Southside Cleaners, a member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, has compiled a few important questions that you should ask the dry cleaner or preservation company who will be cleaning, steaming, or preserving your gown.
Where will the work on my gown be done?
This is important! Your wedding gown is the most
special piece of clothing you will ever wear. Are
you ok with your gown being shipped to some
warehouse unknown, or would it give you peace of
mind to know exactly where your gown is at all
times. We’ve all heard the horror stories of
girls who sent their gowns off to be preserved and
got back the wrong gown!
What kind of guarantee am I offered?
The problem with many preservationists is that once
you open your box the guarantee becomes void.
This means you can’t even inspect your gown after
it’s been preserved to know that it’s clean. So
even if the guarantee is for life how can you know
whether or not you need to use your guarantee
without opening your box and inspecting your gown?
Will my gown be sealed in plastic?
While this was the way to preserve gowns we now
know that vacuum sealing gowns just doesn’t make
sense. Moisture in the air is trapped inside
which damages the gown. Also, plastic accelerates
the aging process which can cause fabric, beads or
sequins to turn yellow. While fabric yellowing
can be reversed, many times once beads or sequins
turn yellow nothing can be done to fix it!
Will my gown be cleaned individually?
This is important to know. Will your gown be
thrown in a drycleaning machine with all the other
gowns, or worse with all the other clothing!
Can I inspect my gown before it is put in the preservation box?
To ensure your satisfaction you should be
encouraged to come and inspect your gown before it
is put in the preservation box. Especially if you
have chosen a preservation company where your
guarantee will become void if the box is opened
after your gown is preserved.
