You’ve walked down the aisle, cut the cake and thrown the bouquet, but after all is said and done, what should you do with your wedding dress? Chances are you have dedicated countless hours to finding your dream gown therefore letting it sit in a corner somewhere wouldn’t do it justice. The best thing you can do for your dress is to preserve it and here’s how.
Dry Clean
Before the preservation procedure can begin, you must have your dress dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is a must because bodily oils and stains can cause yellowing and fabric breakdown over time. You can take your gown to the neighborhood dry cleaner or send it off to one that specializes in wedding gowns. A thorough cleaning will remove nearly all oils and stains from your dress and prepare it for the next step.
Preservation
Some brides choose to take their wedding gowns to a gown preservation expert who can restore the gown and then treats it with a special solution to prevent yellowing. However, some yellowing can still occur and you can also prevent yellowing with careful storage.
Storing Your Dress
After a thorough cleaning, inspection and preservation, your dress will be ready for storage. To prevent yellowing post-preservation your dress should be wraspped in clean, acid-free paper and stored in a cool, dry area. DO NOT store your gown in a plastic bag since a lack of oxygen will facilitate the yellowing process. You should pack your dress in a breathable box or a fabric bag and place it in your closet. Do not hang your dress since that will cause the fabric to distort, but instead lay it flat and take it out of the box no more than once a year for an inspection. Most reputable preservation companies guarantee their work and will restore your gown for free (provided you have stored the dress properly).
Your wedding gown is special and played such a large part in one of the most important moments in your life. Preserving it will allow you and future generations to reminisce and make new memories. Keep it in good condition and maybe one day your daughter will walk down the aisle wearing the dress that started it all and start a whole new set of memories for you and your family.
Photo credits: SimplyBridal
About our guest blogger
Anna Knight is lead contributor to SimplyBridal. She was born and raised in New York. She loves fashion, especially jewelry and shoes. She adores simple, classic pieces and even designed her own wedding dress. She tied the knot in 2010 in a small, intimate ceremony, but can’t wait to renew her vows in Bali. She currently lives in a partially remodeled apartment with her husband and two yorkshire terriers.
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