There’s an incredibly awesome feeling about wearing a wedding dress that has already walked down the aisle! 

If that’s your plan for your D-day, consider yourself lucky and truly blessed, sweetheart!  

Whether it’s your mother’s classic ball gown or MIL’s well-loved wedding attire, wearing a preserved dress is a heartful way to celebrate love across generations. 

But before you say “I do,” in that timelessly gorgeous attire, you need to do some prep work in advance. 

A wedding dress that has been carefully boxed away for years may require some attention and careful inspection before it is made aisle-ready.  

Outdated silhouette, missing bridal accessories, undesired veil or sleeve length, hemline adjustments, fit issues, and whatnot– there’s so much to look for! 

So, that is why we got you this blog! It is basically like a complete checklist of things you need to do while giving the gown a glorious second chance to catch all the limelight!

1. Assess the Condition of the Dress

Okay, this step is very crucial. Inspect the preserved dress thoroughly for any signs of discoloration, stain, fabric degradation, tears, yellowing, loose threads,  etc. 

But why is it necessary? Well, because it is possible that the wedding dress preservation service chosen back at that time by your mother or mother-in-law might have used improper storage methods.

So, you need to pay special attention to the gown’s structure, neckline, embellishments, hemline, straps, and sleeves. Doing so as early as possible will give you an idea of what repairs and updates are necessary to make the dress show-stopper once again. 

And, most importantly, if the dress was preserved from Trusted Wedding Gown Preservation, remember to inspect it carefully with gloves before removing it from the chest. Taking the dress completely out of the box will eventually void the 100-year anti-yellowing guarantee. Handle with care! 

2. Test the Fit

Now that you are done with the dress inspection, it’s time for the moment of truth: “Will the dress fit me?” Obviously, the gown was tailored to the original wearer’s measurements, so firstly, you need to try it on to avoid any last-minute surprises.  

Start by carefully trying on the dress in front of someone who can give you honest feedback! Then, get answers to the above questions:

We hope by now you have identified the things that need your immediate attention. Finally, it’s time to get alterations!

3.Plan for Alterations and Subtle Updates 

Save time and head straight to a professional and trusted seamstress or a skilled and experienced tailor– pick the one that addresses your gown’s needs.  

Remember to hire the one who has expertise in altering and adjusting old-fashioned wedding dresses. The best part? They will even give you unique suggestions to modernize your classic gown without making it lose its original charisma. 

Explain the specific changes you want in your dreamy dress so that you both stay on the same page. Whether it’s adjusting the neckline, altering the sleeves, replacing the zippers or buttons, fixing embroidery, adding lace detailing, or extending the hem– you will surely get what you ask! 

And finally, remember to schedule a fitting close to the wedding date to ensure all modifications fit perfectly.

4. Giving it a Fresh Clean-Up for a Spotless Look

After you are done with the alterations and updates, now is the time for a little pampering session. No matter how spotless your preserved gown looks, it still needs a gentle clean-up to get that fresh, fabulous look again. 

The gown has already gone through multiple inspections, trials, changes, and whatnot after it has been taken out of the chest. So, order our Clean-Only Wedding Dress Kit and book a gentle cleaning session for your precise treasure.

After inspecting the gown properly, our experts use the safest cleaning technology to restore the fabric’s freshness and softness, making it feel almost new! 

5. Caring for the Dress

• Before Your Big Day

Received your freshly cleaned, spotless gown? Now, all you need to do is show some care it deserves. Firstly, hang it in a sturdy garment bag in a place where it is safe from potential stains, dust, or spills. 

Don’t use any regular hanger; instead, use padded or specialty bridal hangers to support the dress’s weight evenly. In case you feel the need to steam it, make sure whoever does it has put on gloves first. 

• On the Big Day

Finally comes the wedding day, where all eyes will be on you and your prettiest wedding dress. So, before you take out the dress and step into it, make sure your makeup has been done, you had your food & drinks, and your hands are neat and clean. 

Avoid any makeup touch-ups, and keep yourself refrained from applying perfume, body shimmer, or lotion after you are all dolled up! Also, your bridal suite’s floor should be spotlessly clean so that your hem stays dirt-free! 

6. Preserving the Beauty for Decades

You have finally exchanged the rings, sealed the vows, tossed the boutique, and had an epic celebration– congratulations, you're officially married! 

But before you enjoy the bliss of your marital life, make sure you fulfill the responsibility of preserving your treasured heirloom– the wedding gown! 

We got you the ultimate lifesaver: the Restoration Wedding Dress Preservation Kit. This way, your bridal gown will not only be cleaned efficiently but will also be safeguarded in an acid-free preservation chest, guaranteeing elegance that will last for many decades! 

What are Our Customers Saying? 

We understand it’s hard to trust any service blindly! But here are some of the honest reviews we heard straight from our happy and satisfied customers regarding our professional cleaning and preservation services for preserved wedding dresses. Check it out! 

Nola M. wrote, 

“My mom wore her wedding dress in 1954. I wore it in 1988. When my mom passed away, I found our dress wrapped in cloth in her hope chest. It had yellow with age. I sent the gown to Wedding Gown Preservation, and it came back beautifully restored. Now, I can offer my 17-year-old daughter the chance to wear it or use part of it when she gets married in the future. Thank you for saving my 70-year-old wedding gown!”

Frankie N. mentioned, 

“The Restoration Wedding Dress Preservation Kit did an excellent job of preserving my mother’s wedding dress.”

Robin Jackson wrote, 

Fabulous! Our dress is over 70 years old; it’s been worn 3 times. The wedding gown preservation did a fantastic job preserving it, sewing on new buttons, as well as updates and always able to reach someone! I am glad I picked this cleaner! 

Gina Lovett commented, 

My daughter wanted to have my 1990s wedding dress redesigned to wear for her rehearsal dinner. When we pulled it out of its original heirloom box, it had many yellow spots. We sent it in and paid for the expedited 2-week turnaround. They went past the 2 weeks, but when I called, they promised to expedite shipping to ensure we would receive the dress in time for the scheduled alteration appointment. We received it in time, and it was beautiful. Almost all the yellow was gone, and now I can’t wait to see the final altered dress.

Wrapping It Up: 

Alright, there you have it: a complete guide on everything you need to know before slipping into a preserved wedding dress. Making this decision of wearing a vintage gown is not about saving a few bucks; rather it’s about celebrating the love and legacy your bloodline carries. 

You can amplify the gown’s glory once again by assessing its condition thoroughly, perfecting the fit, and making a few necessary tweaks. 

So, take a deep breath, trust the process, and enjoy every moment because you got this!