It usually requires a significant amount of energy, and money to find the right wedding dress.
However, proper storage is essential to make sure that this conspicuous and precious part of one of the most unforgettable days in your life may be passed down to your descendants.
Wedding and prom dresses are made of fragile fabric that can be damaged by improper storage conditions, including overstretching, yellowing, the development of dark spots or stains, permanent creasing, and the growth of mould and mildew.
It's crucial to give the wedding dress the care it deserves pre and post the big day so that it can be passed down through the generations.
Unless you have a professional cleaner remove the numerous visible and invisible stains that will gather on your wedding dress, the fabric will eventually yellow from incorrect storage and, even worse, rust and rot.
To ensure that the wedding dress fits perfectly on your big day and can be passed down through the generations, consider these comprehensive guidelines to store wedding dress temporarily and permanently.
Here Are Four Must-Dos Before Storing The Wedding Dress
It's important to remember that, as with everything else, you need to plan ahead. It's vital to follow a few easy principles while keeping the wedding dress, whether you're doing so temporarily for a future marriage or putting it in safekeeping for a hypothetical wedding that might come years from now.
- Before taking the wedding dress out of the garment bag, make sure you've washed your hands properly. You should avoid touching your dress with your bare hands because your skin contains oils that are harmful to the gown.
- Maybe you could use a short shower? We recognise the gesture is perhaps a bit out of proportion. However, if the wedding dress comes into touch with any nail polish, makeup, lotion, or perfume, it will be irreparably ruined. Makeup and moisturizers may not be noticeable on the skin, but the chemicals they contain can leave a stain on fabric.
- Take off your jewelery. The fine materials of the wedding dress are easily ripped or torn by the sharp edges of jewellery.
- Please use the white clean cotton gloves provided. When pulling the wedding dress out of the garment bag, you should use these gloves only after you have cleansed your hands well and before handling anything else.
- When taking the wedding dress out of its garment bag, take careful that the bottom of the skirt doesn't contact the floor. We see stains on wedding dresses quite frequently, and this is the region of the dress that gets hit the worst.
Short Term: Storing Wedding Gowns for Up to Six Months
If you just got engaged and are only planning on a brief honeymoon.
If you have a brief engagement, the wedding dress will likely look as stunning on the big day as it did when you initially tried it on in the bridal store, even if it will have yellowed in normal storage circumstances after 6 to 8 months.
Until the big day arrives, it's important to keep the wedding dress in its original cloth bag and handle it as minimally as possible to preserve its gorgeous appearance.
It is important to take care when handling the wedding dress to avoid damaging the delicate fabrics by exposing them to oil from the skin or abrasive materials, such as when taking the dress out of its garment bag for alterations.
In order to prevent any soiling or stains on the bottom of the wedding dress, you should handle it with clean cotton gloves, take off any jewellery that could catch on the fabric, and avoid letting the hem of your dress drag on the floor.
It's perfectly fine to temporarily hang your bridal gown. However, this needs to be done properly so as not to strain the material.
Use a velvet or satin hanger to hang the wedding dress instead of a plastic one.
In addition, you must never remove the hanging straps that are attached to the inside of the dress.
By following these suggestions, you can avoid putting too much weight on the wedding dress.
Pro Tip: Call the bridal shop to ask if they have a cotton, airy fabric bag you may use to temporarily store the wedding dress if the plastic cloth bag they gave you isn't appropriate.
In the course of decomposing, plastic bags give off odourless, colourless gases that might speed up fabric deterioration, leaving you with anything other than a stunning white wedding dress on the big day.
In the absence of a cotton bag, how would you keep your items safe?
A queen-size flat sheet can go through the washer and dryer without any fabric conditioner.
The white sheet needs a slit cut in the middle so the top of the hanger can be inserted. Voilà!
This cotton storage bag offers superior air circulation over plastic containers, making it ideal for preserving your wedding gown between wears.
In the Short Term, Should You Hang or Fold Your Wedding Gown?
Hanging the wedding dress for any length of time before the big day is not recommended, but it should be alright.
Do not use a tiny plastic hanger to hang the wedding dress; instead, use the padded hanger that the store provided..
Taking this step will lessen the strain on the fabric and keep the sleeves of the dress from becoming sharply pleated.
In addition, most wedding dresses are designed with "hanging straps" in the armpits to redistribute weight from the shoulders to the dress's interior seams, which are far more sturdy.
You should also know that the weight of the cloth in a lengthy wedding gown train might easily reach three pounds.
If your garment has a really long train, you may want to hang it over another clothesline. Keep your clothing from snagging with this.
The best place to keep the wedding dress is wherever you feel most at ease residing, even if the big day is just around the corner.
Since this is the case, storage areas such as basements, garages, and attics are no longer viable options.
The wedding dress should never be exposed to sunlight, so keep it out of the open whenever possible.
