acid free (the ink will change colors if the acid levels are too high.)  

5. Some companies will then "seal" the box your gown is stored in while others will leave the dress "unsealed" so that you can take the dress out to view it in the future. Be sure and discuss the issue of "sealed" or "unsealed" method with your preservation company and make an informed decision.  Some companies warn that sealing materials may cause more damage than protection.
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Where do I store my wedding gown now?

Where and how you keep the dress will have an effect on the success of the whole preservation process.
  
Flat surface- If your dress is stored in a box find a dry, cool and dark place to store the box flat with bodice of dress facing upwards.  Storing the preservation box in this manner will prevent undue shifting of the dress which may cause wrinkling and distorting the shape of the dress.  Wedding gowns should never be left hanging for years because the pull of gravity will stretch and weaken the fabric's fibers causing the dress to loose its form and shape.  The hanger can leave marks on the shoulders creating a ridge for dust to gather on which could lead to stains and if the hanger is metal or wood, it may also discolor the dress. 

Dark place- Fabrics will fade if exposed to sunlight and other forms of strong ultraviolet rays.  From the Textile Museum brochure: "Ultraviolet radiation from natural daylight and fluorescent light bulbs causes damage most quickly, but all light causes damage over a period of time."   

Stable in temperatures and humidity- Do not store your dress in an attic, garage, cellar or basement because of extremes changes in temperature and humidity. All fibers deteriorate if left in high temperatures and may discolor permanently. Also, damp cold environments, such as cellars or basements can lead to mold and mildew growth and may attract insects to your gown.  If the wedding gown is kept in a very dry place with high temperatures, the fabric may become brittle and fray. Choose a place in your living quarters such as  the top of a large closet that is not used very often or under the bed.

Not in plastic-Do not store your wedding gown in a plastic bag or box.  Plastic traps moisture which can lead to mildew and insects.  Instead choose a clean white or unbleached cotton sheet to wrap your dress in or in the conservation box provided by the wedding gown preservation company.
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How much does it cost?

The cost of wedding dress preservation will vary depending  upon the condition (tears, stains, antique fabric) and complexity of the dress (cathedral train, extensive bead work, layered skirt.) Pricing should include shipping and insurance to and form the company (if not local), preliminary inspection, cleaning, and repairs, as well as the return of your dress in  archival-quality preservation packing materials. 
We found the typical price range for wedding dress preservation to be $295 to $400.  Of course depending on where you live and the complexity of the dress, your costs could be considerably higher.  We also found specials through the internet for as low as $75 and in-home preservation kits as low as $59.95.  If you choose to use a economy company, be sure you are not defeating the purpose of preserving your gown - the adage of "you get what you pay for" is almost always true!
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Additional information on wedding gown preservation

Professional conservation labs are usually quite happy to answer any questions you may have on the telephone for no charge. The Rocky Mountain Conservation Center is in Denver, there's one in Minnesota, and there are a few others across the states. I don't know the phone numbers offhand, but you could probably post to bit.listserv.museum-l (it echoes to the museum-l mailing list) and ask for the number, or ask a librarian to help you find them. Other informative sources are:

Your state's Department of Archives/History

A curator at a museum which features a textile collection

Textile Conservation Group 
c/o Tapestry Conservation 
St. John the Divine 
1047 Amsterdam Ave. 
New York, NY 10025 

American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works 
AIC/FAIC 
1717 K Street N, Suite 301 
Washington DC 20006 

Textile Museum Conservation Department 
2320 'S' Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20008
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