Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
After the wedding dress is preserved, what else is there to do to preserve your beautiful wedding? Well, the pictures of course! We all want to keep those beautiful pictures, well... beautiful. There's only so much space on your walls, so most likely, you won't be able to frame and hang all of them. So, what do you do?
Scrapbooking is probably the best thing to happen to weddings. Wedding photography is so expensive, not to mention all the pictures from the guests! You can take all of those pictures and put them into a scrapbook! It's a perfect way to preserve those memories how you want.
The above book is amazing for scrapbooking. If you are new to the art, or don't have much time, the premade pages are amazing. They have insert spots for your pictures and space for you to write about the day. What more could a busy newly-wed want?
Scrapbooking is probably the best thing to happen to weddings. Wedding photography is so expensive, not to mention all the pictures from the guests! You can take all of those pictures and put them into a scrapbook! It's a perfect way to preserve those memories how you want.
The above book is amazing for scrapbooking. If you are new to the art, or don't have much time, the premade pages are amazing. They have insert spots for your pictures and space for you to write about the day. What more could a busy newly-wed want?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Other options for your wedding dress
Your wedding is over and you're not sure what you want to do with your dress. You've read the previous posts about wedding dress preservation, but want to know your other option. So what options are out there?
There are many options if you want to do something different with your wedding dress. One thing that a lot of people do is use their dress for material for another project. What type of things can you make out of your wedding dress?
There are many other options when making a decision on what to do with y our wedding dress after the wedding. You can:
If you are attached to your wedding dress, the best option is still wedding dress preservation. Then you still have your dress available and able to be seen.
There are many options if you want to do something different with your wedding dress. One thing that a lot of people do is use their dress for material for another project. What type of things can you make out of your wedding dress?
- A christening gown for your baby (or a family member or friend's baby).
- Make it into a quilt that you can use frequently.
- Make it into pillows.
- Almost anything else you can think of.
There are many other options when making a decision on what to do with y our wedding dress after the wedding. You can:
- use it for a halloween costume for youself or a loved one.
- dye it and use it for a formal dress for other occassions. This usually works best with a very simple gown.
- donate it to a charity.
- donate or sell it to a consignment shop (think GoodWill).
If you are attached to your wedding dress, the best option is still wedding dress preservation. Then you still have your dress available and able to be seen.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wedding dress preservation options
What are your options when doing wedding dress preservation? There are three main option: sealing, boxing, or bagging. What are the differences between the three? Well, there can be huge difference, as we will go over.
When most wedding dress preservation companies have a wedding dress to preserve, they use an acid-free box. Most boxes do have a window that you can see your beautiful dress from. The dress is sometimes filled with acid-free tissue to show the shape of the dress. The edges of the box also tend to be filled with this tissue.
What are some problems with this option? First, some wedding dress preservation companies will actually seal the dress into the box. That can be a problem if you ever want to show the dress of, sell it in the future, or give it to a loved one. Another problem: even if the dress isn't sealed in, it is going to be more difficult to admire your beautiful dress in the future.
Another option that most wedding dress preservation companies offer is to box your dress. While this is similar to the sealing method, there are some very big differences. The dress is folded into an acid-free box after being cleaned and pressed. Tissue is used in between the folds, so that you won't get permanent creases in your wedding dress. A big difference between this and the sealing method is that the box is not sealed, so you can take your dress out at any time.
One of the main disadvantages to the box method is that though you can take the dress out whenever you want, it is not "easily visible". Also, it can be a pain to pull it out and look at it, then get it folded correctly back in the box.
The third main option for preserving your wedding dress is to bag it. As previously mentioned, some plastic garment bags can cause discoloring. For this method, you do not want to use the dry-cleaner's garment bag. There are special bags that wedding dress preservation companies can use. The main advantages to this is that your dress will be protected from dust and light, allowed to breathe, and you don't have to worry about refolding. Also, since the dress is not folded, you do not have to worry about permanent creases. This is also the easiest way to be able to show off your gorgeous wedding dress.
The main problem with the bagging method for wedding dress preservation is that not everyone has enough closet space to feasably hold their wedding dress for all time. If you do have somewhere clean and dry to store your dress, this is probably the best method.
Whichever method you decide to use to preserve your wedding dress, we suggest getting it done professionally. That way you will know that correct chemicals will be used to clean, and only acid-free items will be used. We stress using acid-free boxes or bags so that your dress stays in its best condition for generations to come.
