Planning Can Protect Your Wedding Dress Investment
A wedding dress is usually one of the more expensive investments in a wedding. It is also something that you will cherish for years to come. Just a bit of planning will help keep your dress looking beautiful.
Many bridal shops will hold your gown at their facility until just a few days before the wedding. But no matter whether you bring your dress home six months before the day or six days, proper storage is important to prevent staining.
If storing your dress for less than six months, hang it on a padded hanger in a closet away from direct sunlight, leaving several feet of space on either side to prevent wrinkling. To protect your dress from dust, cover it a white cotton sheet that has been washed in hot water without detergent or bleach. The sheet will allow for ventilation.
Don't use plastic because it can trap condensation, causing mildew and mustiness. Plastic is also terrible for long term storage because it emits gases over time that cause deterioration. If you'll be storing the gown for more than six months, it's best not to hang it to avoid stressing shoulders and seams. Instead, carefully fold the dress with acid-free tissue paper and store in an acid-free cardboard box.
Wedding Stain Makers to Avoid
- If you have selected a flower, like lilies, that have a large or strong-colored stamen, as the florist to remove the pollen laden stamen before delivering the flowers.
- If you love the idea of walking through a shower of bubbles, think about your wedding gown fabric. Silk and satin are particularly vulnerable to staining from the bubble mixture. There are brands that claim to be non-staining, but it might be worth a test on a sample fabric.
- Red wine and chocolate fountains are top of the list of wedding dress stains. Consider your menu choices carefully if you or your groom are less than graceful!
Wedding Day Stain Prevention Tips
- If your dress is rumpled during transportation and you are dressing at the venue, you may need to relax some wrinkles by creating a steam room. Cover the bathroom floor with towels and run a very hot shower, allowing the room to fill with steam. Turn the water off, then hang the dress on the back of the bathroom door. Wrap your arm in a dry, white towel and run it down the length of the gown, smoothing out any wrinkles. This method is much less likely to leave water spots or iron impressions than a home steamer or iron.
- Be sure to wear a deodorant that is also an antiperspirant to prevent heavy staining.
- If your dress must go over your head, place a lightweight cotton cloth over your face to prevent the transfer of make up. Be sure to drape a towel over your shoulders to do final makeup touch-ups.
- Be certain your transportation is clean. Spread a white sheet in vehicles that haven’t been professionally cleaned.
- Bring along your pre-laundered white sheet to wrap your dress in after the wedding. Have a trusted friend deliver the dress to the dry cleaner. Every dress should be cleaned no later than 3 months after the wedding even if it appears to be spotless.
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