dry cleaning before wedding
21st Apr 2026
There's a specific kind of panic that sets in about ten days before a wedding. You've confirmed the caterer, the pandit, the photographer and then you open your wardrobe and realise the lehenga you tried on six months ago still has a faint yellow stain from the shop's storage. Or the sherwani your husband-to-be picked up smells vaguely of musty fabric and old packaging. Or someone gently points out that your mother's silk saree, the one she's worn to three family weddings, has a little food smear near the pallu that "probably won't show."
It will show.
This is exactly why a wedding dry cleaning checklist isn't just a nice-to-have. It's a practical necessity, especially in India, where weddings run across multiple functions, involve multiple outfits per person, and where fabrics like Banarasi silk, raw silk, velvet, and heavy zardozi embroidery simply cannot be tossed in a washing machine.
Let's talk through what actually needs dry cleaning before your wedding, and more importantly when to book it so you're not scrambling at the last minute.
Most people assume dry cleaning is only for after a wedding to preserve the outfit post-ceremony. But pre-wedding garment prep is just as critical, if not more so.
Here's what most couples don't realise: wedding clothes often sit in storage for months before the big day. Boutiques wrap them in plastic. Tailors keep them folded in humid back rooms. Families store them in boxes for years. And in India's climate especially before a summer or monsoon wedding fabrics absorb moisture, develop subtle odours, and can even develop light mold patches or yellowing.
Dry cleaning before the event removes these storage-related issues. It also refreshes the fabric, restores drapes to heavy silks and georgettes, and gives you a chance to spot any issues: a loose thread, a minor stain, a colour transfer before they become a crisis on the morning of your ceremony.
Your bridal lehenga, saree, or anarkali is the obvious starting point. But don't stop there. Think about every function outfit: the sangeet lehenga, the mehendi suit, the reception gown. Each one deserves individual attention.
Heavy bridal lehengas with mirror work, zardozi, or resham embroidery need especially careful handling. The metallic threads in zardozi can tarnish if stored improperly, and machine washing even on gentle is absolutely out. Professional bridal outfit dry cleaning done by someone who understands these fabrics makes a real difference in how the outfit looks under lights.
Don't forget the dupatta. It's always the afterthought, and it's almost always the thing that shows stains most visibly.
Sherwanis, especially those with heavy embroidery or velvet detailing, need the same care as bridal wear. If your groom is wearing a suit for the reception, that needs dry cleaning too particularly if it's been in a wardrobe for a while. Velvet is notoriously unforgiving; even a light crease from improper folding can be hard to remove without professional equipment.
This one gets overlooked almost every time. The mother of the bride's silk saree. The father's achkan. A sibling's lehenga worn at the last wedding and never properly cleaned. If family members are wearing older, cherished pieces, those should absolutely be dry cleaned and inspected well in advance.
Heavy dupattas, stoles, and embroidered blouses can be dry cleaned. Fabric jewellery boxes and cloth potlis can sometimes be refreshed too, though this depends on the material. When in doubt, ask a professional.
4–6 weeks before the wedding: This is the ideal window. Book an appointment, drop off outfits, and you'll have plenty of time for any follow-up treatments: stain removal on older pieces, for instance, sometimes requires multiple rounds. If you're using a professional wedding dress dry cleaning service, booking early also means you get undivided attention rather than rushed work during peak season.
2 weeks before: Still manageable for most outfits, but you're cutting it closer than you'd like. Make sure the service you book has experience with Indian wedding fabrics specifically not all dry cleaners handle heavy embroidery or silk well.
Last minute (under a week): Possible, but stressful. If you discover a stain or an issue with an outfit within the week before your wedding, contact the service immediately and explain the situation. A good dry cleaner will tell you honestly what's achievable. Some stains, particularly old oil stains on silk, need time to treat properly and may not respond well to rushed processing.
Waiting until last week. Almost universal. People get busy, and garment care feels less urgent than flowers and food. Then suddenly it's five days before the wedding and the reception lehenga has a Krishna blue colour transfer from a darker dupatta it was stored with.
Assuming new clothes don't need cleaning. They often do. New outfits from boutiques have been tried on multiple times, handled by staff, and stored in conditions you don't fully know. A light dry clean refreshes them and removes any handling residue.
Ignoring the dupatta and blouse. These are the pieces most likely to have contact stains from skin, jewellery, or other fabrics. They're also the most visible.
DIY spot cleaning silk. Please don't. Water and silk are not friends. A water mark on a silk saree is incredibly difficult to reverse and sometimes becomes permanent. If there's a stain, take it to professionals.
Wedding planning is already a lot. Garment care shouldn't be an afterthought that causes unnecessary panic in the final stretch. A bit of planning getting outfits assessed and cleaned four to six weeks out means you're handing over your wedding morning knowing everything is fresh, pressed, and ready.
If you're unsure where to start or have a specific fabric concern, it's always worth getting in touch with a specialist rather than guessing. A five-minute conversation can save you a lot of stress.
Your clothes will carry the memories of one of the biggest days of your life. They deserve a little extra care.
Ideally 4–6 weeks before your wedding. This gives enough time for thorough cleaning, stain treatment if needed, and any follow-up work. Booking early also ensures you're not competing with last-minute rush orders from other couples getting married around the same time.
Yes, in most cases. New outfits from boutiques have been handled repeatedly, stored in variable conditions, and may carry light odours or surface residue. A professional clean refreshes the fabric, restores drape, and gives you a chance to catch any issues before your wedding day.
It depends on the stain type, fabric, and how long the stain has been set. Oil-based stains on silk are particularly challenging. The sooner you bring the garment in, the better the outcome. A specialist will assess the stain and advise you honestly on what's possible.
Typically 3–7 days for most wedding outfits. Heavily embroidered pieces or garments requiring stain treatment may take longer. During peak wedding season, turnaround times can extend, which is another reason to book well in advance rather than a few days before the event.
Most can silk, velvet, georgette, net, raw silk, and embroidered fabrics are all suitable for dry cleaning. What varies is the method and level of care required. Always ensure the service you choose has specific experience with Indian bridal and occasion wear, not just general garments.
Your wedding outfits deserve expert hands not last-minute panic.
Book your bridal dry cleaning pickup at least 4 weeks before the big day. We handle lehengas, sherwanis, silk sarees, and more with care.