FAQ's

Why should I professionally clean my wedding dress?

Your wedding gown contains delicate fabrics, lace, beading, boning, and couture construction that require specialist care. Professional cleaning helps remove invisible stains, perspiration, makeup, sugar residue, and dirt that can cause permanent yellowing or deterioration over time.

What makes Sydney Wedding Gown Preservation different from a regular dry cleaner?

Sydney Wedding Gown Preservation specialises in couture bridalwear and works daily with delicate fabrics, lacework, embellishments, and designer gowns. Each gown is individually assessed and treated using specialised preservation techniques rather than bulk commercial cleaning methods.

Our team have been cleaning wedding gowns for over 20 years.  We have seen every fabric, trend, question and disaster that can happen to a bride.

How soon after the wedding should I have my dress cleaned?

Ideally, gowns should be cleaned within the first few weeks after the wedding. Delaying cleaning can allow stains to oxidise and permanently set into delicate fabrics.

The quote request form asks for your wedding date.  This is not to make you feel guilty (!) but to provide us some additional knowledge of how long the stains have been in the fabric.

Can I have my Mum or Grandmother’s wedding dress cleaned?

Yes. Older gowns can often still be restored and significantly improved. However, aged stains and delicate natural fibres like silk may have permanent marking depending on how long the staining has been present.

Submit a quote with as much information as you can provide, along with photos.  If there is a specific area with additional stains or damage, include a photo of that area.  

The team have cleaned and restored many older gowns over the last 20 years.  We will provide an accurate and honest assessment of the gown and the viability of the restoration.

What types of gowns and accessories can be cleaned?

The team regularly cleans:

• Wedding gowns

• Couture bridalwear

• Veils

• Delicate lace garments

• Beaded gowns

• Silk gowns

• Bridal accessories

• Christening gowns.

• Fabric wedding shoes.

• Hoops

• Formalwear such as bridesmaids, mother of the bride outfits.

• Men’s suits and shirts.

Can heavily beaded or delicate gowns be cleaned safely?

Yes. Gowns with intricate lacework, pearls, sequins, crystals, tulle, and couture detailing are individually assessed before cleaning. The preservation team prioritises protecting the integrity of the gown over aggressive stain removal.

What stains can be removed from a wedding dress?

Many common wedding stains can be treated successfully, including:

• Dirt and mud

• Makeup

• Fake tan

• Food and drink spills

• Perspiration

• Grass stains

• Hemline soiling

The success of stain removal depends on the fabric type, stain age, and previous treatment attempts.

Will my dress look brand new again?

Most gowns clean beautifully, however results depend on:

• Fabric type

• Severity of staining

• Age of stains

• Amount of wear and tear

• Delicate embellishments

Our policy is to prioritise preserving the fabric, lace, and beading over risking damage during aggressive stain removal.

Our full Guarantee is provided in each quote.  Please take the time to read through the Guarantee carefully before booking your gown in with us.

Do you clean silk wedding dresses?

Yes. Silk gowns can be cleaned, however silk is considered a delicate natural fibre and requires specific treatment by our experienced team.

Do you offer repairs?

Minor repairs are included as part of the service. This includes:

• Loose or missing buttons (buttons supplied by bride)

• Loose beading

• Unstitched lacework

Larger repairs or restoration work requiring extended labour will be quoted separately before proceeding.

What is considered normal wear and tear?

Floor-length gowns naturally experience wear from walking across surfaces such as:

• Carpet

• Timber flooring

• Grass

• Sand

• Concrete

After cleaning, signs of wear may become more visible, including:

• Fraying

• Heel damage

• Scuffing

• Minor holes

• Snagging

These are considered standard wear and tear rather than repair faults.

What pressing method is included?

The standard quote includes a soft steam press suitable for long-term preservation boxing. Brides intending to re-wear or resell their gown may require a deep pressing service, which can be quoted separately.

What is included in the preservation service?