Middle Term: 6-12 Month Wedding Gown Storage
In spite of your best efforts and our recommendations for short-term bridal gown storage, your dress may start to yellow even before the big day.
You should probably acquire a wedding gown storage box if your wedding is more than a year away from when you make the purchase.
Wedding Gown Storage Box?
Wedding dresses should be stored in a large box of acid-free and lignin-free cardboard to maintain their beauty until the big day.
Instead of using a conventional shipping box, which may contain acid or lignin that could harm the material of the wedding dress, you should use a special acid- and lignin-free box.
If not addressed, this can lead to permanent fabric burning and unsightly stains.
Another perk of using the wedding dress storage box is that they have in a wide variety of sizes to accommodate any kind of dress.
Your garment will fit neatly and securely in the storage box without having to be folded or pleated.
The most crucial reason to use a dress box for long-term storage is to keep your garment off the hanger that comes with it.
Long Term: Preservation of Wedding Gowns for One to One and a Half Years
If your wedding isn't for at least a year, and you need to keep your dress, you'll want to give some extra thought to how you'll handle doing so.
Due to the global pandemic, many brides in 2020 were forced to postpone their marriages until the following summer in the hope of having a more typical wedding ceremony.
The discoloration of the gown from storage for even more than a year is the most important thing to think about.
If the gown hasn't been professionally cleaned before being stored, it can start to turn yellow within just 8 months.
Before storing your gown for more than a year, it should be cleaned professionally to remove any oils from your skin from handling the gown and any debris or dust that may have been transferred during fittings.
To make sure the wedding dress looks as stunning on the big day as it looked when you put it on at the bridal shop, it's best to have it professionally cleaned and pressed either before storing it or in the weeks leading up to the wedding.
Long-term storage follows the same guidelines as medium-term storage, including having a professional clean the items before storing them.
When not in use, wedding dresses should be kept in a special box designed for the purpose, and should be stored in a breathable fabric cloth bag instead of a cheap plastic laundry service bag.
Does a One-Year-Old Wedding Dress Need Cleaning?
Several things come into play here, including the amount of times you touched your garment before the big day and how stunning it appears when you get a good look at it.
All the precautions we've already mentioned, including cleaning your hands and donning white cotton gloves, as well as taking off any jewellery, are still necessary for an inspection.
After those safeguards are done, run the “paper towel check” on the wedding dress.
To check for yellowing after being stored, hold the paper towel next to the white garment.
Sending the wedding dress in for a professional cleaning may be in order if you notice that it is not as spotless white and beautiful as it was before.
How to Keep The Wedding Dress If You're Moving
Preserving the wedding dress is a wonderful method to keep it looking as good as new, but it's not your only option.
You should consider putting your dress into a climate-controlled storage container if you're going to be moving soon.
This will prevent the cloth from ageing poorly, turning yellow or getting brittle.
Wearing a plastic laundry bag over your clothing is another option if you reside in a very humid or very cold climate.
The wedding dress can be safely stored in a temperature and humidity regulated unit if you are not intending on moving for the foreseeable future.
A longer useful life for the fabric and less wear and tear on it are both benefits of this measure.
A garment bag is another option for preventing dirt and other damage to your gown.
The wedding dress needs to be taken out of storage and allowed to acclimate to a temperature of your house before you may wear it again.
The fabric will be protected from wrinkles and wear this way.
Preserving Can Be Started at Any Time
Despite the fact that it's ideal to begin caring for a valuable heritage as soon as possible, the author stresses that it is never late to do so.
However, there's a chance it'll set you back more money.
Spots caused by oxidation make it much more challenging to clean your gown.
Here's the bright side, though: her company has successfully restored antique gowns that had been stored in a client's loft or closet for decades.
Wedding dress is a major expense, rivalling or exceeding the costs of the reception hall and meals served.
It's impossible to place a premium on preserving the life and beauty of the most precious and sentimental garment you'll ever own by storing it properly so it can be protected, maintain its integrity, able to breathe, and look as lovely in a hundred years as it is today.
To invest in the care and preservation of your wedding gown is to invest in your future descendants as much as in your wedding garment.
Feel free to contact the preservation company that your relative has recommended and ask any concerns you may have about the long- and short-term storage of your bridal gown.
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
Wedding gowns are often composed of delicate fabrics that might be destroyed by poor storage.
Care for the bridal gown both before and after the ceremony is essential. Take into account these thorough suggestions for both short-term and long-term storage of your bridal gown.
Temporarily hanging your wedding dress is OK to prevent unnecessary stress on the fabric.
You shouldn't use a plastic hanger to store your bridal gown; instead, opt for a velvet or satin hanger.
Straps that hang from the inside of the dress should never be detached. Washing and drying a queen-size flat sheet is possible without the use of fabric softener.
Hanging your clothing over an additional line may be necessary if the train is really long.
It is recommended that brides keep their wedding dresses in a specially designed cardboard box devoid of acid and lignin.
The most important advantage of a dress box over other types of long-term storage is its consistency.
