I have a question for all y'all married ladies. Just curious, how much did you pay to clean and preserve your wedding dress? I'm trying to do my research and find out what's a typical or "average" price so I don't overspend.
I had such a fun time wearing my wedding dress, that I want to make sure it's preserved in great condition. It's hard to believe after one full day of wearing it (and a handful of fittings and trials), I'm packing my beautiful dress away in a box!
However, I plan on taking it out every year on my anniversary and waltzing around the living room...just for fun! Do you have any wedding dress traditions?
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9 comments
Confession -- mine is still hanging in the dress bag in the closet. Not cleaned. Two years later. Eeks!
I purchased a linen archival bag from Foster-Stephens after doing extensive research that the plastic bags and cardboard boxes that are typically sold will damage your dress! I was married 5 years ago and after having my dress cleaned by a reputable wedding dress cleaner in my town (about $80), I packed the dress in the bag using lots of acid free tissue paper (sold also by Fosters-Stephens). For the bag, tissue, and cleaning, I spent about $150. My dress looks as good as the day I bought it (I check every year) . . . and I can view it whenever I want without ruining it. The worst thing you can do is have the cleaner put it in a cardboard box with a "viewing window" . . . it will yellow your dress.
The bag I bought was Archival Muslin Garment Bag 70" with Padded Hanger from the Fosters-stephens website.
I worked at a dry cleaners' in college, and we did wedding dress cleaning/preservation. Depending on the dress [material, length of train, delicate beading, etc.], it was usually in the neighborhood of $125-250 for the whole shebang. Congrats and good luck!
I can't really remember how much I paid - I want to say it was about $100-150. I love the idea of pulling it out every year, though. I had this vision of pulling together a fancy dinner party where everyone could wear their wedding dresses and tuxedos, just for fun. It stinks we only get to wear them one day! Alas, I gave my dress to my little sister to use for her own wedding, and I was pretty happy it got to be worn again.
I can't remember how much my dress cost. I think it was about $150. I just had it cleaned; I didn't get it preserved. It's so sad that you can only wear the dress once. I like your idea!
I think I spent around $200 for mine to be cleaned and preserved. Still not sure exactly what preserved means short of putting it in a box with a plastic window. Scared to take it out and mess it up... but I would LOVE to wear it again. I miss it!
Another confession ~~ Mine is still hanging in the dress bag in my closet, too. It's been in the bag since I took it off on my wedding day. That was three years ago! Oops! I've done some research but I haven't really been happy with anything that I've found. I like the box idea because my old house lacks in storage and I'd rather not have it take up space in my closet.
Misty, if you come back to read these comments could you maybe comment on why you picked a bag instead of the boxes from Fosters-Stephens? Are their boxes just as bad as the ones from the cleaners?
Haven't gotten to wear my dress yet for the big day, but I have 3 sisters and we plan on one day having a wedding dress party where we can all wear our dresses again!
I have yet to take mine out again after having it cleaned, but the temptation is htere. Mainly, I'm afraid it won't fit! I paid $125 at a local cleaners in Chicago to have it cleaned but I didn't have it preserved or anything. My dress was black on the bottom from walking around in the vineyard and then partying the night away. They got it cleaned too! SO impressive!
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