How Much Does it Cost to Get Your Wedding Dress Dry Cleaned?

selling your wedding dress

For every woman, a wedding dress holds special meaning. After the ceremony is over, you can simply take it off and store it away for future reference. The vast majority of brides keep their wedding gowns as a memento from one of the most memorable days of their lives. I know it's important to ask, but how much will it cost to dry clean your wedding dress?

How long did it take you to find the perfect dress for your wedding? Even though the exact time it takes each bride to find "the one" may vary, it's safe to say that the day you finally did was one of the best of your life. As a bride, you've probably been fantasising about your wedding day and gown since you were a little girl, so your dress is more than just an item of clothing. It's more than just an outfit for the day; it's a metaphor for the rest of your life. Keep in mind that you will forever cherish these photographs. Why picking the right dress was so crucial.

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Obviously, the next question is what to do with it. For sentimental or practical reasons, you might hope your younger sister or even your daughter will wear your gown someday. Selling the dress so it can be a part of another bride's fairytale wedding is a viable option in some situations. No matter what you decide, your wedding dress is a priceless keepsake that can be kept in pristine condition indefinitely with the right care. Within a few weeks of the wedding, you should have your dress cleaned and preserved.

How much does it cost to clean and preserve a wedding gown? is the question I get asked the most often. The quick response is "it depends." But I'll do my best to break down the market so you can make sense of the prices.

Your options for cleaning and preserving your gown are either sending it in the mail or having it done at a wholesale gown cleaning factory, or having it done by a specialist who specialises in gown cleaning and preservation. As well as being priced differently, the various approaches also differ in their characteristics.

We've been getting a lot of feedback from newlyweds who were sold a cleaning and preservation plan by their neighbourhood bridal shop or dry cleaner. When we hear that a newlywed couple has spent a fortune on the cleaning and preservation of their wedding dress—especially in light of the other, much more expensive expenses that accompany a marriage—we feel sad for them. Bridal parties have reported being quoted anywhere from $500 to over $800. That's more than what most brides spend on their dresses. Here, we'll examine the kinds of questions you should be asking before entrusting your dress's preservation to a local service, to help you weed out the ones that are just out to line their own pockets at your expense.

The average person is just as curious as you about the price of dry cleaning a wedding gown. The thorough cleaning provided by dry-cleaning ensures that your dress retains its pristine condition long after the Big Day and is free of unsightly stains like those caused by soda or cake. Read on for a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for wedding dress dry cleaning and some advice on how to avoid overspending.

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Table of Contents

The Cost of Dry Cleaning a Wedding Dress in 2020

Depending on a number of factors, the price to clean a wedding dress can range widely. There is currently a fluctuation in price from $150 to $200 for a professional dry cleaning of a wedding dress. The cost of wedding dress dry cleaning is typically under $100, but the cost of wedding dress preservation can be as much as $100.

Some of the items are over $400 and come with a storage box. The price of having your dress cleaned can vary widely depending on whether you have it done in-house or send it out. Dry cleaning costs for wedding dresses are typically set, even if the gown is particularly elaborate and has many layers and beading. A high-end dry cleaner may charge you $100 or more to clean your wedding dress. Of course, that's just the starting point. The final cost could rise if you have unique customization needs. The removal of oils from the dress is the most expensive part of dry cleaning; the base charge typically includes treatment for dirt and grass stains. The cost to remove oils from a wedding dress can range from $15 to $50. There should be an exception made for wedding dresses that are made of lace or have heavy beading, as these gowns can cost as much as $500 from some retailers.

A high-end dry cleaner will charge around $100 to clean a wedding dress. Of course, that's just the starting point. The cost could go up if you have other specific needs.

If you are charged more than $200 for dry cleaning your wedding dress, regardless of the number of upgrades you order or the special care your gown requires, you are not getting the best deal. Some dry cleaners may charge you more than the standard fee if they discover there is more work to be done on your dress than expected.

It's possible to spend as much as $500 on a wedding dress from a specialised boutique if it's made of lace or features extensive beadwork.

It will cost an additional $50 to $125 to have your dress professionally boxed instead of bagged. The removal of oils from the dress is the most expensive part of dry cleaning; normal wear and tear like dirt and grass stains are typically included in the base rate. The cost to remove oils from wedding dresses is usually between $15 and $50.

