- info@cottys.ca
- We are open until 6pm
Your wedding gown preservation experts.
Selecting a Wedding Gown
- Don’t delay. Finding the perfect dress can take some time, so give yourself no less than six months.
- Look for and read care labels and ask questions about care and cleaning of your gown. Can you dry clean both the gown and the trim? What kind of material are the beads and pearls made from? How will dry cleaning affect them? Is there a safe way to spot-clean the gown? Be sure to make note of the answers so you can inform your dry cleaner.
- Leave lots of time to clean and alter an heirloom gown. Bring your gown to a local Ontario Fabricare Association cleaner who specializes in wedding gowns and restorations.
Preparing to Wear Your Gown
- Have shields sewn into your gown to protect underarms from staining.
- Flowers with strong-coloured stamens can stain your dress. Ask your florist about your bouquet and, if possible, have them remove the flower stamens.
Cleaning Your Wedding Gown
- While a gown may be worn one day and may not appear soiled, it will always require careful cleaning after the big day.
- • Perspiration and body oils
- • Long gowns will pick up dust and dirt along the hemline and train;
- • Very likely, there will be food and beverage spills.
- • Many stains may not immediately visible, but will develop with age through oxidation causing discolouration, fabric weakness and damage to the gown.
- Always have your gown cleaned before storage.
- Point out to your dry cleaner any areas that have been stained and make special note of stains that may not be easily seen by the naked eye, such as white wine or water.
- Inspect all trim with your dry cleaner to ensure that it can withstand the dry cleaning process.
- Inform your dry cleaner of any special care instructions you received at the time of your purchase.
Hidden soiling includes:
Wedding Gown Storage
- Ask your Cotty’s cleaning professional about preserving your gown in an acid-neutral storage box.
- Basement dampness or attic heat could ruin your gown. Find a cool, dry location to store your dress.
- Storing your gown on a hanger can cause damage to the shoulders, due to pressure from the weight of the skirt. Stitching simple straps to the waist of the gown will keep the shoulders from carrying the burden.
- Store your accessories, including your veil or headpiece, in a separate location.
- Remove buttons, sponge padding, perspiration shields and pins to ensure that fabric is not damaged.
- If you store your gown on a hanger, cover it in either muslin or a white sheet.
- To prevent the bodice from becoming wrinkled, gowns stored on hangers or in boxes should be stuffed with white tissue paper.
