Dispelling the Most Common Myths About Wedding Dress Preservation
While most of your attention is focused on making your wedding a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life, it pays to think about what will become of your precious dress once the big day is over. Although you’d love to preserve it, perhaps some of what you’ve heard is not all that encouraging. Take heart; by dispelling the most common myths about wedding dress preservation, you’ll know exactly what can and can’t be done with your beautiful dress.
Myth #1: The Label is Always Right
Like other garments, your wedding dress likely came with cleaning instructions, unless it was custom made. You’d think the manufacturer would know best, but that is just one of the myths about wedding dress preservation that you need to jettison. Since your goal is to both clean and preserve your dress, you’ll want to use a company that specializes in wedding dress preservation. These companies will both clean and preserve your wedding dress using the best methods for your specific gown.
Myth #2: Vacuum Sealing is the Way to Go
Vacuum sealing is a process that involves placing your dress in a clear plastic bag and then using a machine to suck out all the air. This is an outdated method that was intended to prevent any damage or oxidation. The main problem is that this method relies on using plastic to encase the dress, which contains toxic fumes and materials which will discolor the fabric in most cases. While this approach may prevent rips, tears, and damage from insects, expect your dress to yellow over time, thereby adding to the myths about wedding dress preservation today. A reputable wedding dress preservation company will not vacuum seal your gown or store it in plastic. Even the window on the preservation chest is likely made of acid free polyester vs. plastic.
Myth #3: Wedding Dress Preservation is Too Expensive
When you start to do your research you will likely find a wide range of prices when it comes to cleaning and preserving your gown. However, price does not always equate to quality. Even your local dry cleaners can cost an arm and a leg and they may even be sending it off to a specialist behind the scenes. Pricing typically begins at around $250 for both cleaning and preservation for a reputable company that specializes in wedding gowns and handles a large volume. These wedding dress preservation companies will typically send you a kit of materials with a pre-paid shipping label and insurance for you to send your gown to them. Specialty companies often charge upwards of $1,200. However, there is no need to spend that much even on the finest gowns. You can easily find reputable companies that charge at the lower end ($160 – $200) that are highly experienced with the finest and most delicate fabrics.
Myth #4: Look, But Never Touch the Dress Again
There are those who will tell you that touching your dress again after it’s been preserved is out of the question. While it is true that care should be taken not to soil or completely remove your gown or it may void the guarantee, there is no reason why you can’t carefully open the preservation chest to gently sift through the layers and inspect your gown with clean hands. Some companies even provide latex gloves for you to inspect your gown without soiling it from the natural oils on your hands. Be sure to use any resealing tabs that may have been provided to keep out dust or pests.
Don’t let these or the other myths about wedding dress preservation get you down. Preserving your wedding dress will ensure that it still looks great when your daughter grows up and finds the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Do your homework and find a reputable company that meets your needs. Once that’s settled, get back to enjoying all the planning for your big day.
