After investing time and money into curating your bridal attire, it’s only natural to be curious about wedding dress preservation once the big day passes. Keeping your gown in its best condition with the help of professionals can not only create an heirloom piece for future generations, but it’s also a way to treasure and hold on to the beautiful memories attached to the garment. While you don’t necessarily have to put your gown on display like an antique piece found at a museum, properly cleaning and placing your wedding dress in a preservation box can help you capture a moment of your own sartorial history.
Ahead, we get the expert insights on the ins and outs of wedding dress preservation from Jonathan Scheer, the president of couture cleaning and preservation company J. Scheer and Co. and a conservationist for pieces seen at The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Is It Worth It to Preserve a Wedding Dress?
If you want to keep your wedding dress intact to pass down to your children or hope to keep this piece of personal fashion history, preserving your gown can make all the difference. “A wedding gown is far more than just a dress—it is a treasured keepsake that holds the memories of one of life’s most significant moments,” explains Jonathan Scheer. “However, without proper cleaning and preservation, this delicate garment is at risk of irreversible damage. Stains left untreated can oxidize and set, causing permanent discoloration. Over time, the fabric may yellow, lose its shape, or become vulnerable to mold, mildew, and pests. Our approach is designed to provide safe, long-term care within a home setting, allowing your gown to age gracefully. Best of all, the preservation method allows the gown to be periodically inspected and admired for years to come.”
How Much Does It Cost to Preserve a Wedding Dress?
Keeping the quality of your wedding dress in peak condition for decades requires a bit of an investment. “The cost of wedding gown preservation can vary widely depending on factors such as location, materials used, and—most importantly—the training and expertise of the specialists performing the work,” notes Scheer. While you can expect to pay between $250 to $1000 depending on what kind of specialist you go to, your region, and the dress construction, the price can go higher for high-end, couture-focused preservationists. “Our pricing reflects the high level of care, customization, and conservation science that goes into each gown,” says Scheer. “While prices typically range from $895 to over $2,000, the final estimate is determined after evaluating the level of soil or staining, the gown’s construction and style, and the complexity of repairs or preservation requirements.”
Can You Just Dry Clean a Wedding Dress?
There’s a major difference between taking the steps to preserve your wedding dress and just dry-cleaning it. “Many people assume that once a wedding gown is cleaned, simply hanging it in a garment bag is enough to protect it. Unfortunately, this can actually do more harm than good over time,” explains Scheer. “When a gown is left hanging, gravity begins to take a toll—the weight of the fabric can strain the shoulders or hanger straps, distorting the gown’s shape. If the garment bag is not breathable, it can trap moisture and create a microenvironment where mold and mildew thrive. Worse still, plastic bags or containers made from unstable materials can begin to off-gas as they break down, releasing chemicals that cause the fabric to yellow and deteriorate.”
“While professional cleaning is essential after the gown has been worn, proper storage is equally critical to preserving its beauty and integrity for the long term,” says Scheer. “Our preservation process addresses both needs, ensuring your gown is not only cleaned with care, but also stored in a stable, protective environment designed to stand the test of time.”
How to Preserve a Wedding Dress
Preserving a wedding gown requires a thorough, detailed process to ensure that the gown will look brand new for years to come. There isn’t necessarily a standard procedure for every gown either, as each will come with different fabrics and signs of use from your wedding day. “Professional cleaning is the first critical step in preserving your gown,” explains Scheer. “It removes harmful acids and residue, stabilizing the fabric for long-term storage. The materials used are equally important for preservation. Textile conservators advise against sealing garments and recommend using non-buffered, acid-free materials to prevent chemical deterioration. We determine the ideal treatment for gowns based on fiber type, construction, special embellishments, and the level of soiling present.”
“Areas of staining and soil will be reduced by hand with proprietary stain-removing solvents before the gown is cleaned through immersion in a nonaqueous organic solvent or aqueous solution,” he continues. “Once the gown’s treatment is complete, we finish any repairs needed and complete a final assessment before wrapping and padding out the gown with tissue. We follow a meticulous preservation process using acid-free tissue and archival-quality storage boxes made from fluted polypropylene—a chemically inert and non-absorbent polymer. This material offers superior protection against moisture, temperature fluctuations, and humidity changes, ensuring a stable environment for your gown. After carefully folding the gown, it is placed in an appropriately sized archival box.”
With so many factors that go into the process, preservation does take some time to complete. “While timelines can vary, our standard preservation process typically takes between 10 to 16 weeks,” shares Scheer. “The exact duration depends on the condition of the gown and the complexity of the work required. It’s important to understand that the time we invest in carefully evaluating, treating, and preserving each gown could be different to the timelines quoted by standard dry cleaners or mass preservation services.”
How Long Does Wedding Dress Preservation Last?
Once you get your dress preserved, how you care for it after receiving the finished product matters. Follow the right methodology and your gown could last a century. “We make a point of communicating to clients that they play an essential role in the preservation process,” says Scheer. “If the storage guidelines are properly followed, the gown will be safely preserved and remain suitable for wear two to three generations later."
When working with a preservation specialist, be sure that they use a high-quality archival box that you can store in a stable environment. “Conservation scientists generally recommend that textiles be stored away from light sources in controlled climates with a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 to 60 percent relative humidity (RH). If the environment is not properly maintained, it can lead to fluctuations in temperature and RH and can cause damage to the textile fibers,” notes Scheer. "For this reason, we always advise against storing gowns in basement and attic storage.” So find a secure place for your beautiful dress to live and know it will be there for you whenever you want to revisit that special day.
