1. Handle your wedding dress as little as possible before your wedding day.
“Oils from your skin, along with dirt and dust from brushing against the ground, can cause unsightly yellow staining in just a few short months. If you do need to try your dress on for a final fitting, use linen gloves and have a friend help you keep your wedding dress off the floor as much as possible.”
–Wedding Gown Preservation Kit.
2. Remember to use padded hangers and a garment bag.
“As the gown leaves the boutique, you have to make sure it will be transported in a vehicle where you can lay it down in the back seat. Your gown needs space —lots of it. It should be protected by an extra-long bag to minimize the need for extra wedding dress cleaning or pressing. At home, hang your gown as high as possible -a door frame is a good example! It’s best to use padded hangers, which are important for keeping your dress safe leading up to your big day. Padded hangers also help keep the original shape of the wedding dress (you don’t want the shoulders deformed). Also, you can use a garment bag to keep dust and moisture out. Wedding dress storing before the event is another important task to consider. We suggest keeping your dress in the same temperature or environment that you would find comfortable (not your honeymoon destination!) Avoid storing it in the basement or the attic where it usually gets damp and musty. If you can, try to resist the temptation to try it on and take it from the bag, unless you need to make adjustments.”
3. Leave it in the bag in a safe pet-free room.
“As tempting as it is to look at it, touch it (or even wear it) before your wedding day –resist! After your gown comes home from its final fitting, leave it in the bag in a safe, pet-free room. If you have a large ballgown and a significant other that promises not to peek, you may want to unzip the bag and let the skirt hang out to prevent wrinkles.”
-Ashley Lachney, Owner of Alston Mayger Events.
4. Get your gown pressed!
“Get your gown pressed before the wedding day. Once it’s pressed, be sure that it’s hanging from the tallest hook so that the entire dress can hang straight down. This helps avoid wrinkles so that you do not have to press your gown once again before the big day. Your gown will ultimately get dirty from your wedding. Bleach stains, grass stains, floor stains, shoe prints, you name it. It’s great if you can try your best to keep it clean but do not be so worried about it on your wedding day, enjoy the big moment with your family and friends.”
-Naomi Bennett, Wedding Planner & Creative Director of Bowties & Bouquets.
5. Always hang the gown by the loops on the inside, not the straps.
“Once your gown comes back from alterations, be sure to hang it by the loops on the inside of the gown. Avoid hanging it by the straps as this can ruin the delicate sleeves, overstretch the sleeves or cause strain as your gown can be quite heavy.”
-Naomi Bennett, Wedding Planner & Creative Director of Bowties & Bouquets.
