Where should I get my wedding gown preserved?

[fairytalelover]

I got married back in June and have been procrastinating about getting my wedding gown preserved. But I would like to take it to a place that is reputable and will not ruin my gown and veil. This is a designer Demitrios dress that cost $2000.00.

There are a bunch of places that you send your gown to and they send it back etc.... I just dont know who is good.

Does anyone have any reccomendations?

 

[princessblueeyzes]

I'm not sure where to get your dress preserved, but does Demitrios do it? If so I would go to them to get it preserved. Just a thought. But good question.

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

have you called the shop where you bought your gown? I'm sure they could refer you to a good source.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I would contact the store location that your purchased your dress. If they do not do it, ask if they have a recommendation of where you could have it done.

My one thing about dress preservation (I am still doing it, but this just bugs me!): A lot of places only guarantee the integrity of their work provided that the box remains closed... well... how do you know if your dress is deteriorating if you don't open the box?

One of those drive on a parkway, park on a driveway things to me!
xoxo

 

[Chrissie-riel]

Call the shop where you got it. They should be able to recommend someone. And yes - it will probably be sent out somewhere. There are really only 2 or 3 good preservation companies out there; everything gets shipped directly to them.

DON'T take it to a local dry cleaners first. Your gown will be cleaned and pressed by the preservation company before it goes into the box. (I have had to assist brides with lawsuits against dry cleaners who melted their gowns!!)

Unfortunately, it does have to be kept in the box. If you open the box it has to be preserved again. Most dresses yellow with age because of micro-organisms that are living in the fabric and enjoying a $2000 meal! The preservation process destroys and removes these little beasties, then the dress gets vacuum packed in the box to ensure no other little nasty "bugs" can get back in.

Good luck!

 

[groomtb]

how much does these type of dress preservation cost? for a non-elabrate dress. ...

 

[Chrissie-riel]

Gown preservation should cost $150-$350 depending on how elaborate the dress is and what part of the country you live in.

 

[groomtb]

Thanks chrissiereiss.

 

[fairytalelover]

There is a huge thread about Wed Clean on wedding channel.com and everyone seems to be raving about them and they are only charging $99. You send them your gown and they send it back to you in a museum quality box, cleaned and preserved. Here is their site: http://www.wedclean.com/default.asp

I was wondering if anyone here has used them?

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Thanks for the information FairyTaleLover!

When is your wedding? If I end up using them, I will be sure to write a vendor review. I think the box is one of the nicest I have seen.. and the price is right

Does anyone know about veil preservation? Even possible? In the same box with the dress?

xoxo

 

[fairytalelover]

I had my disney fairytale wedding on June 17th of this year at Disneyland. I am also considering David's Bridal for gown preservation. They do it for $99 if you use the coupon that is on their site and an extra $15 for the veil. It has a lifetime guarantee and also comes in a nice box etc.....If you want to get info about their preservation it is: 1-800-905-4526

Has anyone tried them out?

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I have no experience with them in the preservation department... I was really unimpressed with their customer service when purchasing my gown, the BMs gowns, and the mother's gown. For me, it's a trust issue with them... and I just don't trust them for anything.

I hope other's experiences are different. Truly, if I hadn't fallen in love with the gown, I never would have purchased it there.
xoxo

 

[hmgolden]

My parents surprised me by having my dress preserved (Honestly, I think my mother just couldn't stand the idea of NOT having it done). They had it done through their local dry cleaner. I have a rather sizable box probably 10"x10"x3' that has my dress, my crinoline, my veil, and my headpiece in it. There is a a clear window on the box and the dress, veil and headpiece are arranged very nicely in the box. I will say though, now that I have it, I dont know exactly what to do with it...at the moment the box is sitting in my closet in my old room at my parents house. No one has looked at or touched it since the day it came back from the dry cleaners...

 

[groomtb]

anyone put it on display in their house....?!

 

[fairytalelover]

anyone put it on display in their house....?!

I plan to do that when we move into a larger home.

 

[dznybound]

I had my disney fairytale wedding on June 17th of this year at Disneyland. I am also considering David's Bridal for gown preservation. They do it for $99 if you use the coupon that is on their site and an extra $15 for the veil. It has a lifetime guarantee and also comes in a nice box etc.....If you want to get info about their preservation it is: 1-800-905-4526

Has anyone tried them out?

I used David's Bridal gown preservation back in 2002. I was extremely pleased with the price and the service. The communication with this company is awesome. They send you an e-mail when they receive your dress and then they send you another e-mail when they ship your dress back.

We are in California, but I purchased my Bridal gown preservation kit at the David's Bridals in Orlando, FL. I had to go there to get my dress steamed anyway. We married on Disney Cruise Lines. After the cruise, my husband and I went back to Disney World to do our Magic Kingdom portraits. After the portraits, we were able to just put my dress and veil in the shipping box, slap on the airbill that was provided, and drop the package off at the Dolphin (convention shipping). This sure was a lifesaver for us because I sure did not want to bring my wedding dress on our honeymoon to Europe. When we got back from the honeymoon, my dress was shipped back to me in California. I highly recommend them!!!!

 

[Laurafoster]

I would contact the store location that your purchased your dress. If they do not do it, ask if they have a recommendation of where you could have it done.

My one thing about dress preservation (I am still doing it, but this just bugs me!): A lot of places only guarantee the integrity of their work provided that the box remains closed... well... how do you know if your dress is deteriorating if you don't open the box?

One of those drive on a parkway, park on a driveway things to me!
xoxo

Thats a good point lol

 

[fairytalelover]

Well they dont really do that anymore. All the companies I have contacted reccomend that you take out and inspect your dress and have instructions how to put it back and they reccomend you take it out once a year to air out. So this is really not an issue. At least not with the reputable companies like David's Bridal and wedclean.com

 

[Gabrielle0625]

Hello there.
I just used Carolyn Allens for my cleaning and gown preservation.
They pick it up (if you are local) and they ship it back to your home.
They insure it for $2,000.00 if anything happens to it.
For $189 they picked up my gown from Coronado springs resort, they are cleaning it and then doing a double layer preservation. They will do your gown and any other 2 items you choose. I did my gown, veil and mickey garter. Then they ship it back to your home fully insured. You can buy extra insurance from them if you like. I think its like $2 per one thousand more. Most Disney brides use Carolyn Allens for their steaming as well as cleaning and preservation. For just a gown preservation with insurance and delivery, I believe its $97. They are very good...check with other disney brides. Their website it Carolynallens.com,
Thanks hope that helps.
Gabrielle
Wedding Pavilion 12/16/05