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Wedding Gown Preservation Kit
Not just for your gown and veil - see below for complete contents! Archival materials included will allow you to safely store a variety of wedding memories, including your announcement and/ or invitation, cards and gift inserts, one of your favors, dried flowers, photographs - whatever is most important to you.
A step-by-step guide to safely storing away wedding gowns, evening gowns, costumes and heirloom apparel.
1. Have the gown professionally cleaned. You do not need the cardboard box with the acetate viewing window that most drycleaners use. The window will give off acetic acid fumes over time - and light is harmful to fibers and will cause yellowing. The cardboard is probably not archival grade. Do take the gown to a reputable drycleaner. Tell the drycleaner of any spills you know of and their composition and location so that they will be properly treated. Smaller items can be safely cleaned with the included packet of Eucalan Lavender Wash. Follow brochure instructions.
2. For best and most economic storage, purchase a Rubbermaid® or Sterilite® box (underbed or otherwise) large enough to hold the garment. These storage boxes are made of cast polypropylene - which is an inert material used for archival application. Other brands may be safe as well - look for the #5 within the recycling code triangle or the letters "PP". If you prefer - we can supply you with a 30 X 18 X 6 inch archival board box for $35 plus actual UPS oversize shipping. E-mail if you would like a shipping quote - but Rubbermaid and Sterilite® are fine.
3. Wash and dry your hands before handing garment - no lotion or creams. For best results use the white cotton gloves included with your kit. Either will help prevent transfer of acidic oils from skin to garment. Remove any metal buttons or ornaments from the gown and store in an archival sleeve in the bottom of the box. If these are left on the gown, they may corrode and cause staining. Be sure and include a written reminder of where the buttons, etc. belong on the garment. If this is a bother, at least shield metal buttons with a bit of tissue crumpled around each.
4. Cover a large area with a clean white sheet or muslin and cover the sheet with a layer of acid and lignin free tissue. Use archival tissue - gift and drycleaner grade tissue are sometimes acid free, but they may not be lignin free. To be sure - use tissue produced for archival applications. Our tissue is produced for archival application. It is pH neutral and is safe for all materials.
5. Lay the gown out face down on the tissue and inspect carefully to be sure that it is clean and in good condition.
6. Lightly stuff the sleeves and the bodice with archival tissue. Your kit contains a small package of tissue just for this use.
7. Beginning on one side and working around the gown, fold to the center while interleaving each fold with a sheet or 2 of lightly crumpled acid free tissue. The tissue will cushion the folds a bit to help prevent creasing and protect seams. Continue around the gown - folding and interleaving as you go, until you have the gown ready to fit into the storage box.
8. Turn the gown over and place the gown in the box . Your kit contains a single wash packet of Eucalan Lavender Wash. You may use this wonderful wash to safely clean lingerie, hosiery or other items that you might wish to store with your gown or garment. Please be sure all items are thoroughly dry before adding.
9. Add the sachet of french lavender. It will repel moths and other pests and will keep everything wonderfully freshly scented. Place the sachet in a corner behind some tissue so it will not actually touch the gown.
10. Place a copy of your wedding invitation (playbill, graduation announcement, prom invitation, baby announcement, etc.) in the box and with it a few lines telling a bit about the wedding - or prom - or christening. Don't be afraid to mention things that went "not according to plan" - you'll be glad you did in years to come. Any photos and papers included should be in an archival sleeve or envelope so as not to come in direct content with the garment. Our kit contains both a sheet to record provenance and archival sleeves. Use the resealable archival sleeve the instructions and the provenance sheet come in to store them in the box with the gown or garment.
11. Choose your storage spot carefully - the ideal spot is on a shelf in an interior closet. External walls can mean extreme temperature and humidity swings - which should be avoided due to the deteriorating effect of temperature swings on fiber (expansion and contraction) and the danger of mold and mildew growth caused by condensation. For this reason , and because of pests, the attic, the garage and the basement are all poor choices for storage. Be sure the closet (or other storage areas) is not near any plumbing pipes - the better to avoid the possibility of damage from a leak or a burst pipe. Normal household temperature and humidity are comfortable for you - and for your stored garments.
12. Finally - inspect the gown or garment at least once a year. Four times a year is ideal - with each change of season. This will give early warning of any developing trouble while corrective measures are possible. When refolding the gown after inspection - do so along slightly different lines to minimize and equalize stress to fabric and seams. Be sure the item is covered by your insurance policy, as well.
Each Preservation Pack Includes:
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