Wedding Dress Preservation FAQs: Reasons to Clean and Preserve Your Bridal Gown
If you're wondering about our service or have reservations about the safety of your wedding gown during our museum-quality cleaning and preservation process, rest assured that your concerns are recognized. To address these concerns and build trust in our highly praised service, we've gathered the most commonly asked questions from brides.
Pre-ordering
How can I pay for my purchase?
Payment can be made using major credit cards or the widely recognized PayPal® service.
Ordering Your Kit
How can I send my gown to you for cleaning and preservation?
The process is simple! Just place an order for your kit on our website, dresspreservation.com, and we will ship our specially designed preservation box directly to your doorstep. This box, equipped with thick walls and crush-proof features, ensures a secure and insured two-way journey to our facility. Additionally, it includes our preservation bag to safeguard your dress, keeping it dry and protected throughout the shipping process.
Is it possible to refund my Kit if I choose not to utilize it?
Certainly! Whether you bought the Preservation Kit as a gift or for personal use, if you or the recipient decide not to use it, simply get in touch with us to inform us, and you will be refunded 100% of your order. There's no requirement to return the box or its contents; however, the order number will be deactivated in our system, rendering it unavailable for future use. It's a simple process!
Can I order my Kit with one address and have my gown shipped elsewhere?
Certainly! Our online ordering system allows you to select a different shipping address than the one used for billing. Additionally, if you include a message in the "comments" field during the checkout process, we'll happily include a note for the recipient.
Is it possible to purchase my Kit with a PO Box?
Unfortunately, no; for the protection of your gown, we are unable to deliver to a PO Box.
What is the most suitable Cleaning and/or Preservation Kit for my dress?
- Celebrity Wedding Dress Preservation Kit: Tailored for recently crafted wedding dresses by designers, valued at over $2,000 when initially bought.
- Traditional Wedding Dress Preservation Kit: Recommended for wedding dresses less than 20 years old, originally purchased for under $2,000.
- Wedding Dress Restoration Kit: Suitable for gowns purchased over 20 years ago or those less than 20 years old exhibiting significant yellowing or staining.
- Wedding Dress Clean-only Kit: Suitable for wedding gowns less than 20 years old, to be worn again soon, or to be sold to another bride for reuse.
- Wedding Dress Clean-only Kit with Restoration Upgrade: Specifically for vintage wedding gowns over 20 years old, intended for future use or resale.
Is it possible to include extra shipping insurance with my Kit?
During the checkout process on our website, you can choose to enhance the insurance coverage for your dress. Our Traditional, Restoration, and Clean-only Kits include $1,000 worth of insurance, while our Celebrity Kit includes $2,000. You can add extra insurance at a rate of $50.00 for each additional $1,000 worth of coverage you wish to include.
Guidelines for Packing Your Dress and Accessories
What other accessories from my wedding day are eligible for cleaning and preservation under your ongoing promotion?
As part of the promotion, your complimentary set of five accessories can encompass a veil, train, hoop skirt, handkerchief, corset strap (lacing), jacket, shawl/cape, tiara, duster, garter, ring pillow, money bag, purse, gloves, sash, and more. Should you desire to include more than five of the mentioned items, each additional item incurs a $10 charge. Please note that additional fees apply for specific items such as slips, shoes, and silk bouquets ($35 each). If you wish to have extra items preserved, you can include a check in the box along with your gown.
Is it possible to have my hoop skirt cleaned and preserved?
Certainly, you can include your hoop skirt for cleaning and preservation at no extra charge.Â
Detaching the hoop from your skirt will precede a cleaning and preservation process for the fabric. Once completed, the hoop will be reattached. Subsequently, your hoop skirt will be positioned on the rear side of your preservation chest, beneath the preservation bust.
Can I add my tiara to the items preserved and displayed in the preservation chest?
Your tiara is eligible as one of the five additional items with our checkout code "FREESHIPPING." Typically, tiaras are carefully wrapped and placed discreetly at the bottom of the preservation chest to avoid any potential damage to the wedding dress fabrics, as many tiaras contain metals that may oxidize over time. This packaging ensures that you can easily retrieve and share your tiara with loved ones without compromising the 100-year anti-yellowing guarantee that comes with your wedding dress.
Sending in Your Wedding Dress
How can I be certain that my dress will be secure during the shipping process?
We have implemented comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and protection of your wedding dress as it travels to our facility and back to your residence. Leveraging advanced UPS shipping technology, you can monitor the progress of your dress in real time and receive email updates through the internal tracking system once it reaches the preservation facility.
