Protecting Your Wedding Gown

Before the Wedding

Most gowns will require some alterations. Be sure whomever you have doing the work has appropriate fitting and sewing experience. If you are doing the alterations yourself, make sure your work area is clean and free of sharp objects and edges.

During alterations and fittings, your dress can become soiled and/or wrinkled. At Corryâ€™s our trained professionals will take care of these problems. Do not trust your gown to just any cleaners. Not all cleaners have the equipment or experience to handle wedding gowns.

The best way to store your gown is in a dark closet with a clean white sheet draped over the gown. Storing your gown in the garment bag can cause the gown to sweat in the plastic and the oils from zipper to stain the fabric. You will want to store your gown away from an exterior wall that may become damp from condensation.

On Your Wedding Day

Makeup and hairspray can be damaging to your gown. It is best to apply your makeup before putting on your gown and then when you put on your gown, be careful to keep the fabric away from your face. It is best to step into the gown if possible. If you need to touch up your makeup or hair when you have your gown on, put a clean towel over the gown.

Avoid walking on the hem or train of your gown, as this can cause small rips or tears in the fabric or lace. These rips or tears can become worse in the cleaning process. If you are having an outdoor wedding/reception, walking on the hem/train can cause grass or soil stains to be ground into the fabric. You will also want to bustle or pick up the gown when walking across any parking lots. They may look clean, but the oil and grease can stain easily.

Try to avoid hot beverages, as they can cause permanent damage to the fabric. If something is spilled on your gown, lightly dab the area with a clean cloth. Do not rub the area or soak with water or club soda, because this can cause the stain to become permanent.

Try to avoid contact with cigarettes or cigars, as the ashes can burn your gown an cause irreversible damage.

After the Wedding

Your wedding day will go by fast, and the last thing you want to worry about is your gown. Relax and enjoy your special day and honeymoon. When you remove your gown you will want to store it as you did before the wedding. After you settle into your married life, it is best to have your gown professionally cleaned. The sooner you have your gown cleaned the better it is for your gown. Even if you do not remember anything getting spilled on your gown, someone may have had something on their hands when they hugged or touched you. The worst violators are champagne, cake frosting, and sugary beverages. If left untreated, these stains can cause the fabric to yellow with age. Another reason to get your gown professionally cleaned is because body acid/oils left on your gown will deteriorate the fabric over time.

You may also want to consider having your gown preserved for the future. At Corryâ€™s we offer three styles of wedding gown preservation boxes. All gowns are boxed with acid free tissue paper and the boxes are sealed so that no air can circulate through the box. Each box also has a viewing window so you can show your gown at any time. The lids of the boxes also have a space for you to display a copy of your wedding photo, your invitation, or any other keepsake.

By using our complete cleaning and restoration process you should not have to worry about your gownâ€™s future. Have Corry's Cleaning and Restoration protect your wedding gown.

Store Locations and Hours:

Laurelhurst - (206) 525-8266