How to Preserve Your Wedding Day Attire for Years to Come
Venue Britton Manor
Florals Dazel Florals
Photographer The Chase Collective
You’ll probably invest significant time and money shopping for your wedding attire and having it tailored to fit you like a glove. So, what should you do with it after you’ve tied the knot?
Decide if you’re comfortable passing your garment along to a family member, to-be-wed or someone in need. Many consignment shops have special sections for dresses and formalwear. If you choose to keep your gown or formalwear in your own closet or hold on to it so you can pass it down to a family member in the future, it’s key to take the necessary steps to clean, preserve and protect these garments for the long term.
Why Should I Preserve My Wedding Dress?
It’s just a fact – after a day filled with dancing and sweating, your wedding attire will need laundering! We recommend entrusting your garments to a professional cleaner who is experienced in caring for such pieces. This is much different than cleaning an article of everyday clothing! You’ll want to make sure any dirt that might have accumulated during your photo session in a meadow or a stain left from a spray of Champagne is carefully and delicately removed without damaging the fabric.
Even if you don’t notice any visible stains, coming into contact with a variety of elements throughout your wedding likely left behind residue that will cause visible staining over time even if they are undetectable at present. Don’t wait – have your garment cleaned as soon as possible after your big day!
Cleaning & Preservation
It’s also important to note that cleaning and preservation are two unique processes. “Gown cleaning ensures the dress remains in excellent condition for short-term use, while preservation is a safeguard against the long-term effects of time and environmental factors,” says Brian Harrell, president of A Cleaner World. “By offering both options, clients can choose the service that aligns with their specific goals for their wedding gown, whether that’s personal use, sentimental value or potential resale.”
Medlin-Davis Cleaners prioritizes cleaning and preserving garments with sustainability in mind, and works to adopt updated methods as new technologies become available. “We listen and adhere to our customers’ preferences and use the myriad cleaning technologies at our disposal to ensure the very best care for every garment,” says Medlin-Davis President David Makepeace.
Sustainable Solutions
David says that Medlin-Davis most often wet cleans wedding gowns it receives. “If we do choose to dry clean a gown, we use a solvent called Greenearth,” David says. “It is a silicone-based solvent that is chemically inert and breaks down into carbon dioxide, sand and water at the end of its useful life.” In addition, Medlin-Davis employs professional tailors who can repair any damage that your dress sustained throughout the wedding day.
Similarly, A Cleaner World launders each garment with a unique approach depending on the state it’s in and other factors, “including the type and age of the fabric, the intricacy of the weave, lace and embellishments, the types of stains present and the exposure of these to environmental elements,” Brian says.
How to Store Your Wedding Attire
After your garment is sparkling and fresh, there are options for preserving its beauty for the long haul. A Medlin-Davis associate can help you decide whether an archival, acid-free storage chest or a 100% muslin storage bag is best suited to your needs, and both of these are guaranteed to protect your attire for 50 years.
