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Preserving your wedding gown is cleaning it to such a degree that even the smallest invisible stain has been totally and permanently removed. With luck, your dress will be an heirloom that gets worn again some day by someone special and you'll want it to look as good as new.

After the wedding, many bridal gowns are put into a plastic garment bag with good intentions of cleaning and preserving it soon. Soon turns into weeks, and then years. Keeping your gown in a plastic bag exposes it to the most harmful environment possible: plastic fumes. Most plastic gives off chemical fumes that cause the yellowing of bridal gowns.

Stains seen and unseen. If you know of anything that got on your dress, the professional will need to know that. For instance, did you drop herb-crusted chicken on your lap or spill wine on the hem? Your dress may look clean but it's the invisible stains such as white wine, clear soda, perspiration, hair spray, perfume, frosting, etc. that must be removed permanently so they do not oxidize with time, turn brown and become more difficult to remove later. Advise the professional of the details of the wedding itself. Was it outdoors and has grass stains on the hem? Was it at the beach and in the ocean? Certain elements can cause a reaction with the dry cleaning solvent. If your dress was exposed to anything out of the ordinary, be sure to disclose the details.

Have your dress professionally cleaned and preserved as soon after the wedding to ensure that your dress remains in the best condition possible for years to come.

You never know what your day will throw at you, so be prepared. To ensure your wedding party looks stunning the entire day it's good to have a few basic necessities on hand. Your wedding is sure to go off without a hitch!

• For Clothing:
1. Sewing kit (including safety pins)
2. Double sided tape
3. Scissors
4. Stain stick
5. Clear nail polish (for runs)
6. White chalk (for masking stains)
• For the Wedding Party:
1. Breath mints
2. Bandages
3. Pain Reliever
4. Tampons
5. Handy wipes
6. Antacids
7. Bottled water
8. Light snacks
• For Touch-Ups:
1. Make-up
2. Hair spray
3. Bobby pins
4. Q-tips
5. Lotion
6. Tweezers
7. Nail file
8. Kleenex

Black Hills Bride Staff