To Preserve, Protect & Defend
Here's how to keep your beloved gown gorgeous for many years to come
Perhaps you always knew you wanted to preserve your wedding dress just in case your daughter might wish to wear it someday. Or maybe you don't know what you want, but you simply can't bear the thought of parting ways with your wedding white just yet. Either way, proper cleaning and storage increase the chances that your gown will live happily ever after.
The first step is to take your dress to a dry cleaner as soon as possible, even if it appears unstained, says Rachel Hardage, deputy editor for Real Simple magazine. Sugar stains from champagne, for example, might dry clear but can turn brown over time, and perspiration stains can cause permanent deterioration.
"If you leave immediately for your honeymoon, ask your mother or maid of honor to take care of this task for you so that the stains don't set in while you're busy sipping piña coladas," Hardage says.
Once the dress is clean, you can either store it yourself or ask a professional to handle the task for you. The DIY basics include placing the dress in a large, deep acid-free box with acid-free paper between the folds of fabric to prevent snagging from beads and other embellishments. These storage supplies can be found at art-supply and archival stores. Then, store the dress in a dark, dry area, free from drastic temperature changes. Hardage cautions against basements, attics or exterior wall closets because basements are subject to moisture, mildew and flooding; high attic temperatures cause oxidation of stains, finishes and trims; and exterior closets often have unstable climates. Select an area with adequate air circulation but away from light, such as an interior closet.
If you decide to go the professional route instead, Hardage suggests asking your seamstress or a recently married friend for recommendations. Experienced local dry cleaners can often take care of both the cleaning and packing for you, especially if your dress is made of a synthetic material like polyester and has limited embellishments that could get damaged. "You can also google 'wedding gown storage' along with your ZIP code to find professionals in your area who can handle this sort of thing," she says.
For example, New York-based J. Scheer & Co., a favorite of The Bridal Salon at Saks and Monique Lhuillier, cleans, restores and preserves approximately 2,100 wedding gowns per year. The president of the company, Jonathan Scheer, studied conservation science at both the Conservation Analytical Laboratory at the Smithsonian Institution and the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation. "We are not commercial dry cleaners," Scheer clarifies. "Our work is focused exclusively on the cleaning of museum textiles and ceremonial costume. As such, we emulate museum practices and methodologies when caring for any textile entrusted to us."
Dresses delivered to Scheer are analyzed in a laboratory by his conservation assistants prior to any cleaning or restoration. Each dress receives a written condition report and an individual treatment plan. Gowns that are heavily beaded, constructed from very delicate materials or have undergone physical damage in the course of wear require stabilization before cleaning. Others have staining, such as red wine, that can cause rapid chemical changes in the substrate and so must be treated quickly.
After any necessary stabilization each dress is cleaned using organic solvents and anionic detergents, eliminating the risk of shrinking fabrics, discoloring buttons and dissolving sequins. It is then hand-ironed and returned to the laboratory for inspection and "archiving."
Scheer's method of storage includes folding the dress with layers of pure cellulose (acid-free tissue) for support and surrounding it with sheets of Nomex, a chemically inert, dust-proof, breathable synthetic cloth that resists moisture and heat. This package is placed in an unsealed textile conservation storage box made of rigid archival polypropylene. "Sealing a dress can promote the growth of mold and mildew, and runs contrary to the recommendations of most conservation scientists," says Scheer.
Finally, the gown is returned to the bride, who is encouraged to inspect it with the white cotton gloves included in the shipment. Each newlywed also receives instructions for her gown's continuing care and a 50-year warranty.
The company accepts wedding gowns from all over the country and takes care of all the shipping and handling. If you order online at JScheer.com, you even get a $100 discount.
If you're considering gown preservation after your upcoming wedding, chart yourself a plan of action now. With a little preparedness, your dress will still look dazzling decades later.
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