This service costs between $95.00 and $160.00. You typically order a box in which to ship your gown to the factory. To use a familiar metaphor, I'd say this choice is similar to Walmart in that it employs a large, automated warehouse with little focus on satisfying customers individually. Neither the safety of your gown nor its protection from ageing effects like yellowing and brown spots will be guaranteed.

Even though sending your gown to a factory for cleaning is less expensive, having a specialist clean it by hand on site has many benefits. Authentic gown conservators always use museum-grade supplies and techniques to guarantee a flawless end result. Technicians in white lab coats and gloves carefully store gowns in climate-controlled storage rooms with strict light, dust, and humidity regulations.

Experts will ensure that your gown is protected and will guarantee its preservation against yellowing and brown spots. The price for this service can range from $300 to $600, with the average being close to $450 for cleaning and preservation. Market conditions can also have a small impact on prices.

The cost of maintenance and upkeep can rise for a variety of reasons. The content of the fabric means that cleaning and removing stains from natural fibres like silk takes more time and skill. The time and effort required to clean a gown increases if it has intricate trim and cuttings that must be covered or even removed and replaced to prevent damage. Any necessary repairs will result in additional fees for the alterations. The cost of restoration may be necessary if there is significant staining. For example, the time and effort required to clean and maintain a silk couture gown will be significantly higher than that required for a synthetic gown purchased from a department store.

Some modern brides still choose to wear family heirlooms rather than purchasing new gowns from high-end bridal boutiques. However, just consider the fact that this is just a grossly conservative figure. Many extravagant amounts of money have been spent on ceremonial garments.

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Check out our post on What are the different ways to clean a wedding dress?

How long does dry cleaning take?

Wedding dresses can take anywhere from a few days to a month to dry clean, depending on the number of layers and the volume of business at the dry cleaner. Excellent dry cleaning of a wedding gown requires at least three days, and that's if the cleaners aren't swamped. The first step in cleaning your wedding dress is bringing it to a reputable dry cleaner or preservationist. If you take your gown to a local dry cleaner, they might send it to a warehouse to be cleaned by a wholesale dry cleaning company.

Asking this question and hearing the response can reveal a lot about the interviewee and the company. An expert cleaner will be familiar with the methods, chemicals, and equipment required to restore your wedding dress to its original glory. If the person serving you or answering the phone gives you the runaround, you had better grab your dress and run.

Get lost if the service you're considering doesn't offer some sort of assurance. The only way to ensure that a company is committed to the quality of their work is to require them to provide a warranty.

Online Wedding Dress Dry Cleaning

In the last decade, brides have increasingly turned to the convenience of online dry cleaning services to maintain the beauty of their wedding dresses. The advantage of using a company that specialises in wedding dress cleaning is that they have the specialised equipment and ongoing delicate fabric education to guarantee that your dress will be cleaned to your satisfaction.

The convenience of on-demand wedding dress cleaning from the comfort of your own home is unrivalled. Within a week of placing your online order, you will receive a fully insured shipping box containing your preservation kit. After being cleaned and preserved at the studio to museum standards, your gown will be returned to you in its own beautiful wedding gown preservation box.

We have compiled a list of Melbourne Wedding Dress Shops to make the search as easy as possible for your perfect gown.

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What to look for a Wedding Dress Preservation Company

Instead of sending your wedding dress to your go-to dry cleaner, you might want to consider a company that specialises in wedding dress preservation and charges much less. The wedding dress preservation service will inspect and clean it at no cost to you. Your gown will be returned to you at no cost and in a UV-protected container with space for other items you wish to keep, such as your veil and shoes. Gloves designed specifically for handling the dress are included in the package. It's backed by a century-long warranty, too. If you choose this service, your dress will retain its stunning white colour for the rest of your life.

Conclusion

Most brides keep their wedding dresses as a special keepsake. Your wedding dress needs to be cleaned and preserved within a few weeks of the wedding. One option is to sell the dress so that it can be a part of another bride's dream wedding. Wedding dress dry cleaning prices can vary widely. Prices range from $500 to over $800, according to reports from bridesmaids.

