Preserving the Gown
The bride's mom may take it home after the reception, hang it in a closet, and cry a little
whenever she opens that particular door. The new bride, busy writing thank-you
notes, settling into a new home, and juggling a new schedule, is not thinking
"wedding gown.
But when you consider all the time effort and money that went into finding the right gown, it
should be automatic to plan for its future. In some families, of course, the
gown might be handed down to another member of the family, the old "something
borrowed" routine. But no matter whether the gown was bought or borrowed, they
all have one thing in common: the bride's sentimental attachment. It's because
of this attachment that gowns require special handling. And the older the dress,
the more challenging the restoration and cleaning process.
The best way to preserve a wedding gown, according to experts, is to take it to a
professional dry cleaner for cleaning and packing away. If you go this route,
check the gown over carefully first for stains, spills and tears before taking
it to the cleaners. You can point them out for special attention; different
types of stains require different treatments on delicate fabrics. Dry cleaners
who specialize in such once-in-a-lifetime reservations will check the gown for
loose pearls, threads, buttons and other problems. once the dress is cleaned and
pressed, it is ready to be stored permanently. This process, called heirlooming,
involves storing the gown on a hanger in a heavy plastic bag or wrapping it in
acid-free tissue in a vacuum-sealed archival box. The process can cost from $150
and up.
The dress should be stored in a cool, dry area away from fluorescent light. Ultraviolet
light will destroy silk very fast. The dress should not be stored in the attic,
garage or basement because of extreme temperature and humidity changes. Avoid
storing in wooden dressers - even cedar chests - because the wood gives off
gasses and is highly acidic, which affects the dress.
Probably one of the better places for it is under the bed, mainly so it won't be tripped
over. Because molds grow there, the area should be vacuumed more frequently. The
trick more than anything is humidity in the house. The ideal temperature is 65
degrees with a humidity level of 48 percent. Humidity that gets over 55 percent
for any length of time will grow mold. Even though the expense for this process
may seem high, it will be worth it to you to some day see your daughter walking
down the aisle in the dress you wore on your special day.
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