When it comes to budget wedding gown preservation, you can definitely choose to save a few bucks by opting for a local dry cleaner and getting yourself a quality DIY gown preservation kit. However, your wedding gown is perhaps the most expensive and exquisite piece of attire that you probably own, so should you really be trying to skimp on quality cleaning and preservation? Clearly, it is one of the only ways of making sure that the wedding dress stays pristine even years later. So, let’s deep dive into it and figure out how brides can actually get the job done without breaking the bank!
Different types of wedding dress preservation techniques
- Sealed wedding dress preservation: In this, popular wedding dress preservation companies offer an acid-free box. The box comes with acid-free tissue to be used to buffer the folds. A special cardboard piece is also used to keep the bodice area of the gown in place. One of the most interesting aspects about it is that the box is sealed because the gown needs to be protected from the outside elements and oxygen. However, sealed preservation boxes come with their own set of problems.
- It puts your gown at risk of contamination from plastic or cardboard component fumes.
- It puts the gown at risk of permanent damage due to creases, chiefly because you cannot refold it periodically or rearrange it in the box.
- Sealed boxes make inspections impossible, thus, you would not know about stains, yellowing, or other problems.
- Boxed wedding gown preservation: The boxed method is quite like the sealed wedding dress preservation with few notable changes. Upon careful cleaning, the dress is folded into a wedding dress storage box. However, the box is not sealed, thereby leaving scope for proper inspection of the gown. This also allows people to refold the gown periodically and hence, saves it from permanent creases. If you notice oxidizing stains during the inspection, you can ask the company to re-do the cleaning process. However, make sure that the preservation boxes are made from acid-free, lignin-free boards. Some cheap service providers use normal cardboard boxes, or boxes that are acid-free but not lignin-free.
- Bagged or hanging wedding dress preservation: Although a new form of preservation technique for wedding gowns, it is quite similar to what museums do to preserve heirloom costumes. The preservation technique protects the dress from dust and light. Since the dress remains unfolded, there are no chances of it getting permanent creases. The cotton packaging has ample air circulation, thus protecting the gown from the growth of mold and mildew. In case, you own a strapless or a heavy gown, they are reinforced with special suspenders for long-term storage.
Key takeaway
We’ve briefly mentioned three different preservation processes and each comes with its own share of pros. While it’s good to know that the sealed boxes provide complete protection from all external factors, it doesn’t leave any room for the inspection of the gown. This is where the boxed way of preservation shines. It allows brides to periodically inspect the gown and refold it from time to time to prevent permanent creasing. Lastly, the bagged gown preservation process is great for heavy gowns. It requires minimal maintenance, doesn’t need refolding, and doesn’t cause creasing.
It is important to know the type of gown you own, and the fabric used. You should always make an informed decision, as often, these two factors may have some bearing on the kind of preservation process you should opt for. Follow the preservation guidelines properly and make sure the gown is always stored in a climate-controlled room. Try to avoid places like the attic and the basement, as they tend to be moist or far too warm for the gown, and may negatively impact the preservation process.
