Your wedding gown will undoubtedly be the most beautiful dress you ever buy and probably the most expensive. Before purchasing your gown we suggest you inspect it carefully and check the cleaning and storage requirements. Wedding gowns are usually decorated with beads, sequins, lace and other ornate trim. This decorative trim may cause problems during cleaning. At the time of purchase you may want to ask the retailer for any suggested cleaning procedures that may come with the gown since many gowns don't even have a care label attached.

At the wedding your gown should be cleaned and protected for future use. For best results have your gown cleaned within the next several weeks. Remember the longer stains and soil are left in your dress the greater the probability of their becoming permanently embedded.

At the cleaners brides should share any experiences like someone spilled champagne in a certain area of the gown. Dry cleaning solvents do not remove food and beverages. Such stains must be pretreated with special cleaners before the garment is immersed in solvents. If invisible stains aren't pretreated they will become set with the heat of dry cleaning. Perspiration and alcohol are water soluble and won't be removed completely by dry cleaning solvents unless they are pretreated. Alcohol dries clear but the sugar found in alcohol turns brown with age.

Dresses with glued-on beads and laces are less expensive but are also candidates for disaster when dry-cleaned. Glue is softened in perchloroethylene (a common solvent used by dry cleaners) and lace and beads fall off. The finish on beads can also rub off and some, if made of polystyrene, actually dissolve. If your gown has decorations that are glued on, find a cleaner who uses petroleum cleaning solvent. Petroleum is gentler on some beads and sequins.

When the wedding is over, definitely have your gown cleaned and placed in a dust-proof, acid-free box suitable for storage. This will preserve the delicate laces, beading and fabric of your wedding ensemble. Store your boxed gown in an area that is cool and dry. High temperatures may cause oxidation of finishes or trims while moisture may cause mildew. If you follow this advice years from now your gown may grace beautiful brides in future generations.

Many of today's brides following the current trend of formal weddings are considering wearing their mothers' or grandmothers' elegant wedding gowns. These old gowns locked up for so many years in trunks and stored in the attic may look neglected but many of them can be restored.

A professional dry cleaner skilled in the restoration and treatment of wedding gowns can breathe new life into these heirloom treasures. Choose your cleaner carefully; not all are bridalwear specialists.

Before you make a final decision, have your dry cleaner look over your gown. He will check for tears and examine the areas which came in contact with skin for stains and grime. He will inspect the skirt and/or train for stains and decide whether or not the gown can be perfectly restored. Don't worry about yellowing...if the fabric is still good a restoration specialist can achieve amazing results.

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