After the wedding day is over and done with, there is still more left to do. While you are likely dreaming of your honeymoon and the happy home you and your beloved will begin creating, you probably should consider getting your dress cleaned. Cleaning and preserving a wedding dress is an important step in the post-wedding process, but finding the right cleaner can be a bit of a challenge. It s best to use a wedding gown specialist to ensure your dress is picture perfect, even after your wedding day.
What is a Wedding Gown Specialist?
A wedding gown specialist is a cleaner who has completed courses and training in the cleaning and preservation of high quality, delicate fabrics and fashions. Many of these specialists have focused their work on wedding gown preservation, cleaning and restoration. Utilizing museum-quality preservation practices, and cleaning practices for delicate fabrics, a specialist can help ensure your dress is expertly cleaned, then stored so it will last a life time. Members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists must be certified in the standard cleaning practices before they are listed as members in the association.
Why Use a Member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists?
While it is true that some dry cleaners will offer wedding gown services, experts suggest avoiding these locations if they are not a member of the association of wedding gown specialists. The reason is simple. Most dry cleaners do not have the equipment or know-how to deal with wedding gowns, so they outsource the service. Because your dress was an important part of your day, it is best to deal directly with the preservation expert, rather than dealing with a middle man. If something goes wrong, for example, it can be tough to hunt down exactly who is responsible for the mistake.
Using a specialist also ensures that your dress is getting the proper care throughout the cleaning and preservation process. These individuals have dedicated their careers to ensuring wedding gowns are expertly preserved, and they have the time, the equipment and the knowledge to get the job done properly each and every time.
How do I Find a Member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists?
If you’ve decided to preserve your gown, finding a specialist to clean it and preserve it is actually the easiest part of the process. To find an individual or a business that is a member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, you can begin on the official website. The wedding gown specialists website lists specialists across the United States and the globe. In fact, there are thousands of members who can help get your dress cleaned and ready for storage.
Experts suggest doing a bit of research prior to your wedding day, so you can plan to drop off your dress relatively quickly. The quicker you drop off your dress, the less time any stains have to set, and the more likely the dress is to come completely clean during the process. Don ‘t be afraid to call a few different businesses and ask them about their practices and what they will do with your dress. The price of restoration also varies greatly depending on the location, so do shop around a bit.
When you’ve said your “I dos” and you’ve cut your wedding cake, you’ll need to wrap up some loose ends before you head off into the sunset with your new life partner. One of those loose ends is dealing with dress cleaning. We think this little guide will make the process just a bit easier, though.
