Preserving My Gown

[Guest]

What do I need to do to my dress to make sure it stays perfect after the wedding? I want to be able to pass it down to my daughters and to keep it in great condition until that time. Should I treat it with something before I wear it? What should I do after the wedding? My dress is made of satin and taffeta.

Thanks!

[AnaBanana]

I've been advised to have my gown drycleaned within a couple days of the ceremony in order to get out any hidden stains (white wine, sweat, etc.) which may not show up, even though it can be pretty expensive. It's worth a couple hundred dollars in cleaning costs to keep my dress gorgeous. You can have the cleaners pack your dress in special paper so that it will be preserved and will stand less chance of discoloring. I don't know about treating it before the wedding. That may be something to ask the people at the store where you bought the dress in the first place.

[Guest]

But when you go to a dry cleaners, make sure you get an estimate in writing before you drop it off. They will tell you an average price and then jack it up when you go to pick it up. And what are you going to do? They have your gown.

[Guest]

You should check around for a dry cleaner that does Martinizing. They will clean and pack you're dress and crinolines in an air-tight bag as well as box it for storage. That is what I did with my Sr. Prom Dress and what I plan to do with my Wedding Dress.