Most brides dream of the day they'll wear their wedding dress, but after the big day is over, many are left wondering how to store their gown so it will stay in pristine condition.
The good news is that you can take a few simple steps to ensure your dress stays as beautiful as the day you said: "I do."
Unfortunately, the stress you put into trying to find "the dress" can have a major impact on the success of your big day.
The only way to locate "the one" is to go shopping ad infinitum and try on as many various styles as possible.
The problem is, you still have months to go before your wedding, so what do you do with it in the meantime?
Just how are you going to guarantee the security of your dress? That's right, and we didn't say "hidden from your accountant".
We said, "hidden from harm." You may avoid mishaps with your wedding dress by following these simple instructions.
By following simple steps, you can be confident your wedding dress will be as beautiful when you take it out of storage as it was on your big day.
The Best Way To Store A Wedding Dress Before The Wedding
Since most dresses require multiple fittings and changes, ladies typically purchase their wedding gowns months in advance.
However, the next question is what to do with your outfit before the big day.
The bridal shop will have been keeping the dress in storage until you purchased it, so they should be able to advise you on the best way to keep the dress of your particular style and fabric preserved for future use.
Dresses should be kept hanging or flat in the provided garment bag.
Dresses with a lot of embellishments, such as sequins or lace, can be somewhat cumbersome, so it's best to store them flat. Also, the dress will expand if you hang it because of its weight.
Remove The Plastic
If the dress is going to be stored for more than a few days, the first thing any conservator will tell you to do is take it out of the plastic.
Staining can occur as chemicals in the plastic break down, gases are released, and plastic often does not enable fabrics to breathe. Wrapping your dress in a fabric garment bag or simple cotton sheets is recommended.
Control The Climate
The ideal storage conditions for your clothing are those in which you can relax.
Unfortunately, attics and basements are not ideal storage locations due to the high likelihood of mould and mildew growth.
The best place to store your dress is in a bedroom or spare room where there will be no drastic changes in temperature or humidity, and the dress will be protected from the sun.
Avoid Water Damage
A dress can be ruined by contact with water or simply high humidity in the air. Watermarks and mildew stains are the most typical type of damage.
The answer is to keep your outfit in a climate-controlled area that is cool and dry.
Taking off the plastic wrap on your clothing will allow it to "breathe," and avoid getting your garment wet by putting it somewhere away from open windows or other potential leaks.
Avoid putting your dress in the cellar or the attic.
Humidity is common in attics because of the high temperature and lack of air circulation and ventilation.
Unfortunately, basements are also prone to airflow and ventilation problems and unexpected flooding.
Remove The Wrinkles
The wedding dress should be taken out of storage a few days before the big day and handled with care.
Drop any creases and wrinkles from the dress by hanging it up high.
A hot shower is perfect for hanging the dress if it still has some creases before or on the day of the wedding.
You need to take additional care to hang the dress somewhere other than in the shower to avoid getting it wet.
There is always the option of taking it to get tailored or dry cleaned unless the wrinkles persist.
Cover your steamer with a cotton sock and use distilled water if you have one.
For those who will be travelling for the wedding, some hotels and reception halls provide steamers right before the ceremony.
Avoid Stretching Your Dress
A common problem with wedding dresses is that they stretch easily if they aren't stored properly due to the materials and accents that are too heft.
Always use the inside hanger loops when hanging dresses. This alleviates strain on the flimsy materials of the straps and sleeves.
When hung, the dress's weight should be held entirely by the hanger loops, not the straps.
There could be as many as four sets of loops on your dress to ensure it hangs correctly. Utilise them!
Dresses should not be hung on their elastic shoulder straps.
Some off-the-shoulder dresses have special straps designed to hold the straps in place rather than bear the weight of the dress itself.
If your dress is exceptionally bulky, like a fully beaded style, lay it flat to store it to prevent creases.
After that, you should either leave the gown inside the breathable fabric garment bag, wrap it in a clean white cotton sheet, or wrap it in specially designed non-acidic tissue paper, fold it neatly, and store it on a covered level surface in a temperature-controlled closet.
Hanging Or Not Hanging?
Wedding dresses require secure storage.
