A bride must give her wedding dress the attention and space it requires before the big day to ensure that it maintains its stunning beauty. Whether it is a newly acquired dream dress or a treasured family relic, it is vital to store your dress appropriately to ensure that it remains in outstanding shape. This holds whether the dress was recently purchased or was a family heirloom. If you give the methods and suggestions in this article a try, your wedding dress will look just as beautiful on the day of your wedding as it did the day you bought it in the store.
This article will provide you with all of the information you require to maintain your wedding dress in pristine condition until the big day, including where the ideal spot is to store it as well as how to choose the best garment bag or box.
How Do You Store A Wedding Dress Before Wearing It?
The state of your wedding dress depends on how you’ve stored it before to the big day. The sequence of events is as follows on how to store wedding dress before wedding:
- Choose a Suitable Location: Select a cool, dry, and dark location for storing your dress. Avoid areas with direct sunlight, high humidity, or extreme temperatures.
- Clean the Dress: If your dress isn’t brand new, make sure it’s professionally cleaned before storing it. Even if it looks clean, there may be hidden stains or oils from handling that can set over time.
- Inspect for Damage: Check the dress for any loose threads, missing buttons, or other minor repairs that need attention. Address these issues before storing the dress.
- Invest in a Garment Bag or Box:
- Choose the right storage container based on your dress’s fabric and design:
- Garment Bag: If your dress has a simple silhouette and is made of breathable fabrics like chiffon or organza, a high-quality, breathable garment bag is suitable. Make sure it’s acid-free and has a full-length zipper to protect the dress from dust and light.
- Box: For dresses with intricate details, heavy fabrics like satin or lace, or dresses with a fuller skirt, consider storing them in an acid-free, archival-quality wedding dress preservation box. These boxes provide extra protection from dust, light, and potential creasing.
- Use Acid-Free Tissue Paper: If you opt for a preservation box, place acid-free tissue paper between the layers of your dress to prevent any wrinkles or creases. Avoid coloured tissue paper, as it can bleed onto the dress.
- Store the Dress Carefully:
- Hang the dress in the garment bag or place it inside the preservation box. If hanging, choose a sturdy, padded hanger that won’t stretch the dress straps or neckline.
- Ensure the dress is not crammed in the storage container, as this can lead to wrinkles and damage.
- Keep it Upright: If you’re using a preservation box, store it upright, not flat, to prevent unnecessary pressure on the dress.
- Protect from Pests: Place mothballs or sachets of dried lavender in the storage area to deter insects and pests from damaging the dress.
- Regularly Check and Ventilate: Periodically inspect the dress to ensure it remains in good condition. If using a garment bag, gently remove it from the bag to let the dress breathe for a few hours before returning it to storage.
- Avoid Last-Minute Changes: Try to avoid making any last-minute alterations or changes to the dress before your wedding day, as this can introduce additional risks and complications.
If you make sure to adhere to these rules, you may have the peace of mind of knowing that your wedding dress will remain in pristine condition right up to the moment that you put it on. You may ensure that you will look stunning by preserving it until the big day and keeping it in excellent condition.
Can I Store My Wedding Dress Folded?
While hanging or draping a wedding dress is the preferred method of storage, folding it may be appropriate in some circumstances. There are, however, certain rules to observe if you plan on folding your wedding dress before putting it away:
- Fabric Type: The suitability of folding depends largely on the fabric of your wedding dress. Some fabrics, like satin or silk, are more prone to creasing and may not be ideal for folding. If your dress has a simple silhouette and lightweight, breathable fabric, it may be more forgiving when folded.
- Folding Carefully: If you decide to fold your dress, do so with great care. Follow these steps:
- Lay the dress flat on a clean, flat surface.
- Gently fold the dress along its natural seams, avoiding sharp creases as much as possible.
- Use acid-free tissue paper to place between the folds to minimize the risk of wrinkles and creases.
- Avoid Prolonged Folding: Folding should be a temporary solution for short-term storage. If you’re planning to store your wedding dress folded for an extended period, it’s best to reconsider and use a hanging or preservation box method, as prolonged folding can lead to permanent creases and damage.
- Regular Inspection: If you choose to fold your dress, periodically check it to ensure no deep creases or wrinkles are forming. Gently unfold and refold it to different areas to minimize stress on specific spots.
- Storage Location: Store the folded dress in a cool, dark, and dry location. Avoid storing it in a way that puts excessive weight or pressure on the folds.
It is important to keep in mind that folding your wedding dress poses the possibility of creasing the fabric, particularly if the fabric is delicate. When storing a dress for an extended period, it is best to use a preservation box or a high-quality garment bag if at all possible. This will help reduce the likelihood that the dress will become wrinkled and will also shield it from potential sources of harm such as dirt and light. If you will need to temporarily fold your dress, refer back to the instructions listed above and think about having it steamed or pressed by a professional before your wedding to get the most out of its appearance.
Conclusion
The most important step you can take towards preserving the lustre of your wedding dress and ensuring that it will look stunning when you wear it to your big event is to put it away for storage in an appropriate facility before the big day arrives. Whether you want to fold it with particular care or hang it in a garment bag of exceptional quality, there are specific procedures that must be taken to maintain the faultless state of your gown. These actions must be followed to keep your gown in pristine condition.
It is important to keep in mind that the type of fabric ought to be taken into consideration, that severe creases ought to be avoided, that acid-free tissue paper ought to be used, and that your garment ought to be inspected periodically. It is vital to select a suitable method of storage, as well as a location, to protect your wedding dress from dirt, light, and other potential sources of wear and tear. If you follow these steps and take the necessary precautions, you will be able to guarantee that your wedding dress will be in pristine condition as you walk down the aisle on your big day. This will result in the formation of cherished memories that will remain with you for a lifetime.