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| Wedding Gown Fashion Tips
Tips for buying and cleanning your wedding dress


by Evelyn Pother
• Traditionally a divorcée or a widow does not wear a veil when remarrying.

• You might find your dress or gown at one place and your attendant's attire at another. There are no rules that they all have to be purchased at the same place.

• Make sure your attendants like the dress you want them to wear. Your Maid of Honor  usually wears a different shade and style than the dresses your Attendants will be wearing.

• If you are wearing a suit, your Maid of Honor and Attendants can also wear suits, or dresses that coordinate.

• Your Maid of Honor's accessories should include matching shoes, hat (or something coordinated in her hair), gloves (optional) and jewellery. Your attendants will follow suit.

• If you are renting a dress, make sure that it fits you perfectly, is fresh and in new condition.

• If you are borrowing a dress, return it cleaned and with a gift.

• Give yourself plenty of time to look for your dress so that you can take advantage of seasonal sales.

• Prom dresses can sometimes double as wedding or attendant's attire when cost is an issue.

• Several resale and discount shops carry gowns, dresses and evening suits. When looking at the fabric, remember the type of seasonal weather being forecast for your wedding day.

• Check your local newspaper's classified section for wedding gowns. Not all advertised dresses will be used; some will (unfortunately) be brand new.

• Bridal salons are very competitive. Once they know you are comparison shopping they will usually add on services such as alterations or cleaning your dress. Watch for sales. Better bridal salons and shops offer huge discounts because they don't like to carry stock over from season to season.

• If you are buying a designer gown, make sure the salon or store where you are buying it is an authorized dealer and the dress is not a knock-off.

• If the bridal salon or store will allow, have someone take photos of you in the gowns you try on. This device helps you to narrow down your selection at home more easily.

• Remember, It's your wedding and you can wear what you want.
TIPS FOR PRESERVING YOUR WEDDING GOWN

AFTER THE WEDDING

If you are planing to preserve your wedding gown, the best thing to do is to begin the process right away with a couture cleaners that specializes in the preservation and restoration of bridal gowns.

Here are answers to some of the most frequent questions regarding wedding gown cleaning and preservation.

Q: What does the process consist of?
A: Wedding gown preservation is a three-part process that ensures your gown is there for future generations. Essentially it consists of professional cleaning, hand finishing and museum quality storage and preservation. At Hallack Cleaners their procedure incorporates methods used by museums such as the Smithsonian Institution when preserving historic garments.

Q: Are cleaners able to take care of the fine beading and lace on gowns?
A: The first step in the cleaning process is thorough inspection. The gown’s trim should be tested for strength and durability and examined for loose materials, which is all repaired before the gown is cleaned. Unique and distinctive fabrics, laces, embroideries and appliqués require special care, as do pearls, beads, sequins and droplets. Seamstresses and tailors handle a wide assortment of repairs, from torn hems to ripped seams and lace. Make sure you are advised ahead of time if a major repair is needed.

Q: How will spots on wedding gowns be cared for?
A: Spotting specialists carefully pre-treat stains before gently cleaning the gown. After it is cleaned, at Hallack, it is treated with a trademarked anti-sugar process which helps to prevent sugar stains, such as those from wine or cake, from yellowing over the years. Other common stains that are frequently treated come from other foods, grass, mud, blood, tar and grease.

Q: How long will it take?
A: Normally, the entire process is completed three to four weeks.

Q: How are gowns stored?
A: After cleaning at Hallak, every wedding gown is hand-finished to perfection following the designer’s line and drape. After this process is completed, the gown undergoes rigorous inspection, storage and preservation procedures before being carefully folded and positioned. Then, the finest museum-quality box available is used to provide archival protection.

Prices to compare in US funds:
• Standard Base $400 cleaning, plus $100 for boxed preservation.
• Couture Base $600, plus $100 for boxed preservation. Hallak Cleaners use a true museum quality preservation box which was originally designed for the Smithsonian Museum.
• Pre-Wedding Pressing/Steaming costs are approximately 40% of cleanning charges

The factors which cause the price to increase include the following:
• Trimmings such as beads, sequins, appliques and flowers are an additional $50-$250 depending on extent of coverage.
• Length of Train: 1-3 feet approximately $50, 4-6 feet approximately $100, beyond 6 feet approximately $25/feet.
• Extent of hem soil: anywhere from $50-$250.
• Skirt circumference and/or number of layer: $50-$250,
It is important to note that when several of these conditions/factors are present the effect is less than cumulative. In other words, the final total is less than the sum of the components. Multiple care discounts are offered when a gown is cared for more than once. For instance, pre-wedding and post-wedding cleaning of a sample gown or pre-wedding steaming and post-wedding preservation.  

Tips courtesy: Hallak Cleaners located  in New York City and Hackensack, New Jersey, who for more than half a century has specialized in cleaning and preserving wedding and other fine gowns. If you are outside of their delivery area, you can ship your gown to them by FedEx or UPS. When gowns are fully cleaned and inspected, they will ship it back in a specially designed box they provide for storage. Return shipping of the gown is free. For more information, visit www.hallakcleaners.com.


WeddingsHoneymoons.com | W&H: Gown Preserving | July 20, 2010
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