For added reassurance, all Kits include a minimum of $1,000 worth of insurance to cover any unforeseen incidents during shipping, cleaning, and preservation. Moreover, the finalized Preservation Chest requires a signature from a resident at your home. With over 3,000,000 brides attesting to the reliability of our time-tested process, you can rest assured that your dress is in safe hands while enjoying significant cost savings.
Has any wedding gown ever gone missing during the shipping process?
Throughout our tenure as the leading online provider, there has never been an instance of a dress being lost or stolen during shipping. This can be credited to the stringent guidelines provided to delivery drivers and the established processes in place to ensure the safety and security of your dress.
Will I receive a notification when my dress reaches the preservation facility?
Yes! You will be informed via the email address used to place your kit order once the cleaning and preservation process starts.
How soon can I expect the initial 2-way shipping container to be delivered after ordering on your website?
The 2-way shipping container is anticipated to arrive at your doorstep within 5-7 days after placing your order on our website.
Wedding Gown Check-in
What occurs once my wedding dress reaches your preservation facility?
Upon arrival, the primary focus is conducting a comprehensive examination for any damage or yellowing, as well as identifying all the fabrics constituting your wedding dress. Our cleaning and preservation team meticulously documents these details, among other specifics related to your dress.
How is the location of my wedding dress monitored within your facility?
Dress Preservation has implemented an advanced tracking system utilizing barcodes to trace the movement of your wedding dress through the cleaning, preservation, and restoration stages within the facility.
Wedding Gown Cleaning Procedure
Does the cleaning process vary between the Traditional and Celebrity Kits?
No, both kits receive an equal level of attention during the spot cleaning and dry cleaning procedures. In the case of our Celebrity Kit, your wedding gown undergoes hand-pressing as opposed to steam-pressing before being enclosed in the preservation chest.
Is any part of the cleaning or preservation process outsourced?
Absolutely not. The entire process is conducted in-house, ensuring that your gown remains securely in our care throughout.
How does my gown get monitored once it reaches your preservation facility?
Upon arrival, your dress is assigned its distinct tracking barcode, enabling us to monitor its journey through each preservation station at our facility. This data is connected online with our GownTrackerâ„¢ system, providing you with the ability to track your gown's progress around the clock.
Is it possible to choose a cleaning-only option for my dress without preservation?
Certainly! If you have a dress you intend to wear again soon or plan to sell it to another bride, our Clean-only Kit is an ideal choice.
What does my dress undergo in terms of cleaning procedures?
Throughout the dress cleaning process, your gown will undergo rotation around our racking system, moving through various "preservation stations," each exclusively dedicated to a specific aspect of the cleaning process. Some of these stations include gentle dry cleaning, spot removal, pressing, hemming, beading, and more. Your dress is preserved using traditional family formulas passed down through generations. Following the completion of the cleaning process, your gown is carefully wrapped in our acid-free preservation paper and shaped around a bust to maintain its form over time. In the final step, your gown is sealed within our preservation chest, secured in a sturdy, crush-proof shipping box, and shipped for the return journey to your doorstep.
Will the cleaning treatments you apply to my dress damage the fabric?
Our groundbreaking SystemK4 wedding gown cleaning technology is entirely organic, just like the fabrics in your gown! Not only is it safe for your gown and the environment, but SYSTEMK4 also cleans and safeguards your gown more effectively than the hazardous PERC chemicals employed by your local dry cleaner.
What kinds of stains can be effectively eliminated from my dress?
What kinds of stains can be effectively eliminated from my dress?
We can remove approximately 95% of the stains typically found on the gowns we handle. The stains we successfully address include:
- Tar
- Grass
- Mud
- Grease
- Sugar staining
- Ink
- Dirt
- Blood and more
In instances where your wedding dress has a stubborn, deeply set-in stain, a comprehensive three-step deep cleaning process will be applied to address and eliminate the stain. In the unlikely scenario that a stain proves resistant to removal, and further treatment risks compromising the delicate fibers of your gown, a stain letter will be provided along with your preserved gown, explaining the reasons for not pursuing additional stain processing.
Is it possible to bleach my wedding gown to achieve a white color?
No, it is not recommended. Bleaching can cause significant damage to your gown, as the process is too harsh for the delicate fabrics commonly used in wedding gowns.
Wedding Dress Preservation Procedure
What repairs can your team perform on my gown?
