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I just got mine cleaned for $195. I took it to a wedding dress specialist in LA and that was their minimum. Mine was a slim a-line lace dress, they said it can run upto $500 for a silk dress with heavy beading. I'm sure a you can find lot of regular cleaners that are cheaper but I just didn't want to chance it. Mine had no stains but a very dirty hem. I actually let it sit for three months, but it cleaned beautifully. No a speck of dirt left. I'm trying to sell mine so hopefully can recoop that cleaning cost.
My mom just got my dress cleaned. I dont know what Im going to do with it! I thought about selling it but that makes me sad so I just dont know!
Ummm mine is still just in the bag..... I honestly think I am going to just put it in my washer on a gentle cylce (we have a very nice washer). I can't afford $200 to wash something I may never wear again. My favorite dress pants are still sitting on my floor because I don't want to spend $5 to get them dry cleaned
Yes, def.
I think whatever your plan is, whether to keep it or sell it, you should get it clean. There might be dirt or grime on it that you don't see. Over years of it settling can't be good for it?
I called around a couple places and turns out most places (around me at least) actually just send it to Bridal Kare International (the local branch). So I called them directly and got the cheapest rate. They were running a special, $99 for cleaning and preserving. Will take a months time.
Now, if your dress cost about the price of cleaning it then I'm not sure if it's worth it? Up to you.
I took mine to my seamstress. She sends it out to be steamcleaned, pressed & boxed. I am not going to open the box, but it's folded neatly in there with my veil. It was $155. She said that the most damaging this is not the stains, but removing the oils from it being on your body.. that is what makes it yellow over time.
She told me to have it to her w/in a month of the wedding for the best results.
mine is still sitting, dirty, in my closest from june 5! procrasinator i am!
Mine is also still hanging in the closet since April! Guess I should get going on this. haha
mine was dirtied really bad - water, mud, grass stains over the bottom! I took it just to a regular dry cleaners and I paid $125 and I wouldn't say its much better! I'm bummed but thinking of making it into a short dress (maybe) b/c mine is really simple.
haha random story: a friend got married 4 years ago and had her dress sent away to a company that cleans/seals them nice and happy. Dont know the company. She just recently opened the box to look at her dress --- IT WAS THE WRONG DRESS! Yikes! I can't imagine the shock! They're trying to track down what happened years ago!
If it makes you feel any better we are coming up on our one year anniversary and my dress is still sitting in a ball in it's bag. We had an outdoor ceremony so it definitely has seen some dirt. I don't plan on selling it, couldn't bare to part with it, but obviously haven't been in a hurry to shell out some cash to clean/preserve it either.
Uh-oh. I'm starting to think I've overpayed. Then again, my dress was the filthiest you've ever seen - mud, dirt, water stains, little tears - but they are charging me $450 for cleaning and preservation...yikes. They are a highly regarded specialty wedding dress cleaner though...
I used Wedding Gown Preservation Company, and I highly recommend it. It was easy and fast, and my dress is beautifully preserved and clean. You basically send them your dress (shipping supplies are included), they clean and preserve your gown, and they send it back to you in about 8 weeks. I also had my veil and garter cleaned and preserved... all for $150.
I took mine to a local dry cleaner (they have a couple of branches near by). I think they normally charge $180 in the box/preserved and $130 for just a cleaning. I had a coupon for $50 off so I am paying about $130 for it to be boxed (thought it would be easier to store this way and I don't think I could part with it and sell it). It is at the cleaners now. I asked them if I could see it before it was boxed (had this image of me paying all that money and opening the box in 20 years to find out they never cleaned it and just charged me to put it in the box!). I went and checked it out and it looked great (mostly just had grass/dirt stains under hem and spray tan that rubbed off in the bodice). Just waiting for them to call me to tell me it is ready...It has been a couple of weeks...guess I should give them a call!
My train was pretty filthy, to the point where I was skeptical that I'd be able to sell it as I've planned. Our corner dry cleaning shop got it in like-new condition for just under $100. It would have been double that if I'd gotten it pressed as well. (I figured there's no point, since any bride who buys it off me will need to get it pressed again after her alterations.) Preservation would have been a lot more.
I didn't shop around for quotes because I wanted to take my dress to an 'eco-friendly' dry cleaner, which I think there's only 1 of here in Calgary. They said it could range from $200 to $500, but that they'd have to appraise it first. They ultimately quoted me $275 to clean it, without a box. An extra $50 for a special preservation box (which sounds kind of like a rip-off to me). They otherwise only charge $20 for my husband to dryclean his suits.
My dress has no beading or lace, and is silk taffeta with a some layers underneath for volume. And it was ridiculously, disgustingly dirty (it rained all day and I walked through puddles). We'll see how clean it comes out... (have to wait 1 month).
