You found the beautiful, spotless white wedding dress, and you put down a deposit on it.
You will soon have this beautiful dress tailored to your exact specifications and be able to proudly wear it at home.
You won't be able to take it out until the wedding day, when you could finally flaunt it as the stunning bride you are. It's simpler to say than accomplish, it seems!
Damage can occur to white wedding dresses in different ways due to the number of layers of the fabric and the numerous decorations.
There are ways in which clothing might lose its pristine condition, such as loose embroidery, spills, and even fabric fading.
If you lose the one dress that can make you look like a picture-perfect bride, it will be a tragedy.
Even if it makes it through the ceremony undamaged, there's no promise that it won't be damaged beyond repair in the days leading up to or following it.
If you don't want to keep your wedding dress, you may always sell it, put it in storage, or pass it down to your daughter and granddaughter.
This is only doable if the dress looks and feels brand new despite having been worn. Because of this, keeping our attire true to its historic form is crucial.
The good news is that we have the ideal guide to help you maintain the pristine condition of your wedding dress prior to, during, and after the big day.
Be well prepared by writing out the steps you should take.
Why Do Brides Dress in White?
One reason some brides, especially in the West, choose for an all-white ensemble is that the colour white has deep cultural and historical roots as a symbol of innocence, purity, and virtue.
Despite this, the argument that brides have always worn white because "it's tradition" is the most common. On the other hand, white hasn't always been the go-to hue for bridal gowns. The colour white was not the most popular option.
Numerous hues were worn by brides on their wedding day across the Western world.
This decision was driven as much by need as by preference.
Most brides either wore their best dress or bought a dress specifically designed to be worn again after the ceremony.
In addition, white isn't very practical because it shows dirt easily and can't be worn often without getting soiled.
For the big day and beyond, several brides opted for nontraditional hues in their wedding attire.
In that case, why would so many modern brides want to wear white? They're able to do so because of a pattern that began with Victoria and Albert's wedding in 1840.
Royal weddings of yesteryear also garnered extensive media attention and often set fashion trends, though perhaps not to the same extent as they do today.
And the marriage of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria was no different.
And so, when Victoria reportedly chose to wear a white gown to showcase the good detailed Honiton lace manufactured by the British lace company, which had been faltering at the period, her clothing preference has been reported widely in magazines and newspapers and soon influenced domestic and international wedding trends.
White wedding gowns were first favoured by well-to-do brides, but they became the norm for all socioeconomic groups by the turn of the twentieth century.
How To Remove Stain To Keep Your White Wedding Dress
It is inevitable that your dress won't get stained after the wedding day. So, take note of these tips to maintain the spotless white wedding dress of yours.
The first guideline of stubborn stains is to not make the stain worse.
Do not act on the impulse to rub or scrape the stain out of your wedding dress.
Instead, blot up as much liquid as you can with a white piece of paper or a cotton towel if the stain is liquid.
If there is any solid residue on the dress, you can carefully scrape it off using the tip of a dull knife, a spoon, or a credit card.
If you desire to keep the stain from spreading, treat it from the outside in.
It is important to test any cleaning solutions on a small hidden area of the garment, such as a seam, to ensure there will be no colour transfer or other damage.
If it is necessary to dry the area quickly after removing the stain, a hair dryer can be used.
Just make sure to dry the area on low heat and keep the dryer at least 6 inches far from the gown to protect the material, trim, and beading.
Pollen Stain
There's a horrible stain that may leave, whether the yellow gunk originates from the bouquet or the wild outside.
Get some tape that sticks well and carefully remove the pollen.
The pollen is already embedded in the fabric, and rubbing won't help.
Baby powder, cornstarch, baking soda, or chalk can be utilized to cover up pollen stains on cloth.
You can experiment with the powders to find the colour that best complements your clothing.
Mud Stain
If possible, give the soil or dirt time to dry and be brushed off before attempting to cure the stain.
If you don't have much time, just use a dull object to scrape out any solids and blot up as much liquid as you can.
Working from the outside in with a stain removal wipes or pen is the most effective method.
To assist remove the dirt, wipe the area repeatedly with a clean white towel.
Oil or Grease
Spread a thick coat of cornstarch or baby powder over the stained area as soon as you see the oily leak.
For best results, let the powder stay for 15 minutes, then lightly brush or blow it away to remove any excess oil.
Dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol (or vodka), working inward from the edges. Hang the garment to dry in the air.
Red Wine Stain
As soon as possible, get a white cloth and dab up the wine. Use white cloths to separate the different layers of the clothing before treating the individual fabrics.
Create a cleaning solution by combining one part dish soap with three parts water.
Wet a white cloth with the solution and begin scrubbing the stain from the outside in.