Our team comprises skilled on-site tailors and seamstress experts capable of carrying out minor repairs on your gown for a nominal fee. Should any damage be identified, we will promptly reach out to you, presenting the option to repair the damage along with the associated cost. If you are aware in advance that your dress has sustained damage, please specify this on your paperwork ahead of time.
What accessories am I allowed to include for preservation along with my cleaning and preservation service?
You are entitled to have 5 complimentary items preserved alongside your wedding dress, such as gloves, veil, train, hat, jacket, shawl, handkerchief, cape, duster, garter, ring pillow, money bag, purse, and garter. For our Christening Kit, items like veils, socks, booties, bibs, robes, bonnets, slips, rattles, and more can be included. If you wish to preserve more than 5 items, an additional charge of $10 per item applies, and you can include this amount by check when sending your gown to us. Additionally, we provide preservation services for shoes, slips, and a silk bouquet, each incurring an extra charge of $35.
Can colored gowns be preserved?
Certainly. We ensure meticulous care to preserve the vibrancy and structural integrity of wedding gowns made from dyed fabrics.
What is the duration of the entire process, from the time I send in my gown until I receive it at my home?
The entire process typically spans between 5-7 weeks from the day you order your Kit, influenced by factors such as the size of your dress and the required workload. The preservation process itself takes approximately 20 days at our facility unless you opt for Rush Processing.
Preservation Kit Chest & Packaging
What material is used in the construction of the Preservation Chest?
The Preservation Casket is fashioned from top-tier corrugated cardboard meant for commercial applications. It is pH-neutral, acid-free, and comes with a protective UV-resistant sealant. Moreover, the Preservation Chest features a UV-resistant viewing window, guaranteeing secure observation while you reminisce and share cherished memories with present and future loved ones.
Is it possible to have a Traditional service for my dress along with a silver embossed chest?
Certainly, upon receiving your initial shipping box and paperwork, you have the option to upgrade your container from white to silver for an extra fee. The additional fee can be included with a personal check or paid online through the website.
What are the dimensions of the Preservation Chest, and will it fit my wedding gown?
Given that wedding dresses come in various sizes, our preservation boxes also vary accordingly. Depending on the size of your dress and accompanying accessories, we offer standard, large, and extra-large box sizes.
- Â Standard Dimensions: 33 inches long x 19 inches wide x 7 inches high
- Â Large Dimensions: 33 inches long x 19 inches wide x 10 inches high
- Â Extra Large Dimensions: 33 inches long x 19 inches wide x 13 inches high
Sending Your Dress Back Home
What measures are in place to guarantee the safety of my preserved wedding dress during its return shipment to my home?
We've secured the sturdiest and most reliable shipping container to guarantee the safety of your exquisite wedding dress during its journey back to your home. Our commercial-grade, crush-proof, and water-resistant corrugated shipping container not only shields against potential damage but also protects against the elements. We've taken extra care to make it nearly impossible for your wedding dress to be crushed or harmed by any inadvertent mishandling during the delivery process.
100-Year Warranty
What is covered by the 100-year warranty?
The unique 100-year warranty we offer safeguards your gown from yellowing for a century from the preservation date. Should you observe any yellowing or staining within that timeframe, we will re-preserve your gown at no additional cost.
Will it invalidate the warranty if I unseal the box to examine my gown and then reseal it?
No, your warranty will remain valid even if you open the box. Utilize our provided "sealing squares" to seal the seams of your Preservation Chest whenever you need to access its contents. However, we advise against fully removing your gown from the Preservation Chest as exposure to environmental contaminants, such as skin oils, can cause yellowing and void your 100-year warranty.
Feel free to inspect the hemline of your dress, typically the most soiled and stained fabric, without taking the entire dress out of the Preservation Chest.
Storing and Maintaining Your Dress After Preservation
What is the ideal location in my home to store my wedding dress after it has been preserved?
To store your freshly cleaned and preserved wedding dress, the optimal location is one where you feel comfortable. Avoid non-conditioned areas like the garage, basement, or attic. Additionally, it's advised to keep your Preservation Chest away from direct sunlight. Many brides choose to store their Preservation Chest under the bed in their master bedroom.
If my wedding dress shows signs of yellowing before the conclusion of the 100-year warranty, what steps should I take?
In the rare event that you observe yellowing in your preserved wedding dress before the 100-year warranty expires, simply contact our customer service team. We will promptly send you a new Preservation Kit at no cost. Honoring this warranty since 1913, our service is the nation's oldest, assuring you that we will uphold our anti-yellowing guarantee throughout your lifetime and beyond.