I actually wish I'd tried to negotiate with the guy to get the price down.
I took mine to one cleaner that quoted me $150 just to clean it, which was too much to pay (I thought) for an inexpensive informal gown. I took it to a second place that charged $25 to clean (not preserve) it. It looks good, except some of the dirt at the hem and some make-up smudges inside the top did not fully come out. Oh well.
I had my dress preserved by the Wedding Gown Preservation company. So far so good.
Ha ha! Umm... I just passed my one year anniversary and it's still hanging in my closet exactly the way I left it. Dirt, grass stains, something-that-looks-like-red-wine-but-isn't-since-we-forgot-to-put-it-out.... All kinds of good stuff. Fortunately I wasn't planning on trying to sell it. I'm not sure it would even come clean any more if I took it in.
I cleaned my dress in the Atlantic ocean...at the wedding. Before changing into my reception dress, I jumped in the ocean with my dress unsure of the effect it would have and it completely cleaned all the dirt off the train from taking photos. Yes it was full of sand and seaweed in the end but my mom put it in a garbage bag and threw it in the trunk of her cak (I cringed at the thought) and dried it outside then shook out the sand and I was suprised to see how clean it is now. She even let it back in the house! In all seriousness, it smells a bit like the ocean so she wanted to have it cleaned (can you tell I have no emotional attachment) and got a quote of $200. I would happily get it cleaned if I can find a place to do it for under $50 but if not I asked her to try the washing machine in gentle cycle with ivory soap as that'S what one bridal store told me they used to spot clean. In case you were wondering my dress is all lace with some tulle under neath and all over beading, however, I didn't spill any wine on it or anything that would stain.
I second ddubzz and MissAb. I'm one of those "spend two hours reading reviews to make sure I make the best choice" gals and the reviews were awesome. It cost $150, less than any other place I found, and I am very happy with the results. FYI- my dress was really clean, no stains at all.
@meliss:I need a good place in LA to clean my dress - where did you go? Thanks so much!
i was lucky because my ivory wedding dress had no distinguishing marks that screamed wedding dress. i didn't mention wedding when i went to the cleaners and it only cost $14. it's still hanging, so it's not preserved, but for now, that will do! i think i'm going to get a garment bag for it. i just can't imagine keeping it in a box.
Ugh, dreading this. My dress got so dirty! Our wedding was outside, and it rained before and after :) I'm going to start getting prices next week, and hoping my mom will pay for it. If not, it may sit for years... I need a job! And who knows about preservation, I'm not sure that I want it anymore. We'll see! :)
My seamstress is cleaning and boxing mine--since we plan on having it made into a baptismal gown for our children, getting it clean pronto was a priority.
What a sweet idea with your dress! Similar to what I'm planning on doing. The 2nd wedding top I never used is going to be made into a baptismal outfit for my child! I don't know about my dress... I think I'll be saving that... My Husband has this weird attachment to it thinking I'll fit into it in 20 years for some kind of renewal. LOL. Yeah right, but maybe? I think it's more likely used by a daughter or something. Meh. We'll see.
Anyway, I totally was thinking the wedding gown pres- company, but ..... My dress has all kinds of beading and lace... I wonder if the designer plays a part in price? Hopefully the ladies inquiring will find out.
@Mrs.Anchors: Some women have their wedding dresses made into First Communion dresses for their daughters...I decided not to go that route in case:
a) we have all boys
b) our girls are of very different sizes come First Communion age (I would have been swimming in the dress my sister wore for hers).
Hahaha... I totally had the sister wearing my dress and sinking into it. She was much younger and skinnier when she made hers. Long story short, my Dad didn't get her a dress (it was his duty) so they used mine.
Same reason I thought Baptismal was more appropriate (if we had Boys)
____________________________________
I'm all about reusing something, but if theres no future need for it. I toss it, I'm not fond of clutter.
Which is why I've been wondering what to do with my ceremonial dress. Will our daughters actually wear it?! Should I sell it and get a nice chunk of $? Or like one of my sisters suggested (much to the dismay of everyone who heard her) turn it into a duvet/comforter.
Since I have no clue at the moment, I've resorted to what my Husband said save it for vows if you don't fit save it for a daughter, if I don't have one ... Oh well.
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I'm curious if you ladies got your dresses professionally cleaned/preserved after your weddings? I think I walked through a puddle of red wine, and my hem is filthy from our garden wedding, and then I let it sit over our honeymoon...and then for another month... so I'm a little afraid it's beyond repair.
Also, if you wouldn't mind saying how much it cost. I'm thinking this might be my sticker shock item, and I don't want to have to pick my jaw off the floor of the dry cleaner's, so a heads up would be much appreciated!