Today’s guest is Wayne Edelman, president of Meurice Garment Care in Manhasset and NYC, for tips on wedding gown stains and preservation.

Q:  Is there anything brides need to be aware of regarding fabric options when selecting a wedding dress?

Synthetic materials i.e. polyester, are more forgiving than natural ones i.e. silk. We tend to refer to polyester as “non silk” because the polyester connection has a bad connotation and there are some really nice polyester piece goods.

Q:  What sort of stain remover tips can you offer brides for wedding day emergencies?

My best advice to any bride on her wedding day is “Don’t freak out.”  I have counseled too many brides with a plethora of situations and I always try to get the point across that  Uncle Bernie is not going to see the little spot on your gown. I speak from experience, having been through two weddings of my own, that they are over in an instant and it doesn’t pay to spend more than a few seconds freaking out over a minor stain. We have been asked to open for emergency cleanings and we have, but they are expensive and STRESSFULL!

Q:  I understand certain flowers tend to stain wedding dresses.  What can you tell us about that?

Any flower like lilies that have loose pollen can cause staining.  If you are carrying them, make sure you remove the pollen buds.

Q:  After the wedding, what does a bride need to know in terms of storing/protecting her wedding dress?

The gown should be cleaned properly soon after the wedding. Special attention needs to be paid to sugar-based stains that do not come out in routine dry cleaning. White wine, champagne, even ginger ale or Sprite can be present on the gown and if not treated properly, will caramelize and cause staining while stored. There is no secret to a preservation other than proper cleaning and proper packaging in ph neutral archival materials. We wrap all of our gowns in unbleached cotton muslin and place them in boxes that museums use to store textiles. After the gown is cleaned and preserved, it is critical to keep it away from excess heat and humidity. The best cleaning and preservation can be spoiled by storing the gown in a basement boiler room.

Q:  What does it cost to do this?

Our cleaning and preservation on silk gowns start at $602,  non silk $450.

Q:  Any other tips/advice you can offer brides in regard to their wedding gowns?

As I mentioned prior, it goes by fast so eat, drink, dance, play on the beach or grass and even jump in the pool — then leave the cleaning to us. I still chuckle by the brides who say “I didn’t eat cake or dance because I didn’t want to get my gown dirty,”  because it is over in an instant.

Thanks, Wayne!