Most little girls dream of walking down the aisle to marry their prince in a perfectly magical wedding dress. As you probably know, a lot of time and money went into finding your dream bridal gown, which is why keeping it in perfect shape before and after the wedding is so important. Here are some simple tips on how a bride can keep her wedding dress beautiful before and afterward the big day.
Protect Your Dress from Plastics
If your wedding dress comes wrapped in plastic or in a white plastic garment bag, and you plan on storing it for more than a few weeks, you’ll want to remove it from the plastic or plastic garment bag. Then wrap your dress in white or light colored cotton sheets or put it in a light colored cloth garment bag. Plastic usually doesn’t allow the fabric to ‘breathe’ and may even dull or yellow the dress, as chemicals start to break down and gases are discharged.
When and How to Hang Your Dress
Don’t rush to hang up your wedding dress. You’ll want to first consider the weight of your dress. If your dress isn’t light and airy and is heavily embellished with beads and has lots of layers, you’ll want to store it flat protected with cotton sheets in a low traffic area or space. Make sure to keep your dress away from any dirt, pets, heaters, damp areas, or direct sunlight. Also, make sure your dress is placed in a room with a moderate to cool temperatures that are not too hot or humid. If you do hang up your dress, be sure to use the small support straps (often referred to as ‘spaghetti’ straps) that are usually sewn into the inside of the gown, to help take the pressure off sleeves that can stretch. If your gown is strapless, be sure to use the small spaghetti straps vs. using the clamp type hanger that can damage or mark up the fabric.
Try Not to Handle Your Dress
The key to keeping your dress in pristine condition before your big day is to avoid trying on your dress unnecessarily or removing it from the fabric garment bag. You greatly increase your chances of soiling, staining or damaging your dress if you keep handling it. If you must try on your wedding dress before your big day, make sure to remove any jewelry (to avoid snags), deodorant and makeup first. It’s also recommended that you thoroughly wash your hands to prevent the natural oils from your hands to get onto the dress. Oils usually cannot be seen at first, but can attract dirt, which can be seen later on.
Removing Wrinkles
A few days before your wedding carefully take out your dress. Use a silk or satin padded hanger to hang your wedding dress somewhere high, so any creases and wrinkles can drop out. If your dress still has a few wrinkles a couple of days before the wedding, you could hang your gown in the powder room with a hot shower running. Just make sure your gown is far enough away from the shower so that it doesn’t get wet. You may also want to have your dress professionally steamed just before your wedding. This is especially helpful if you have to take your dress on a plane if your wedding is in a different city. It is not recommended that you iron your dress in order to avoid any last minute accidents that could ruin your precious wedding gown.
Wedding Gown Preservation Afterwards
When you get back from your honeymoon, don’t forget to get your wedding dress preserved by a reputable specialist. Preserving a gown is a special process that entails professional cleaning and preserving your dress after it has been worn at your wedding and reception. This process is done in many steps, including not only inspecting and cleaning your wedding dress of both non-visible and visible stains, hand treating and cleaning highly soiled areas such as the hem and neckline, but it also entails a preservation process that protects your dress through the years from yellowing and stains that might have otherwise surfaced over time. Be sure to check reviews by real brides when selecting a company to entrust your precious gown with. Having your gown professionally cleaned, preserved and protected in an acid-free preservation chest will ensure you’ve created a family keepsake that will be cherished for generations to come.