Depending on your selected package, services may include:

• Specialist gown cleaning

• Steaming

• Minor repairs

• Acid-free tissue wrapping

• Storing in a box designed for long term storage.

• Delivery or courier return

How much does wedding gown cleaning cost?

Indicative pricing provided includes:

• Wedding gown cleaning: $500

• Veil cleaning: $100

• Preservation box: $100

Additional restoration or specialised repair work may incur extra charges.

How long does the cleaning process take?

The standard turnaround timeframe is up to 12 weeks, depending on the seasonal volume of gowns in the studio. Brides requiring their gown earlier should contact the team directly.

Do you offer a Fast Track service?

Possibly.  Depending on the volume of work on our schedule, we may be able to offer a faster service than the 12 weeks. Use the Chat facility or mention this in your quote request if you require your gown in a shorter period of time and we will provide the timeline and fastrack fee.

How do I get my gown to you?

Several options are available:

• Free in-store drop off

• Macarthur collection service

• Courier collection

• VIP Sydney metro collection

• Using your own courier

Each option has different pricing and convenience levels.

Do you offer a courier collection?

The VIP Collection service includes personal collection and return delivery by a team member, usually after-hours or on a weekend appointments within the Sydney metro area.

Is my gown insured during transit?

• Courier services include tracked transport.

• Courier services usually only cover items for the value of $1000.  Should you require additional coverage, contact your insurance provider for more specific cover.

• You are welcome to use your own courier provider or Australia Post.

• VIP collection provides insurance coverage for goods in transit.

When do I pay for the service?

Invoices are typically issued approximately 14 days after the gown arrives at the studio. Full payment is required before the gown is returned.  

Payments can be made via direct bank credit or online payments using a credit/debit payment.

Are there storage fees for late collection of gowns?

Yes. Once your gown has been completed, we request that collection is made within 2 weeks.  If we are required to move your gown offsite to our storage facility after more than 14 days overdue, you may incur a $10 daily storage fee unless prior arrangements have been made with management.

How should I store my cleaned wedding dress at home?

Store your preservation box:

• In a cool, dry location

• Away from sunlight

• Away from humidity

• Off the floor.

• Away from garages and roof cavities

• Closer to the middle of the house to avoid fluctuations in temperature.

Proper storage helps protect the gown long term.

On return of your gown, a Storage Tips card will be included to provide the ideal storage environment for you gown.

Can I access my gown after it has been preserved?

Yes. The Museum Method of Preservation allows you to access your gown while still maintaining safe acid-free storage conditions.  We suggest using gloves when handling your gown.

We suggest setting a calendar reminder each wedding anniversary to check the space where your gown is stored. 

Are there storage fees for overdue payments?

Yes. Outstanding invoices more than 14 days overdue may incur a $10 daily storage fee unless prior arrangements have been made with management.

Do you provide a VIP collection service in my area?

Most Sydney suburbs can be serviced.  Each week of the month services a different Sydney region.

We do not provide a VIP service outside of Sydney metro (unless you want to pay for a getaway for one of our team)

How do I choose a box for my gown?

Our gown storage boxes can  be viewed HERE.  Our team will choose a box based on the amount of fabric in your gown.  Keep in mind that you are going to store your gown for over 50 years, so there’s no point having a box that is larger than what you need. 

I have a huge princess gown - do you provide a box?

Over the years we realised that the regular boxes don’t fit the full gowns, so we decided to design our own.  Our storage box producer will hand cut an individual storage box that is strong enough to hold the weight of your gown, yet large enough for it to fit full length.

What is the “Museum Method of Preservation”?

The Museum Method of Preservation stores your gown in an acid-free environment using acid-free tissue paper and preservation materials. This method protects the fabric during long-term storage while still allowing you to access and inspect your gown when desired.

Can I purchase a gown box without having the gown cleaned by SWGP?

Absolutely.  Click over HERE to see the range of storage options. 

You've Got Questions?

You may have questions about your gown or our processes that haven't been answered yet.

See below for our policies.

Still not sure - reach out to our team at info@sydneywgp.com

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