Most brides spend weeks or even months finding the perfect new or vintage wedding dress. However, most brides haven’t given much thought as to how to best store their wedding dress, either before or after their wedding. These 5 wedding dress storage tips are designed to help ensure that your gown remains as pristine as it was the day you fell in love with it, for years to come.
Before the wedding
Fabric vs plastic garment bags
In the weeks and months leading up to the wedding, it’s recommended that you hang your dress in a fabric or cloth (non-plastic) garment bag. You’ll want to stay away from using any type of plastic garment bag, as the chemicals in the plastic can cause your dress to yellow.
Padded hangers
Dresses that are heavily embellished with beading, crystals or other appliqué, can make the dress quite heavy. Therefore, special precautions should be taken to avoid stretching the shoulders or sleeves. Make sure the main hanger is padded and consider an extra hanger to fold the train over, in order to distribute the weight of the dress on the top hanger.
Location, location, location
While your dress is being stored for the big day, you’ll want to keep it as much out of harm’s way as possible. It’s tempting to want to hang it on the back of a bedroom door. However, it’s risky to expose it to pets, dust, heat, humidity or extreme sunlight. Ideally, you should store the dress at the back of a cool dry wardrobe and away from animals, boilers, windows and moisture.
After the wedding
Proper cleaning and preservation
You’ll want to be sure to have your dress professionally cleaned and preserved as soon after your wedding as possible. This will help prevent stains from setting into the fabric of your dress and optimally prepare it for long term storage. Be sure to use a highly reputable company that specialises in wedding dress preservation, such as the Affordable Preservation Company, top rated on both The Knot and WeddingWire.
Long-term storage
After your wedding dress is cleaned and preserved, it’s essential that it’s stored properly for the long term. The preservation chest should be stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and extreme temperatures. The preservation chest should also be stored laying flat to prevent the dress from shifting. It’s best stored under a bed or on the top shelf of a wardrobe. You’ll want to be certain to avoid storing your gown in a basement or loft where temperatures and humidity can fluctuate and harm the dress.
Properly storing your wedding dress from the time of purchase, to having it professionally cleaned and preserved, and finally storing it properly for the long term, will help to ensure your wedding dress will be an heirloom that can be cherished for years to come.
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