gown cleaning & preservation
book a fitting
Schedule a drop-off to have your wedding dress cleaned and/or preserved!
Wedding Gown Cleaning + Preservation
Photo by Peyton Curry
The executive summary
Wedding dresses must be hand-cleaned or specially cleaned due to their delicate composition (and white/ivory coloring!)
Unlike other studios/boutiques, we do not ship out your dress to a generic company that does set pricing and boxing
These often anonymous companies may bulk clean your precious gown with others, causing abrasion and net-new damage
These companies are also often not able to repair, restore, and give individualized care to your keepsake
We are low volume, which means we have direct eyes on your dress. We have never had a dress go missing or mixed up. We’ll keep it that way!
We clean your dress locally and specialize in wedding dress care
This includes using special solvents (both wet and dry) that are great for removing stains on thin, delicate, and intricate fabrics and notions
We also provide hand-cleaning services for gowns that cannot meet solvents at all
We do not provide specialty cleaning for vintage gowns or other non-traditional bridal wear
Cleaning usually begins at around $350+ and boxing is an additional $120+
Turnaround times are about 3-4 weeks and gowns return in a sealed box
A gentle reminder that dry cleaning mileage varies greatly based on wear and tear of your dress. Most of the time, we see over 90% of debris and damage repaired, but this all depends on the composition and condition of your gown. The benefit of working with a local group is we are able to spot clean as many times as possible to get your gown back to her former glory, though results may vary based on the type of stain or type of damage. Please see our full terms of service online here.
Cleaning Process and Steps
what to expect
A peak behind the curtain of what dress cleaning and preservation entails!
Photo by Alex Mari
wedding dress cleaning
Once you drop your dress off for cleaning, we will inspect your gown and take notes of the areas that have damage or could be repaired. This includes broken bustles, loose buttons, tears, etc. When it is possible to repair, we flag those items to patch up after cleaning.
Then your dress gets cleaned! A cleaning specialist will read the care label on your gown, inspect the fabric composition, and clean your gown via a dry cleaning machine or by hand (many gowns are ultimately cleaned by hand, and the expert will determine the friendliest method for your specific dress). Particularly stubborn stains are spot-cleaned (usually on the hem).
Once your dress is cleaned, it gets steamed, pressed, and packed for an inspection. Any flagged repairs are completed at that time.
Photo by Peyton Curry
boxing + preservation (optional)
If you are planning to keep your gown for longevity to use the fabric or to pass on to someone special, the dress will then move to a special preservation box.
After cleaning, the gown is directly and carefully folded (and sometimes stuffed!) with special acid-free tissue paper to slow down the aging and discoloration process. Your veil, sashes, and toppers, will all be tucked in under the gown. Then a view-thru lid is placed over the gown and the dress will be put into another box (it’s very meta, lots of boxes). We’ll put a plastic covering over the box. The box will return to you sealed.
Store your box in a cool, dry place (like under your bed or in a closet) and not your attic, basement, or garage.
Dress Cleaning FYIs
Here is the *laundry list* of other helpful things to know:
Most dirt and dust will come out of your dress. The bottom hem of your dress will likely be a light gray or brown. Most - but maybe not all - of that will come out during the cleaning process. Spray tan and makeup usually can be removed as well.
Sometimes red wine and food are v stubborn. If you have red wine or food stains on your dress, those stains may or may not come out. We will try our best, but we can’t make any guarantees :/ If your dress has glitter or certain beading, it may not be cleanable.
We may be able to make small repairs if needed. If you notice that your dress has torn a bit or has some other unsightly damage, we may be able to help (additional charges may apply).
The texture of your dress may change. Some materials may experience slight discoloration or a change in texture after cleaning. This is normal, but worth mentioning up front. We always use the lightest blend of cleaning agents possible to get your dress as renewed as possible.
If you’re going for boxing, we have 3 box sizes. We have small, large, and extra-large boxes. Most dresses without tulle or crinoline will fit in the smaller box when folded. Dresses return in a sealed box. You are welcome to open the box, but we generally do not advise this until she is ready for her next wear!
A sample of what your dress will look like in the preservation box!
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