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Wedding dress preservation
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?
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.)
back to top
How do they preserve a
wedding gown?
-
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.)
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.)
-
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.
back to top
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.
back to top 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!
back to top 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
back to top
where
to find a wedding dress ||
flattering
wedding dress styles ||
wedding dress buying
tips || wedding
gown terms to know
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