Your wedding is a day for creating memories, so you'll definitely want to preserve your wedding dress. You can easily hand-wash the gown on your own if your bridal gown fabric and lining are polyester. Dry-cleaning solvents don't remove perspiration and most food spills, so wet cleaning will often clean your gown better than dry-cleaning.

All gowns should be cleaned before storage even if it doesn't look soiled. Perspiration, food stains and makeup stains can show up later and become more difficult to remove. Look for a professional dry cleaner that specializes in wedding gown preservation. Be sure to point out any stains and any loose trim or buttons. Also discuss, if you know, how the trim is attached to the gown. Some designers use an adhesive that could dissolve during the dry cleaning process.

If the cleaner is going to pack your gown for storage, ask your cleaner to allow you to inspect your gown before it is packed in an acid-free box to help prevent contamination. This will prevent surprises when you open your sealed box years .