When most wedding dress preservation companies have a wedding dress to preserve, they use an acid-free box. Most boxes do have a window that you can see your beautiful dress from. The dress is sometimes filled with acid-free tissue to show the shape of the dress. The edges of the box also tend to be filled with this tissue.
What are some problems with this option? First, some wedding dress preservation companies will actually seal the dress into the box. That can be a problem if you ever want to show the dress of, sell it in the future, or give it to a loved one. Another problem: even if the dress isn't sealed in, it is going to be more difficult to admire your beautiful dress in the future.
Another option that most wedding dress preservation companies offer is to box your dress. While this is similar to the sealing method, there are some very big differences. The dress is folded into an acid-free box after being cleaned and pressed. Tissue is used in between the folds, so that you won't get permanent creases in your wedding dress. A big difference between this and the sealing method is that the box is not sealed, so you can take your dress out at any time.
One of the main disadvantages to the box method is that though you can take the dress out whenever you want, it is not "easily visible". Also, it can be a pain to pull it out and look at it, then get it folded correctly back in the box.
The third main option for preserving your wedding dress is to bag it. As previously mentioned, some plastic garment bags can cause discoloring. For this method, you do not want to use the dry-cleaner's garment bag. There are special bags that wedding dress preservation companies can use. The main advantages to this is that your dress will be protected from dust and light, allowed to breathe, and you don't have to worry about refolding. Also, since the dress is not folded, you do not have to worry about permanent creases. This is also the easiest way to be able to show off your gorgeous wedding dress.
The main problem with the bagging method for wedding dress preservation is that not everyone has enough closet space to feasably hold their wedding dress for all time. If you do have somewhere clean and dry to store your dress, this is probably the best method.
Whichever method you decide to use to preserve your wedding dress, we suggest getting it done professionally. That way you will know that correct chemicals will be used to clean, and only acid-free items will be used. We stress using acid-free boxes or bags so that your dress stays in its best condition for generations to come.
Monday, March 23, 2009
First steps to wedding dress preservation - wedding dress drycleaning
The first step to preserving your wedding dress is, obviously, getting it cleaned. When you go to get your wedding dress cleaned, keep in mind there are many ways that cleaners can go about getting your dress sparkly and new looking.
The first way we are going to look at is wet-cleaning. Wet cleaning, as implied, uses water to clean your dress. Depending on the fabric of your dress and what possible stains it may have, this is one of the best ways to go about cleaning your dress. It is definitely the best way to clean sugar stains, most food stains, and dirty hems. Another advantage to wet-cleaning is that it leaves no chemicals on the dress if properly rinsed.
With dry-cleaning, there are three main solvents that are currently used.
There are some major questions you will want to ask your drycleaner before you get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved.
Lastly, you want to make sure you check the label of your dress carefully. Make sure you know the material and any cleaning suggestions it has. Take into account when talking to a cleaner the beadwork and how dirty the dress is.
The first way we are going to look at is wet-cleaning. Wet cleaning, as implied, uses water to clean your dress. Depending on the fabric of your dress and what possible stains it may have, this is one of the best ways to go about cleaning your dress. It is definitely the best way to clean sugar stains, most food stains, and dirty hems. Another advantage to wet-cleaning is that it leaves no chemicals on the dress if properly rinsed.
With dry-cleaning, there are three main solvents that are currently used.
- Perchloroethylene, also known as perc, is the most commonly used. It is best for degreasing, and is excellent if your wedding dress is extremely dirty or made of rayon or silk. It unfortunately can damage beading or sequins, especially if they are glued on.
- Petroleum based solvents are harder to find, but some wedding dresses state that they should only be dry-cleaned with these solvents. Stoddard and Exxon DF-2000 (also called Hydro-carbon) solvents are both petroleum based, but are harder to find. These solvents are better for beadwork and sequins, but they do not degrease your wedding dress as well.
- Greenearth is a new type of solvent that also does not melt beadwork (or the glue holding the beads on). Again, it does not degrease quite as well, but it is much more environmentally friendly. There are also much fewer government restrictions on Greenearth solvent.
There are some major questions you will want to ask your drycleaner before you get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved.
- First, you will want to make sure you know who is actually doing the dry cleaning. Some dry-cleaners may send your dress somewhere else to get done. Make sure you know whether yours does this or not.
- Make sure to ask if they will be doing dry-cleaning or wet-cleaning, and what type of solvent they use.
