HOME >> WEDDING DRESSES & BRIDAL FASHION >>HOW TO CHOOSE A WEDDING GOWN PRESERVATION PROFESSIONAL

How to Choose and What to Expect of the Wedding Gown Preservation Professional

How do I choose the right local wedding gown cleaner?

Always select a cleaner that is a stain removal professional and specializes in the treatment of wedding gowns. A professional cleaner that possesses the knowledge and experience, and has the proper facilities that offer the most appropriate method to preserve your specific gown. A cleaning method that will not damage the fabric, beads, sequins, lace, metal fasteners, embellishments or trim.

Not all professionals who specialize in preserving wedding gowns call themselves preservationists. Many go simply by - Cleaners. To distinguish between the two, we'll refer to local service providers as cleaners and National Wedding Preservation Companies as Preservationists.

To find a local service start with word-of-mouth referrals.

Do you know recent brides from your community? Contact them for recommendations.

Do you work with Wedding Coordinators? Ask them for both; recommendations and the names of brides who used local wedding gown cleaning services, so you may contact them.

Ask the owners of bridal shops for recommendations.

Check the phone book for names, addresses and phone numbers.

Call the cleaners on your list and set appointments to interview them. You want to be sure that your decision to engage a particular cleaner/preservationist is based on knowledge and trust.

What should I request and expect of the local wedding gown cleaner?

It is better to be safe than sorry! You must have heard this said many times. When it comes to your wedding gown, be sure to adhere to this statement. Do NOT settle for second best! If you contemplate using the services of local cleaners, it is a good idea for you to visit and inspect the facilities and ask the professionals to walk you through the cleaning process they plan for your specific gown, and explain why they chose this method.

Make sure that the guarantee-warranty program they offer meets your approval and that should anything happen to your gown, you'll receive FULL REPLACEMENT, not just the cleaning fees reimbursement. We'll review guarantee - warranties later in the article.

Request references of satisfied customers so that you may check with them about their experience and satisfaction or lack of it and why they chose this particular professional.

If you can not obtain references or they are not favorable, watch out! Look for someone else.

How do I find a reputable national wedding gown preservationist?

Here too, word-of mouth is your best bet. Many bridal shops offer the services of such companies and if the shop has good reputation, they most probably checked the company they work with and are satisfied with the service given their clients.

You may also check the Internet and study the company, their history, their philosophy, their customer relations and most importantly, their guarantee - warranty. A family company with a long history that is still operated by the family is safe! If they did not have an excellent reputation, they would have folded long ago. There are companies that were established long ago but that has changed hands during the years. Find how long have the newest owners operated the company. A-wedding Day works with Wedding Gown Preservation Company. The company was established in 1913 and is operated by the third generation, the grandchildren of the founders.

What should I request and expect of the National Wedding Gown Preservation Company?

Before you trust your gown to a national gown preservation company you must be sure that your heirloom gown is safe. You must set specific terms you expect the preservation company to abide by. Request that the preservation company:

Selects the cleaning method most appropriate to preserving your specific gown. A method that will protect the fabric and embellishments and assure that all stains, soil and impurities are permanently removed, and will not re-appear years later as discoloration.

Store the gown layered with acid-free or PH balanced tissue into an acid-free or PH balanced box. Though, if you really want to assure that your gown stands well preserved, place it in a Gown Carrying Preservation Bag available exclusively at A-wedding Day.

Allow you to open the box and inspect your gown whenever and as often as you wish, and even remove it completely, without jeopardizing or voiding the guarantee - warranty.

Insure your gown while in their hands and during shipping.

Provide you with a clear statement, stating that should anything happen to your gown, you'll receive FULL REPLACEMENT not just the cleaning fees reimbursement.

Provide you the above in writing.

About Guarantees and Warranties

A word of caution! NEVER sign any document that says that the service provider is not responsible for damages to your gown.

Whether you choose to use the services of a local professional or the services of a national company, be absolutely positive that you fully understand and agree with the terms of the guarantee - warranty they offer.

You heard the expression "This guarantee is not worth the paper it is written on." Make sure that yours does not fit this category, rather that it is written and spelled out so as to be a legally binding document.

Do not accept a "Lifetime" warranty because it is too vague. Insist on a written contract that includes the specific number of years (20, 25, 50 etc…) the warranty coverage remains valid on Full Service Preservations, starting when, and under what conditions.

Before you trust your cherished heirloom gown to any professional request a guarantee- warranty that includes the following:

All hidden stains such as perspiration, white wines, sugar. salt acidity etc… will be permanently removed.

Guarantee - warranty stays in effect even if you unseal the box, take the gown out of the box, and inspect your gown - whenever you wish - to see that it has remained clean and preserved. The only party protected by an unopened box is the cleaner -- not you! Be sure that your warranty unconditionally guarantees all fabrics, embellishments and trims.

The only exclusion should be if the gown has been worn or mishandled after its preservation such as "The warranty is terminated upon the future wearing of the gown." or "The warranty will be rendered void if it was worn or mishandled." In other words, providing you took proper care of your wedding gown, it should need only possible alterations and pressing, to be ready for the next bride in your family.

The cleaner's responsibility under warranty, in case of damage or failure in future must be FULL REPLACEMENT VALUE of your gown at the time of discovery. That means that if you notice discoloration 5 years after the gown was cleaned you'll receive either a free repeat cleaning with a new guarantee - warranty or the amount you'd be charged if you were going to replace the gown with an identical new one. Do not ever accept a REFUND reimbursement of the price you paid for the gown cleaning service only.

© Nily Glaser , 2003. Nily Glaser is the founder of A-wedding Day, a very popular Wedding Resource and Information Center, and a shopping
mall for wedding gifts and bridal accessories.