Wedding Gown Preservation

You said "I do," you're wearing the ring, and now you're back at home, putting away all of your wonderful gifts and rejoicing in your happy day.

But what should you do with your dress? The best case scenario is that you included preservation into your wedding budget. Properly cleaning and preserving your gown will keep it beautiful for a lifetime.

TIP: Include wedding gown preservation on your registry list so guests can give this important wedding step to you as a gift.

What sets Margaret's Legacy Gown Preservation apart from the rest?

Margaret's takes great care when handling, cleaning, and preserving your gown.

• We thoroughly inspect your gown for stains, wear, age, and oxidation, and then we test inconspicuous beads and trims for cleaning ability.
• We then carefully pre-treat and hand-wash the gown. We rinse the gown in virgin solvent. Our proprietary anti-sugar treatment prevents latent oxidized stains.
• We thoroughly inspect your gown and follow up with post-stain removal, if necessary.
• After post-stain removal, we hand-finish the gown, taking extreme care to maintain the gown's lines, drape, and fabric hand.
• We then tighten and fix beads and trim.
• You can make an appointment to inspect your gown before preservation, if desired.
• We carefully package your gown in an archival-quality box, using acid-free tissue and a cotton muslin liner.
• Your gown preservation service comes with a lifetime warranty against caramelized sugar stains and yellowing of the gown. Our written international guarantee is backed by the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists. Return your gown to any participating Wedding Gown Specialist to have your gown inspected and pressed at no charge.
• The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists is partners with Carbonfund.org. This partnership presents a higher standard for gown preservation. Carbon emissions generated at each stage of the preservation process will be offset with donations to Carbonfund.org. Donations fund reforestation projects worldwide.

Preservation box at Margaret's

I'm going to have my gown preserved elsewhere. Is there anything I should look out for?

Make sure to interview your prospective preserver.

• Look out for any box that has plastic: plastic viewing window, plastic bags, or a plastic box. Plastic is chemically unstable and promotes the formation of mold and mildew. Plastic can also cause your gown to yellow over time.
• Never allow your gown to be packaged in a standard cardboard wedding gown box, as it might contain acid that could damage your gown. Insist on archival-quality materials only.
• Make sure that your preservationist uses white, acid-free tissue.
• The claim of "air tight" or "vacuum sealed" is a  myth. You can't vacuum-seal a cardboard box. Air-tight isn't the best way to store fabric over an extended period of time. A sealed box restricts air flow. All fabric, even synthetic, requires adequate air circulation.
• Be wary if you're told that opening the box will void the warranty. After storing, your gown should be inspected and aired out periodically.

How should I store my preserved gown?

• Store your gown in a cool, dry, dark area of your house. Avoid areas that hold a lot of excessive moisture and heat, such as the basement or attic. 
• Inspect your gown every two to three years and refold it to prevent permanent creases, keeping handling to a minimum. Because skin oils can damage the preservation, we include white cotton gloves for you to use while handling your gown. And, as tempting as it is, never try on the gown.

WIN! Enter for a chance to win a FREE wedding gown preservation service. The next drawing is on April 30, 2012!