Makeup Stain
Lipsticks and eyeliner are especially difficult to remove, so prevention is key. If you must pull your gown over your head, try covering your face with a silk scarf.
If it is necessary to make any last-minute adjustments to your dress, simply drape it over a towel or robe.
In a pinch, you can use adhesive tape or a blow dryer to get rid of dry powders and pry off stubborn globs of red lipstick or foundation.
To erase oily fingerprints, dust on some baby powder, and for colourful smudges, use a cleaning agent wipe or a touch of a liquid makeup remover on a soft brush.
To reduce the stain to a minimum, start at the outside and move inward.
After Spot Checking Care
Dry It on a Clothesline
So over the course of the wedding day, the wedding gown will become stained with sweat, dirt, and dust.
Don't just throw it in a box or a closet.
Let it dry naturally by hanging it up.
Wrapping it in plastic will only help the stains stay put and encourage the growth of new ones.
Storage and Cleaning Can’t Be Put off Any Longer
Send your wedding dress with a trusted friend if you and your new spouse plan to jet off on the honeymoon immediately after the ceremony.
Please have her bring it in as soon as possible so it may be cleaned and preserved.
This kind of work must wait until you return.
It's best to address stains as soon as possible for the best results.
Send your outfit to a dry cleaner along with a detailed description of the damage they should expect to find and any special care they require.
Properly Store It After Cleaning
Having your dress professionally cleaned just after the wedding is mandatory if you intend to wear it again.
You can safely keep it at your own house after picking it up from the dry cleaners.
A box one-third as long as the front of your gown is required to safely store it.
Don't want wrinkles in your new dress?
Cover the box and fill the dress with plenty of tissue. In addition, metallic fasteners such as buttons, zippers, and hooks should be removed to prevent oxidation and staining.
To keep the dress in the best possible condition, you should take it from storage on a regular basis, unpack it to check for wear and tear, and then refold it and store it again.
Proper Maintenance of Silk
Silk fibre fabrics require extra care.
By learning how to use and care for your silk dress in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, you can keep it looking great for years to come.
In many ways, silk, a protein thread, is analogous to human hair.
Keeping this in mind will help you better plan for its maintenance and cleaning.
Here are some easy maintenance tips for keeping your silk clothes looking beautiful for longer:
- The quick discoloration that can occur if you store something in a hot attic or a cold cellar is easily avoided by keeping the item in a more moderate environment.
- Sunlight will discolour a white shirt and fade a colourful one, so it's best to keep them out of the sun.
- Silk does have a natural flexibility that prevents it from holding creases properly, therefore pressing your clothing is essential. Hanging your clothes is an easy way to remove most creases. If you like, you may also use a dry iron set on the silk setting to press the fabric. The use of steam is OK for more robust silks, but it may cause puckering and shrinking in more delicate fabrics.
- In particular, you should stay away from anything containing alcohol, such as hairspray, perfume, or nail paint remover. Today's modern consumer goods are really rough on silk.
For Guaranteed Outcomes, Hire a Professional Preservation Service
Keeping your wedding dress to its original and pristine condition requires a lot of time and effort.
For some the hassle is worth it because they can make sure that their wedding dress will remain spotless white.
But for some, this could trigger stress and could cost a lot of money when home remedy methods are done wrong.
This is the reason why, to avoid any home remedy mistakes done to your white wedding dress, it is recommended that you consult and hire professional preservation services.
They are very knowledgeable on what to do with the stain, how to properly clean or wash it, how to properly hang and dry it, and how to properly store it making sure that it will not turn to yellowish wedding dress over the period of time.
A professional preservation service can ensure that the dress will remain in pristine shape throughout storage.
Methods used to preserve heirlooms involve repairing any damage the object already has and enclosing it in a box that provides full protection from the elements.
Keep it inside a window box if you want to admire it from the outside.
Keep in mind that storing a gown horizontally is not as effective as storing it vertically.
Finally, to keep your gown in pristine shape, store it away from sources of moisture, extreme temperatures, and vermin.
Wedding dresses that have been meticulously maintained are a delight to own.
With any luck, the women of your family's future will be eternally grateful to you for the gift you are about to give to them.
This beautiful gown might be kept for a future vow renewal ceremony or worn by the bride herself. A well-kept gown, even if it is being sold, will bring in a higher price and more interested buyers.
MyDressBox is are wedding dress cleaning and preservation specialists servicing all major cities in Australia and New Zealand, including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Wollongong, Geelong and many more.
Conclusion
Due to the multiple layers of fabric, white wedding dresses are vulnerable to a variety of types of damage.
Loose needlework, spills, and fading are just a few ways that clothing can lose its perfect condition.
It would be devastating to lose the one outfit that can make you look like the perfect bride.
