Whether your wedding gown conjures up images of cascading tulle, an elegant, stretching train or something figure-hugging with a swooping low back, it will certainly need a little tender love and care following your wedding shenanigans. From joyous photos in the great outdoors, to surviving your first dance, and meandering in and out of wedding cars – there’s no doubt that your gown is going to look a little more worn and well-loved than when it first caught your attention. Restoring said gown back to its glory days, however, need not be complicated. For Gavin Evans, who has more than thirty-four years of experience in directing one of Perth’s most prominent drycleaners, the key to wedding dress success is choosing a reputable retailer with quality gown fabric.

Before The Big Day

The process of taking care of your wedding gown actually begins long before the wedding itself – as early as once you have picked it up from the designer or store. “Cover the gown only in a nonwoven polyester wedding bag, or a natural fabric such as cotton or linen,” Evans explains. “Don’t ever store [the gown] in plastic, as this encourages acidity build-up, which will result in oxidisation.” Placing your gown into a plastic garment bag can also cause a chemical reaction or yellowing, which is created from the interaction between the fabrics and chemicals in the bag itself. If your wedding is less than a year away, Evans’ advice is simple: leave the gown hanging up, which will prevent difficult-to-remove creases. If you have a silk, acetate, viscose or rayon gown, Evans recommends doing so within three months. “Longer periods might require a gown box with acid-free tissue – [however] that will mean your gown will need pressing prior to the day.”

On The Day Itself

They’re called your bridesmaids for a reason, and letting them assist with your gown on the wedding day can certainly pay off in the long run. To avoid

an unsightly dirty hem, Evans recommends having your bridesmaids “lift the train off the ground between photo shoots, and prior to the ceremony”, which will minimise its time potentially collecting dirt on the ground. “Keep away from any naked flames [as well]. A candle on your table can easily be knocked over by guests congratulating you,” he notes. At the end of the day though, your wedding is all about enjoyment – and Evans even affirms that most gowns he and his team work on “will have a degree of makeup and soiling around the train”. “In wet weather, some train bottoms are almost black in colour when we receive them,” he continues. “Occasionally we see torn tulle, tears around the bustle, or stiletto holes.” The one thing that does pose a challenge for his team of experts however, is spilt drinks which transfer into the gown. “In most cases these conditions aren’t an issue for us, yet our greatest challenge is when drinks spill on a concrete floor, and this soils the train,” he says. “Even in the absence of concrete flooring, metals picked up on shoes from a gravel and bitumen carpark, particularly on a wet day, transfer from guests to the reception floor. [This is where] alcohol will assist in transferring elements to the train fabric.”

The Restoration Process

After your wedding day celebration, even if your gown remains in relatively like-new condition, there is still likely to be a multitude of hidden stains that you may not even notice – and this is when the professionals step in. If you want your gown to remain as white as it was on the wedding day, it’s important to still get it professionally cleaned to avoid discolouration over time, or any holes. “Even an invisible stain containing a source of sugar or salt will look fine now, but oxidise over time, or quickly at higher temperatures,” the expert explains, also flagging the danger of leaving your gown in the car on a hot day. “The area will turn yellow over time, then a rusty colour, and then holes will appear.”