How We Preserved Merita Jonuzi’s 50-Year-Old Vintage Wedding Gown

Client Overview

Merita Jonuzi entrusted her wedding gown, which was over 50 years old, to Trusted Wedding Gown Preservation. With decades of memories woven into the delicate fabric, she wanted her gown not only cleaned but fully restored and preserved so it could continue to be cherished by future generations.

The Challenge

Preserving Merita’s gown, which was more than half a century old, came with unique challenges:

• Age of the Gown: At over 50 years old, the fabric was fragile and more sensitive to tearing, fading, or further deterioration during the cleaning process.

• Restoration Needs: The gown’s 50-year age called for precise restoration, protecting its delicate fabric, intricate details, and overall elegance while addressing decades of yellowing and marks.

• Local Drop-Off Expectations: Merita wanted a local solution that allowed her to personally drop off and pick up the gown, emphasizing convenience without compromising the quality of service.

Our Approach

Leveraging our decades of expertise in wedding gown preservation, we followed a thorough, multi-step process tailored to Merita’s vintage gown:

• Professional Assessment and Documentation: Upon arrival, our specialists conducted a detailed inspection of the gown, documenting fabric condition, potential stains, and areas needing restoration. Her gown was assigned a unique identification number to ensure she could get real-time updates throughout the restoration process.

• Gentle, Advanced Cleaning Techniques: Using our eco-friendly and fabric-safe SYSTEMK4 cleaning technology, we carefully removed any embedded dirt or discoloration. Special attention was given to fragile fabrics and intricate details, ensuring that delicate lace, beadwork, and stitching were fully protected.

• Minor Repairs Performed: After professional cleaning, our expert team of in-house seamstresses performed some minor repairs on the gown to restore its original shape and elegance. 

• Restoration and Preservation: Once the repairs were completed, the gown received a gentle steam press to ease out any creases. It was then carefully wrapped in acid-neutral, lignin-free tissue and placed in a premium preservation chest with a UV-protected window, ensuring both protection and safe display.

• Personalized Local Service: True to Merita’s preference, she was able to conveniently drop off and later pick up her gown, while our team ensured the gown was returned safely in a custom preservation box labeled with her name and preservation date.

Results

Merita was thrilled with the result, stating: 

“I had my wedding gown, cleaned, and preserved. The gown was over 50 years old. It got restored perfectly. They are local and I was able to drop off and pick up the gown. Would definitely recommend.”

Her experience reflected the lasting quality and attention to detail we dedicated to preserving her vintage gown.

• Perfect Restoration: Merita’s wedding gown, which was over 50 years old, was restored to its original condition, preserving its elegance and intricate details.

• Protection Against Aging: The gown was safeguarded from yellowing, fabric deterioration, and environmental damage thanks to our premium preservation chest and acid-neutral, lignin-free tissue paper.

• Preserved Memories: Our museum-quality preservation ensured that the gown will remain a cherished keepsake for her future generations.

This case demonstrates how we at Trusted Wedding Gown Preservation combine specialized expertise, gentle restoration techniques, and client-focused service to transform even decades-old gowns into beautifully preserved treasures. For brides like Merita, preserving a wedding gown is not just about cleaning; it’s about safeguarding memories that last a lifetime.