Weddingbee boards

I can't recommend a cleaner, but what is the fabric and type of soiling? My sample dress is just dirty on the hem, and since I can't hem it (it would be too short), I've been reading a lot online about cleaning it myself. Obviously some fabrics you can't, but a lot of dresses are just made out of polyester that looks like silk or other fabrics. I'm cleaning mine this weekend, just soaking it in water, and I'll add some oxyclean if it doesn't come out with water alone. Lots of people turn the dress inside out and wash it in the machine in a white duvet cover on the handwash cycle (laundromat washers are even bigger), but with all the beading on mine I'm not comfortable doing that.

I've also heard bad things about drycleaning on wedding dresses, with the chemicals causing yellowing later, and being harsher than handwashing, but I'm sure if you find a really good company you're probably ok. 

Just an idea! Good luck either way, doing it yourself or finding a cleaner. 

This may not help you as I'm in Chicago, but I took mine to a regular dry cleaner (at the recommendation of a friend) and it cost $60.  I, too, had initially gone to a high end company with same quote you got.  Ask friends who they trust, or ask on your local craigslist wedding forum.  I've had some luck doing that.

And, I really don't recommend trying to do it yourself.  I tried on a small spot inside the hem of my dress, and that spot is still dirty because instead of cleaning the dirt out, I managed to set it in.

Just want to let you know that my 100% polyester Maggie Sottero held up wonderfully to cleaning it myself. I soaked it in water and oxyclean, and it looks amazing, and no water spots. If it's the right fabric, I would go for it. However, that's just my opinion and saved me a ton of money. Definitely don't do it if it's silk, tulle, polyester organza or anything like that, just read up on the fabric of your dress. Hope you find a solution!

i used wedclean.net and they were really great.