It's also significant that the gown has faded in colour after being stored for more than a year.
The bridal gown can be kept in pristine condition by preserving it.
It's recommended that you keep the clothing in a temperature-controlled storage unit.
If you happen to live in either an exceptionally humid or exceptionally cold region, you can always resort to wearing a plastic laundry bag over your clothes.
You can begin preserving whenever you like. If you're worried about dirt or other potential harm to your wedding dress, a garment bag is another alternative.
Oxidation spots are significantly harder to remove from your gown.
Taking good care of your wedding dress is an investment in your family's future as much as it is in the garment itself.
Content Summary
- It usually requires a significant amount of energy, and money to find the right wedding dress.
- It's crucial to give the wedding dress the care it deserves pre and post the big day so that it can be passed down through the generations.
- To ensure that the wedding dress fits perfectly on your big day and can be passed down through the generations, consider these comprehensive guidelines to store wedding dress temporarily and permanently.
- Before taking the wedding dress out of the garment bag, make sure you've washed your hands properly.
- When taking the wedding dress out of its garment bag, take careful that the bottom of the skirt doesn't contact the floor.
- Until the big day arrives, it's important to keep the wedding dress in its original cloth bag and handle it as minimally as possible to preserve its gorgeous appearance.
- In order to prevent any soiling or stains on the bottom of the wedding dress, you should handle it with clean cotton gloves, take off any jewellery that could catch on the fabric, and avoid letting the hem of your dress drag on the floor.
- It's perfectly fine to temporarily hang your bridal gown.
- Use a velvet or satin hanger to hang the wedding dress instead of a plastic one.
- Pro Tip: Call the bridal shop to ask if they have a cotton, airy fabric bag you may use to temporarily store the wedding dress if the plastic cloth bag they gave you isn't appropriate.
- In the absence of a cotton bag, how would you keep your items safe?
- A queen-size flat sheet can go through the washer and dryer without any fabric conditioner.
- Do not use a tiny plastic hanger to hang the wedding dress; instead, use the padded hanger that the store provided.. Taking this step will lessen the strain on the fabric and keep the sleeves of the dress from becoming sharply pleated.
- Wedding dresses should be stored in a large box of acid-free and lignin-free cardboard to maintain their beauty until the big day.
- The most crucial reason to use a dress box for long-term storage is to keep your garment off the hanger that comes with it.
- The discoloration of the gown from storage for even more than a year is the most important thing to think about.
- Several things come into play here, including the amount of times you touched your garment before the big day and how stunning it appears when you get a good look at it.
- After those safeguards are done, run the "paper towel check" on the wedding dress.
- To check for yellowing after being stored, hold the paper towel next to the white garment.
- Sending the wedding dress in for a professional cleaning may be in order if you notice that it is not as spotless white and beautiful as it was before.
- You should consider putting your dress into a climate-controlled storage container if you're going to be moving soon.
- A garment bag is another option for preventing dirt and other damage to your gown.
- The wedding dress needs to be taken out of storage and allowed to acclimate to a temperature of your house before you may wear it again.
- Despite the fact that it's ideal to begin caring for a valuable heritage as soon as possible, the author stresses that it is never late to do so.
- To invest in the care and preservation of your wedding gown is to invest in your future descendants as much as in your wedding garment.
- Feel free to contact the preservation company that your relative has recommended and ask any concerns you may have about the long- and short-term storage of your bridal gown.
FAQS ABOUT STORING A WEDDING DRESS
How do you store your wedding dress yourself?
In order to preserve your bridal gown for any period of time, you will need to invest in acid-free paper. The ink from other papers may bleed through the fabric of your clothing. The dress should be stored in the bridal box it was purchased from the bridal shop, wrapped in acid-free paper. Completely lock it up.
How long do you have to preserve your wedding dress?
Keep in mind that stains, even those you can't see right away, can form over time, increasing the likelihood that your gown will get stained permanently if you wait too long to have it cleaned and maintained. There should be no more than three or four weeks between the wedding and the honeymoon.
How do you store a large dress?
Line a sturdy cardboard box or sweater bag with tissue paper to prevent sweaters from tangling.
Dresses, especially those with a lot of embellishment, should have their hems laid in the box before being folded. Dresses that are exceptionally long should be folded into an accordion and stored with tissue paper in between each fold.
Can I put my wedding dress in a vacuum bag?
Dresses should never be kept in a plastic bag or other sealed container.
While this may seem like a good idea at first, the gown will likely end up discoloured or yellowed due to the plastic containers or bags you used to store it in.
Furthermore, condensation inside the container promotes the growth of mould and mildew.
How much does a wedding dress weigh?
There is a huge difference in dress weight, however the typical wedding dress is around 3 kilogrammes (7 pounds). Simply step onto the bathroom scales while not wearing the outfit and make a mental note of your weight. You should do it again, however this time, you should hold the dress tight to your body.