Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Dress Cleaning and Preservation

“Wedding gown preservation is a specialized process designed to clean, treat, and store a wedding dress to maintain its original beauty over an extended period,” explains D’Alessandro, adding that “the goal is to prevent yellowing, discoloration, and fabric deterioration, thus allowing brides to cherish and potentially pass down their gowns as heirlooms.” Per the experts, this involves thoroughly cleaning the dress, carefully inspecting it for stains and damages, and packaging it in a museum-quality preservation chest with acid-free tissue paper to protect it from environmental factors. “The preservation process takes about two weeks and brides must ensure it is stored properly in order to avoid any environmental damage,” says Ogunye. (But more on storage requirements later.)

There are many factors that distinguish a wedding gown specialist from a dry cleaner. While both wedding gown preservation and dry cleaning involve cleaning garments, they serve different purposes. “Dry cleaning is a more general cleaning process, primarily focused on removing visible stains and dirt. A wedding gown preservation specialist, on the other hand, is more comprehensive, specializing in treatment aimed at preventing long-term damage and preserving the dress to its original condition for lasting memories,” says D’Alessandro.

All wedding gowns must be cleaned before they’re preserved, and if you’re wondering whether or not the cleaning alone is sufficient, Ogunye has some advice: “If you're planning on wearing your wedding dress in near-ish future (say for a second celebration or a vow renewal on your one-year anniversary) a simple cleaning is recommended for the time being. However, if you're hoping to have your gown's beauty last long-term so it can be passed down to a loved one, [the full preservation package] is the way to go.”

When to Preserve

Provided you’re not planning on wearing the dress again anytime soon, both experts tell us that it's wise to initiate the preservation process as soon as possible after the wedding. Per Ogunye, it’s a near certainty that there are some stains or contaminants on your dress after the celebration and D’Alessandro emphasizes that the longer those linger, the harder they are to remove. Still, D’Alessandro notes that it’s worth reaching out to a specialist even after an extended period of time. “As wedding gown specialists we have worked with gowns that are decades old and have had wonderful results,” she says. In other words, if a precious heirloom has come into your possession, it’s never too late to treat it right.

What It Costs

Wondering how much it will cost you to preserve your wedding gown for posterity? According to D’Alessandro, “the cost of wedding gown preservation can vary based on factors such as the gown's material, complexity, and the provider you choose, [but that] brides can expect to pay between $400 and $900 for professional preservation services, on average.” So yes, it’s an investment—and one that might make you flinch after having shelled out for a fancy dress and the wedding itself—but if you want that beautiful gown to last for years to come, preservation is well worth the cost.

Storage Tips

Both experts agree that, once preserved, the dress should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place where temperature and humidity levels are relatively stable (i.e., under the bed or on a closet shelf is good, an attic or basement not so much). Additionally, D’Alessandro recommends that the preservation box be kept flat, and only covered by cloth if you like…[but never wrapped] in plastic, as the dress needs to breathe.

So can you take a peak whenever you want to walk down memory lane? D’Alessandro recommends that the dress only be unwrapped by a professional if it needs to be inspected or handled. “As part of our guarantee, when you or someone else would like to wear the gown again, we, or anyone in our association, will take the dress out of the preservation chest and press it at no additional cost,” she says. Ogunye, however, tells us that brides are welcome to remove the dress from the chest whenever they wish in order to avoid a permanent crease—but we’re guessing you don’t want to go too crazy with that, lest you undo the costly preservation work. Either way, your best bet is to consult the professional who provided the preservation services before you revisit your dress.