What exactly takes place in the preservation process?

If you get your wedding gown preserved by a professional then this is the general process that they will follow. Depending on the company, the steps that they take might vary so make sure to check with the individual company and ask questions! Here are the steps:

·        Step one- Typically a preservation company will start a thorough examination of your wedding gown. During this process they are analyzing the type of fabric, dyes, and any embellishments on the gown. They are also looking to locate any stains and minor repairs such as reattaching a loose bead or sewing a ripped seam that needs to be done. Depending on the company, they may or may not repair these things, you just need to ask.

·        Step two- Any stains that have been found on your wedding gown will be removed while using the safest cleaning agent possible. This will all depend on your particular gown’s fabric, type of stain, etc.

·        Step three- After stain removal, the entire gown will be thoroughly cleaned with a solvent that is similar to that used in the dry-cleaning process.

·        Step four- Once your entire gown is completely clean, it will then be placed into an acid free box and filled with acid free tissue paper to support your wedding gown. This will help prevent any wrinkles or creasing in the gown. One thing to pay special attention to is the type of acid free box that is used to preserve your gown in. There are varying types of quality in these boxes. Those that are less expensive can sometimes only ensure protection for three to five years. Another thing that you can do to guarantee that your box is still protecting your wedding gown is buy a pH pen at your local hobby store. The ink of these pens will change colors if the acid levels are too high when they write on the box. This will help you to rest easy knowing that your gown is remaining acid-free!

·        Step five- This step is optional depending on the company that preserves your wedding gown. Some companies will seal the box that your gown is in while other companies leave it unsealed. Leaving the box unsealed allows the owner to take the dress out of the box to view it in the future. Be sure to discuss this with your chosen preservation company.