Wedding Dress Cleaning: What Happens After "I Do"?
Because your gown deserves a happily ever after, too.
Your wedding dress has been part of one of the most emotional, beautiful, joy-filled days of your life. And now that the last dance is over, it’s time to give your gown the love and care it needs to stay as special as the memories it holds.
At Rachel’s Custom Sewing, we offer professional wedding dress cleaning and preservation with an approach that’s detailed, personal, and designed to give your gown a beautiful future—whether it’s being boxed for keeps, passed down, or sold on to another lucky bride.
Why Clean Your Dress?
Even if it looks spotless, your gown has been through a lot—think makeup, perfume, sweat, oils from hugs, and invisible spills (yes, that champagne toast counts!). Left untreated, these can oxidize over time, turning yellow or brown and weakening the delicate fibres of your dress.
The sooner you clean your gown, the better chance we have of removing stains and preserving its beauty.
Bride: Gabby Wooler’s Wedding Dress Before Cleaning
What Happens When You Drop Off Your Dress?
We’ve made the process simple and reassuring from start to finish.
Inspection & Documentation
As soon as your dress arrives, we give it a thorough inspection. We take detailed photos, and if the cleaning transformation will be dramatic, we also record a short video. These are uploaded to a private Google album, which we share with you right away.
Individual Attention
Every item that comes with your gown—veil, sleeves, overskirts—is carefully tagged and cleaned individually. Veils and accessories may go through a different process to ensure their fabric and embellishments are properly treated. Our goal is to ensure everything is finished together and returned to you as one beautifully completed package.
Gentle, Expert Cleaning
We clean each gown one at a time, never in batches. Your gown is handled with care as we:
Spot clean delicate areas
Remove dirt, grass, rocks or splinters (yes—we’ve used tweezers!)
Soak and treat heavy stains
Repair minor damage or loosened threads if needed
For heavily soiled dresses, the process can take up to three weeks from start to finish—but it’s worth the wait for the results.
Final Prep & Preservation
Once cleaning is complete, we:
Steam the gown to restore its full shape
Take final after photos and upload them to your Google album
Wait 24 hours to ensure there’s no remaining moisture
Then, we carefully box or bag your gown for long-term storage
Bride: Gabby Wooler’s Wedding Dress After Cleaning
Boxing or Bagging—What Should You Choose?
You can choose between two options based on your plans:
Bridal Preservation Box: Ideal if you're keeping your dress as a keepsake or handing it down one day. Your gown will be layered in acid-free tissue paper and carefully folded in a beautiful preservation box to protect it for years to come. You won’t need to open it to see the results—we include photos in your album so you can keep it sealed and intact.
Custom RCS Garment Bag (coming soon!): Perfect if you’re reselling your gown. We’ll repackage it in a fresh, stylish RCS-branded bag, ready for its next bride-to-be.
Each dress also comes with a printed leaflet outlining our recommended aftercare.
Aftercare Tips to Preserve Your Gown
To keep your dress in the best condition:
Store it in a cool, dry cupboard away from direct sunlight and dampness
Avoid plastic bags (they trap moisture and can cause yellowing)
Check on it every 6 months to ensure it's still in perfect shape
Keep it upright or flat depending on how it’s packaged
Ready to Clean Your Gown?
Whether it’s been a few weeks or even a few years since your wedding—don’t worry. We’ve seen it all, and we’re here to help.
Fill out our quick form here, or simply drop your dress off at the studio during opening hours. You can even use our after-hours drop box—just scan the QR code on arrival so we know it’s arrived safely.
Your dress gave you magic on your big day. Let us give it the care it deserves now.