So, it makes perfect sense just to put them up. Consider the weight of your dress, including any embellishments, the number of layers of fabric, or even just a small piece of satin, before you grab the hanger.
Unless the dress is only a few layers thick, it should be stored flat in a cotton sheet or breathable garment bag in a room or location that isn't a "high traffic area" in your home, such as the top shelf of a spare closet (think satin or silk).
Clothes are best kept well away from pets and radiators.
Damage to your clothing may have been avoided if you had not left it where pets could have had easy access or where direct sunlight could have faded the fabric.
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
Once you've put away your dress, unless you need to make modifications, you shouldn't take it out of its storage bag or try it on again.
Each time you handle your dress, you increase the likelihood that it may become stained or marked by oil.
Also, when you try on a dress, you run the risk of ruining it with things like makeup and deodorant.
So make sure you're not wearing makeup or perfume when you test on the dress for loved ones.
Avoid Weird Smells
Pets are naturally curious; they enjoy sniffing around unfamiliar areas and finding new places to hide.
So not only do you not want to discover that your dress has acquired some new ruffles and lace as a result of some loving scratches, but you also do not want to risk any unwelcome odours being left behind.
Keep your formal attire away from dogs by putting it in a high, secure location.
Dresses, like all materials, can take up the smell of their surroundings.
Therefore, dresses should be kept in a closet or chest where they won't be exposed to scents like cooking or smoking.
Take Your Dress To Be Cleaned After The Wedding.
Have a trusted friend or family member bring your wedding gown to a bridal shop for cleaning and preservation before you go on your honeymoon to avoid unsightly stains.
Fabrics can be stretched from being hung for too long, so it's best to avoid doing that. To extend the dress's useful life, it should be kept in a dry, cool place like a spare closet.
Protecting Fabric Colour
The sun's rays can dilute dyes and "bleach" fabrics, discolouring them and damaging any embellishments they may have.
Store your garment in a dark spot, like a closet or spare bedroom, away from direct sunlight to preserve it from fading and discolouring.
The Best Homemade Wedding Dress Storage
You need not worry if you do not own a clothing bag. At home, you can take steps to protect yourself.
The current best trick is grabbing a large sheet, specifically a queen-size flat sheet. If you want to hang the gown, you can do so by inserting the hanger through a hole you've cut in the centre of the sheet.
The most important thing is that it is not plastic. Instead, could you put it in a ventilated bag?
A sheet will do just well if you don't have access to a permeable bag.
Even if you plan on hanging your gown using a sheet, you should still utilise the hanger straps.
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
If you don't plan on wearing your wedding dress again but still want to maintain it in pristine condition for future generations, preservation is the way to go.
Before putting the garment away, give it a good cleaning, press it, and wrap it in acid-free tissue paper.
Fabrics that are protected from moisture loss will retain their freshness and original colour longer.
Then, hang or fold your dresses to store them in the included garment bag.
Embellished gowns, such as those with a lot of sequins or lace, can be difficult to move in.
Your clothing will be best protected from humidity and temperature swings if you keep it in a bedroom or spare room.
The wedding dress must be taken out of storage a few days before the wedding and treated with care.
If the garment still has wrinkles after being worn, it can be hung in a steamy shower to remove them.
Unless the wrinkles persist, you may always get it adjusted or dry cleaned. Clothing should be stored away from animals and heat sources.
Don't just grab a hanger without thinking about how much your dress, with all its accessories, weighs.
Keep the dress flat in a cotton sheet or a mesh garment bag if it has more than a few layers.
Similar to other fabrics, dresses can absorb odours from their immediate environment.
Dresses should be stored in a dry, cool location, such as a secondary closet. The sun's rays can "bleach" clothes, diluting and changing colours.
Content Summary
- One of the biggest decisions you'll make before your wedding day is what to do with your wedding dress.
- First, you should handle your gown with care, whether you intend to wear it again or keep it as a family heirloom.
- The problem is, you still have months to go before your wedding, so what do you do with it in the meantime?
- Just how are you going to guarantee the security of your dress?
- You should clean and iron your dress before putting it away in storage if you intend to wear it again.
- The dress should be preserved if it is not worn again.