The tradition of wearing white to a bride's wedding has historical and cultural roots, and has come to represent innocence, purity, and goodness.
The most typical defence of the "it's tradition" justification for brides wearing white is because it is the colour most associated with the wedding day.
White wedding dresses were first favoured by affluent brides, but at the turn of the century, brides of all socioeconomic backgrounds opted for them. If the stain is liquid, blot it as much as possible using a white piece of paper or a cotton towel.
Before trying to remove the stain, it is best to let the soil or dirt some time to dry so it can be brushed off.
Sweat, dirt, and dust will leave unsightly marks on the bridal dress throughout the ceremony and reception.
For the greatest effects, treat stains as soon as feasible.
Get your clothes dry cleaned and be sure to include a thorough description of the damage they can anticipate finding when you send them in. If you want to reuse your wedding dress, you must have it cleaned by a professional.
To keep your gown wrinkle-free, you'll need a box that's only a third as long as the front of your dress.
To avoid oxidation and stains, metallic buttons and zippers should be removed.
Hiring a professional preservation service can guarantee the dress stays in excellent condition while it's being stored.
Content Summary
- You found the beautiful, spotless white wedding dress, and you put down a deposit on it.
- If you don't want to keep your wedding dress, you may always sell it, put it in storage, or pass it down to your daughter and granddaughter.
- The good news is that we have the ideal guide to help you maintain the pristine condition of your wedding dress prior to, during, and after the big day.
- One reason some brides, especially in the West, choose for an all-white ensemble is that the colour white has deep cultural and historical roots as a symbol of innocence, purity, and virtue.
- Despite this, the argument that brides have always worn white because "it's tradition" is the most common.
- On the other hand, white hasn't always been the go-to hue for bridal gowns.
- The colour white was not the most popular option.
- Numerous hues were worn by brides on their wedding day across the Western world.
- For the big day and beyond, several brides opted for nontraditional hues in their wedding attire.
- They're able to do so because of a pattern that began with Victoria and Albert's wedding in 1840.
- Royal weddings of yesteryear also garnered extensive media attention and often set fashion trends, though perhaps not to the same extent as they do today.
- So, take note of these tips to maintain the spotless white wedding dress of yours.
- Do not act on the impulse to rub or scrape the stain out of your wedding dress.
- Instead, blot up as much liquid as you can with a white piece of paper or a cotton towel if the stain is liquid.
- If it is necessary to dry the area quickly after removing the stain, a hair dryer can be used.
- Baby powder, cornstarch, baking soda, or chalk can be utilized to cover up pollen stains on cloth.
- Working from the outside in with a stain removal wipes or pen is the most effective method.
- Spread a thick coat of cornstarch or baby powder over the stained area as soon as you see the oily leak.
- Wet a white cloth with the solution and begin scrubbing the stain from the outside in.
- So over the course of the wedding day, the wedding gown will become stained with sweat, dirt, and dust.
- Don't just throw it in a box or a closet.
- Let it dry naturally by hanging it up.
- Send your wedding dress with a trusted friend if you and your new spouse plan to jet off on the honeymoon immediately after the ceremony.
- Having your dress professionally cleaned just after the wedding is mandatory if you intend to wear it again.
- By learning how to use and care for your silk dress in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, you can keep it looking great for years to come.
- Keeping your wedding dress to its original and pristine condition requires a lot of time and effort.
- This is the reason why, to avoid any home remedy mistakes done to your white wedding dress, it is recommended that you consult and hire professional preservation services.
- A professional preservation service can ensure that the dress will remain in pristine shape throughout storage.
FAQS ABOUT WHITE WEDDING DRESS
Why should wedding dress be white?
There is strong evidence that this tradition dates back to at least the Roman Republic (509 B.C. - 27 B.C. ), when brides traditionally wore a white tunic. White was the colour of chastity and the beginning of a woman's new life as a married Roman matron.
How long will a wedding dress stay white?
A white wedding dress will begin to yellow after around six to eight months. This merely implies that the dress will remain in pristine condition for as long as it is stored in its garment bag.
Who set the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress?
In the middle of the nineteenth century, Queen Victoria popularised the tradition of the 'white wedding,' which has since been adopted by celebrities and royals alike. It has become the standard for weddings and the grand finale of fashion shows everywhere.
Does a bride's dress have to be white?
Truth be said, white isn't required for every bridal gown. The white wedding dress is a relatively modern tradition, made popular by Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840. Many other wedding traditions have been passed down through legends and beliefs for generations.
What does a white dress mean?
Light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity are all concepts that are linked to the colour white. It's the colour of perfection, so they say. This classic shade of white has been and will continue to be a wardrobe must-have for the bridal party. The same may be stated for an ivory wedding dress as for a white one.