Where to Begin
Choosing a company to take care of your precious wedding dress can be a daunting task. Not only is your dress likely to be more valuable to you than the price you paid for it, it represents one of the most magical days of your life, which makes it priceless. Not sure where to begin, other than the usual online search for ‘wedding dress preservation near me’? Read on for the essentials you need to know before you decide, including wedding dress preservation reviews.
Be Wary of Your Local Cleaners – Use a Specialist
Before casually handing your wedding dress over to your local dry cleaners, who probably cleans more blouses and shirts than anything else, be sure to do your homework. Most dry cleaners do not specialize in cleaning wedding dresses. Wedding dresses typically have very delicate fabrics, beading, lace, and can be quite large requiring special equipment. They need special hand treatments and should be thoroughly examined under a UV light to treat all visible and initially invisible stains. Special solvents and processes should be used that most dry cleaners are not equipped with.
There are so many nightmare stories of dry cleaners ruining wedding dresses, and you don’t want to be one of them. If they don’t clean them in house, they often send them out to a specialist and then charge you a markup so they can make a profit. As a result, it’s usually safer and less expensive for you to send it directly to a wedding dress cleaning and preservation specialist. So how do you find the right one?
Wedding Dress Preservation Reviews Are Key
The best way to choose a company that fits all of your needs, is to research testimonials and read wedding dress preservation reviews by those who have done it before. Checking out real wedding dress preservation reviews by real brides is the first place to start. Most companies will post real testimonials of people who loved their service, but it’s doubtful they are going to post anything negative.
How Do I Know If Reviews Are Authentic?
What are the best places to look for authentic wedding dress preservation reviews? We’d recommend reputable wedding websites such as The Knot and WeddingWire. These companies actually verify their vendor reviews so you can rest assured they are authentic.
Many companies with great reputations will have reviews linked straight to their website to make the process super easy, others you may have to do a little digging. Regardless, researching is the greatest way to ensure you are happy with your finished product and not deviated that your dress doesn’t look better than you left it! So, let’s take a look at a few reviews that are great examples of what you should look for when reading through testimonials and wedding dress preservation reviews.
Is it Too Late to Clean and Preserve My Wedding Dress?
Cost Does Not Necessarily Mean Quality
How Do I Ensure My Dress Is Safe?
Preserving For Future Use 
Time in Business
You’ll also want to find out how long the company has been in business. The Wedding Gown Preservation Company has been in business for over 100 years and is the largest and most reputable company in the US. However, they do not sell directly to the public. As a result, you’ll want to find one of their authorized dealers who can sell you their service. Affordable Preservation Company is their top ‘Elite Authorized Dealer’ and offers the lowest price available for each package throughout the US.
Financially Stable
You also want to be sure the company will be in business tomorrow. Check the news to see if there is anything unfavorable you should know, such as potential bankruptcy. With David’s Bridal recently filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Alfred Angelo closing their doors without warning, you want to be sure you get your dress back.
Protection Against Loss or Damage
Worried about sending your dress off with UPS or FedEx? Not only will many wedding dress preservation companies include insurance, you can also purchase additional insurance for peace of mind for a small fee. More good news… rarely are wedding dresses lost or stolen. A wedding dress is not a commodity that does well in the after market, unlike electronics. Your dress is more special and valuable to you than anyone else. You shopped for days, weeks or months to find the perfect dress for you. It is highly unlikely someone will want to steal your dress or try to resell it.
Insurance also usually covers damage that might occur to the dress during the cleaning process. Damage is also extremely rare when sending your dress to a specialist that has highly trained technicians that work with the most delicate fabrics on wedding gowns every day.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to know what to look out for before putting your dress in the hands of a company that offers wedding dress preservation. Be sure you do your homework and read as many wedding dress preservation reviews as possible. The most trusting advice you can receive is from those who have learned from experience!