- You can do a few things to keep your dress in excellent shape, whether you intend to wear it again or pass it down to the generations.
- Since most dresses require multiple fittings and changes, ladies typically purchase their wedding gowns months in advance.
- However, the next question is what to do with your outfit before the big day.
- The bridal shop will have been keeping the dress in storage until you purchased it, so they should be able to advise you on the best way to keep the dress of your particular style and fabric preserved for future use.
- Dresses should be kept hanging or flat in the provided garment bag.
- If the dress is going to be stored for more than a few days, the first thing any conservator will tell you to do is take it out of the plastic.
- Wrapping your dress in a fabric garment bag or simple cotton sheets is recommended.
- Control The Climate.
- The ideal storage conditions for your clothing are those in which you can relax.
- The best place to store your dress is in a bedroom or spare room where there will be no drastic changes in temperature or humidity, and the dress will be protected from the sun.
- The answer is to keep your outfit in a climate-controlled area that is cool and dry.
- Avoid putting your dress in the cellar or the attic.
- The wedding dress should be taken out of storage a few days before the big day and handled with care.
- Drop any creases and wrinkles from the dress by hanging it up high.
- A hot shower is perfect for hanging the dress if it still has some creases before or on the day of the wedding.
- You need to take additional care to hang the dress somewhere other than in the shower to avoid getting it wet.
- Always use the inside hanger loops when hanging dresses.
- This alleviates strain on the flimsy materials of the straps and sleeves.
- When hung, the dress's weight should be held entirely by the hanger loops, not the straps.
- Utilise them! Dresses should not be hung on their elastic shoulder straps.
- Wedding dresses require secure storage.
- So, it makes perfect sense just to put them up.
- Consider the weight of your dress, including any embellishments, the number of layers of fabric, or even just a small piece of satin, before you grab the hanger.
- Clothes are best kept well away from pets and radiators.
- Once you've put away your dress, unless you need to make modifications, you shouldn't take it out of its storage bag or try it on again.
- Also, when you try on a dress, you run the risk of ruining it with things like makeup and deodorant.
- So make sure you're not wearing makeup or perfume when you test on the dress for loved ones.
- Keep your formal attire away from dogs by putting it in a high, secure location.
- Have a trusted friend or family member bring your wedding gown to a bridal shop for cleaning and preservation before you go on your honeymoon to avoid unsightly stains.
- To extend the dress's useful life, it should be kept in a dry, cool place like a spare closet.
- Store your garment in a dark spot, like a closet or spare bedroom, away from direct sunlight to preserve it from fading and discolouring.
- If you want to hang the gown, you can do so by inserting the hanger through a hole you've cut in the centre of the sheet.
- Even if you plan on hanging your gown using a sheet, you should still utilise the hanger straps.
FAQs About
What Happens If You Don't Preserve Your Wedding Dress?
If you do not protect your wedding dress, you risk ruining it. If you don't preserve it, one of the side effects will be that it becomes yellow. On the surface, there are oxidation areas that are brown.
What Happens To My Wedding Dress After It Is Preserved?
Once they have finished preserving your dress, most bridal gown preservation providers will place it in a unique acid-free preservation chest. Then, once professionals have meticulously prepared it to be dispatched, your display box will most likely be placed inside a full shipping box that is crush resistant.
How To Store Your Wedding Dress In A Box
- To begin, you should begin by protecting the fabric within the box from the walls of the box by lining the box with acid-free paper.
- After that, you will need to secure any clasps, clips, or buttons in order to keep the dress in its intended form.
- Put your dress inside the box by laying it out flat on top so that the middle of the dress is inside. On top of it, place some tissue paper.
Can You Wear A Wedding Dress That Has Been Preserved?
Yes. A bride may decide to have her wedding dress professionally cleaned and conserved for a number of reasons, the most important of which is to ensure that a future member of her family will have the opportunity to commemorate her by re-wearing the wedding dress she wore on her big day.
How To Clean A Wedding Dress
The day you begin shopping for your wedding dress is the first day you should start planning to preserve it for the future.
When you finally locate "the dress," make it a point to ask the sales consultant about the proper way to care for and clean the garment.