Storing Your Wedding Dress: Preserving the Memory

With all the time and energy you spent trying to find the perfect wedding dress and all the beautiful memories you created on your wedding day, you will want to put that same care into preserving and storing your wedding gown. Whether you want to save your dress as a keepsake or you plan on passing that dress down to a daughter or granddaughter one day, there are some things you need to know to keep your dress beautiful throughout the years.

 Clean Your Dress

After the wedding you will want to get your dress cleaned within the first few weeks. The longer you leave your dress, the more opportunity stains have to set into the fabric. To avoid any permanent stains, get your dress cleaned as soon as possible.

Get Help

Don’t try to clean your dress yourself! Most wedding dresses are made with a variety of delicate fabrics that require a professional cleaning. Try to find someone with a good reputation of being able to clean a variety of textiles. They will not only treat the fabric properly, but they will also be able to find stains and problem areas that you may not have noticed before.

 Stay Away From Plastic

Plastic may seem like the right choice when you store your wedding dress, but it degrades over time. Many plastics are made of chemicals and give off fumes that are actually harmful to the fabrics in your dress. They can cause discoloration or destruction of the fabric.

Acid Free is Key

When you are looking for a storage box or paper, use the following mantra, “Acid-free is key!” You will want to find tissue and a cardboard box that have the label, “acid-free” so that there are no harmful chemicals in the paper that will damage your dress. When you box your gown you will need acid-free tissue paper to wrap your dress. You will also need to stuff the arms, bodice, and other curved areas of the dress with tissue to avoid wrinkling. Even if you do use acid-free products, you will need to replace them every three to five years. Even acid-free products can re-acidify causing damage to your gown.

Hanging It Up

If boxing up your gown is not for you, then consider storing your gown in a white sheet or muslin and hanging it up in a closet. Be sure to use the loops that are sewn into the dress for handing, as the shoulder seams can be fragile. Plus, hanging the dress by the shoulder seams can cause it to stretch out or even sag.

Keep it Dark, Dry, and Cool

Many people choose to place their wedding gowns in a storage area like the basement or attic. However, those areas are prone to moisture, heat, and more. In order to prevent damage to the fabric, you need to store your dress in a dry and cool area. If it is too damp the dress can grow mildew, and if it is too hot the dress can yellow.Besides temperature and humidity, you also need to keep your dress away from light. Light can break down fabric and cause fading and yellowing of the fabric. Even artificial lighting can break down the integrity of the textiles.Finally, make sure you check on your gown occasionally. Even in storage, things can happen to your dress or stains can suddenly appear. If you want to preserve your dress, you need to be sure your dress stays in good shape, even after it is put away.