- Ask the expertise level of the person that will be doing the cleaning. Wedding dress preservation can be a difficult task; make sure your cleaner is up to it.
Lastly, you want to make sure you check the label of your dress carefully. Make sure you know the material and any cleaning suggestions it has. Take into account when talking to a cleaner the beadwork and how dirty the dress is.
Before Your Wedding Dress Preservation - Keep your dress in good shape
The big day has come... and gone. You are now a married woman. The wedding was perfect and the honeymoon superb. Now you are home and your dress is hanging in the closet. But what about the dress? Should you shove it in a corner of your closet? Or find somewhere else to stash it? What are the possible problems this could cause?
Getting your wedding dress cleaned and preserved is not always high on a new bride's to-do list. A lot of people over look it. Overlooking this important step can cause your dress to discolor, attract moths, or worse. You spent a lot of money on the perfect wedding dress, you want to keep it in great shape for the future!
After the wedding, you may put off getting your dress cleaned and preserved. The biggest reason this is a bad idea is that stains may oxidize. Not all stains are immediately visible. The hem may be dirty, or liquids spilled on the dress may dry clear. The problem with this is that, in the future, the stains may darken and because of the oxidation, become harder to clean.
If you are leaving your dress in the plastic dress bag that you think was to help preserve it, it could make things worse. Have you ever seen a yellowed wedding dress? This happens because of the fumes that plastic gives off. Once the dress is yellowed from the plastic, it can be extremely hard, if not impossible, to fix.
In the past, a popular way to preserve a wedding dress was to vacuum pack it into a box. Eventually it was found that this was a very bad idea, as once you take the dress out, the crease from it being in a box can be permanent, if the dress even opens correctly. Today, we know better.
When storing your wedding dress before preservation, keep a few things in mind. First, fabric, like paper, has a tendency to weaken where it is folded. Creases in fabric can become permanent, even if not vacuum sealed. Also, it makes the cloth more susceptible to tears.
Make sure if you are not able to immediately preserve your wedding dress that you do frequent checks on it. Make sure there aren't any stains that are starting to oxidize. Check the hem for any missed stains or smudges. The quicker you find a problem, the easier it is to fix.
Make sure the dress is in a dry spot. If you have it hanging in a closet, keep it away from any possible leaky areas. If you did have to put it in a box, make sure to keep the box tightly sealed and away from any flood areas (such as a basement). Mold and mildew are a huge problem when it comes to your wedding dress preservation.
In short, keep your wedding dress in a cool, dry spot and as wrinkle free as possible.
Getting your wedding dress cleaned and preserved is not always high on a new bride's to-do list. A lot of people over look it. Overlooking this important step can cause your dress to discolor, attract moths, or worse. You spent a lot of money on the perfect wedding dress, you want to keep it in great shape for the future!
After the wedding, you may put off getting your dress cleaned and preserved. The biggest reason this is a bad idea is that stains may oxidize. Not all stains are immediately visible. The hem may be dirty, or liquids spilled on the dress may dry clear. The problem with this is that, in the future, the stains may darken and because of the oxidation, become harder to clean.
If you are leaving your dress in the plastic dress bag that you think was to help preserve it, it could make things worse. Have you ever seen a yellowed wedding dress? This happens because of the fumes that plastic gives off. Once the dress is yellowed from the plastic, it can be extremely hard, if not impossible, to fix.
In the past, a popular way to preserve a wedding dress was to vacuum pack it into a box. Eventually it was found that this was a very bad idea, as once you take the dress out, the crease from it being in a box can be permanent, if the dress even opens correctly. Today, we know better.
When storing your wedding dress before preservation, keep a few things in mind. First, fabric, like paper, has a tendency to weaken where it is folded. Creases in fabric can become permanent, even if not vacuum sealed. Also, it makes the cloth more susceptible to tears.
Make sure if you are not able to immediately preserve your wedding dress that you do frequent checks on it. Make sure there aren't any stains that are starting to oxidize. Check the hem for any missed stains or smudges. The quicker you find a problem, the easier it is to fix.
Make sure the dress is in a dry spot. If you have it hanging in a closet, keep it away from any possible leaky areas. If you did have to put it in a box, make sure to keep the box tightly sealed and away from any flood areas (such as a basement). Mold and mildew are a huge problem when it comes to your wedding dress preservation.
In short, keep your wedding dress in a cool, dry spot and as wrinkle free as possible.
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