Although dry cleaning a wedding dress usually doesn't cost more than $100, having it preserved can add that much more to the total. An average wedding dress cleaning at a high-end dry cleaner will cost you around $100. If you have specific customization requirements, the total price may increase. If it's made of lace or has extensive beadwork, a one-of-a-kind boutique can cost as much as $500. There are many potential drivers of increased maintenance and upkeep costs.

There are still today's brides who prefer to don cherished heirlooms rather than designer gowns. Maintaining a silk couture gown will be more time- and labor-intensive than a synthetic dress from a department store. It can take anywhere from a few days to a month to dry clean a wedding dress. A minimum of three days is needed for professional dry cleaning of a wedding gown. Insisting on a warranty from a company is the only way to know for sure that they will stand behind the quality of their product or service.

Cleaning your wedding dress on demand in the convenience of your own home is without equal. A fully insured shipping box will be delivered to you within a week of placing your online order. Your wedding dress will be carefully cleaned and preserved in the studio to museum standards before being returned to you in a custom-made preservation box.

Content Summary

  • Within a few weeks of the wedding, you should have your dress cleaned and preserved.
  • How much does it cost to clean and preserve a wedding gown?
  • We've been getting a lot of feedback from newlyweds who were sold a cleaning and preservation plan by their neighbourhood bridal shop or dry cleaner.
  • Bridal parties have reported being quoted anywhere from $500 to over $800.
  • Here, we'll examine the kinds of questions you should be asking before entrusting your dress's preservation to a local service, to help you weed out the ones that are just out to line their own pockets at your expense.
  • The average person is just as curious as you about the price of dry cleaning a wedding gown.
  • Read on for a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for wedding dress dry cleaning and some advice on how to avoid overspending.
  • The cost of wedding dress dry cleaning is typically under $100, but the cost of wedding dress preservation can be as much as $100.
  • Some of the items are over $400 and come with a storage box.
  • A high-end dry cleaner may charge you $100 or more to clean your wedding dress.
  • If you are charged more than $200 for dry cleaning your wedding dress, regardless of the number of upgrades you order or the special care your gown requires, you are not getting the best deal.
  • You typically order a box in which to ship your gown to the factory.
  • Even though sending your gown to a factory for cleaning is less expensive, having a specialist clean it by hand on site has many benefits.
  • The price for this service can range from $300 to $600, with the average being close to $450 for cleaning and preservation.
  • The cost of maintenance and upkeep can rise for a variety of reasons.
  • The first step in cleaning your wedding dress is bringing it to a reputable dry cleaner or preservationist.
  • If you take your gown to a local dry cleaner, they might send it to a warehouse to be cleaned by a wholesale dry cleaning company.
  • In the last decade, brides have increasingly turned to the convenience of online dry cleaning services to maintain the beauty of their wedding dresses.
  • The advantage of using a company that specialises in wedding dress cleaning is that they have the specialised equipment and ongoing delicate fabric education to guarantee that your dress will be cleaned to your satisfaction.
  • Instead of sending your wedding dress to your go-to dry cleaner, you might want to consider a company that specialises in wedding dress preservation and charges much less.
  • The wedding dress preservation service will inspect and clean it at no cost to you.

FAQs About Cleaning Wedding Dress

These days, the price of the professional wedding dress cleaning typically ranges from $150 to $200 but must not exceed $200; you'll be aware that you're not getting the exceptional deal if you're paying more than that; including upgrades and any special treatment needed in preserving your wedding dress.

How to clean a wedding dress: washing wedding dresses in full
  1. Disinfect and clean the bath. Start by disinfecting and cleaning the bath to prevent any residue from transferring onto your dress. 
  2. Add stain remover and liquid detergent. 
  3. Place the dress in the bath and leave to soak. 
  4. Use an old toothbrush to remove excess dirt.

Every wedding gown should be cleaned before being stored away for more than a few weeks even if it doesn't look soiled. Perspiration, food and drink stains, and makeup stains can show up later and become much more difficult to remove. Look for a professional dry cleaner that specialises in wedding gown preservation.

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.

In that case, it's recommended that you have your dress cleaned before you have it altered. Try to do this at least 3 months before your wedding to ensure enough time for alterations, etc. If you're on a tight time frame, consider having your dress expedited to get it back as soon as possible.

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