Gown Preservation is a scam, Just get your dress dry cleaned.

Dry cleaning and putting it in a box is certainly better than not doing anything with it, especially since some stains become permanent with time. I'm not sure I agree that wedding gown preservation is a "scam." This is perhaps the most expensive piece of clothing most people buy so if you do want to save it, sending to a firm that specializes in couture cleaning or wedding gowns versus the neighborhood cleaner that sees a few per year has some value. The better preservation companies use a variety of methods -- wet cleaning, hydrocarbon, silicone derivative and traditional perc to clean, depending on the garment. The danger zone is usually with embellishments and ornamentation. Some spotters and cleaning methods are too harsh and can melt them away which is obviously not ideal. Which ever direction you choose, talk with some other brides who have done it to see how their experience has been.

I know I'm going to want to keep my gown, but if I'm never going to wear it again, then I don't know why I'd spend money to have it preserved. I also wouldn't expect my daughter to want to wear my dress. That was such an awesome experience, and I'd want her to have her own experience to find her dress. It's an interesting concept. I will have to ponder it a little longer I think.

I worked for a gown preservation company for 8 months and I'm still saying its not necessary to pay 130$ for a box

Two points:

1) dry cleaning alone for a wedding dress will cost close to $130 in some places.

2) While they're are a ton of companies that charge $130 for a preservation kit, I've come across companies charging (and heard of brides paying) $800plus for gown preservation. The description was definitely far more extensive than just cleaning, but I guess my point is, you can't really say "fruit is a scam" when you only have experience with apples.

My moms kept hers in a cedar chest (hope chest) for 30+ years, and hers is in great condition, same with my grandmas but hers has been in a cedar chest for 55+ years. But i did buy the gown preservation kit because i do not plan on having a cedar chest.

I am a vintage clothing dealer and I can tell you that of the wedding gowns I have resold - the ones that were "preserved" can be just as dirty as the ones that are not. For example - dry cleaning will NOT remove new deodorants (the Rx strength especially). They tend to leave an almost oily residue under the arm and you have to wash it out with detergent or it will remain.

A gown I got last week for consignment was a dress purchased three years ago from David's Bridal and it is lace. It was preserved at Tuchmann's (acid box, "dry cleaned", tissue paper). Well, when I removed it, it was wadded in the box and only the front looked nice and there were a zillion Tuchmann's "stain" tags pinned all over it. The bride had a "dry" wedding with red punch. Well punch was spilled on the gown and dry cleaning would not take it out. I ended up throwing it in the bath tub and it looks good as new now. However she spent $175 for "cleaning" and preservation. It was a joke.

Also, if you sweat it up while dancing (let's face it ladies it just happens) in about a year of being stored in a box, your dry cleaned dress will REEK and I mean it will STINK so bad you will want to throw it out. Most dress liners are polyester and they tend to wick sweat and only soap and water will get it out.

We have a local dry cleaner and I purchase acid free boxes, garment bags, and tissue paper from them. Each box is only $5 and I use them for furs and wool coats. Acid free is important to prevent discoloration caused by acids present in most cardboard. White will discolor the most easily, so if you store it in anything, go with acid free.