Whether your big day is just around the corner and you’re looking for a safe place to store your wedding dress or your wedding has been and gone and you’re looking to preserve your dress in long term storage, it’s important that you store your wedding dress safely and securely if you want to keep it in the best possible condition.
Here’s our guide to storing your wedding dress before and after your wedding day:
How to store your wedding dress before the wedding
Your wedding dress is one of the most precious parts of your wedding day. So, it’s important that it’s stored in the right way to ensure it’s in pristine condition when you tie the knot.
When storing your wedding dress, always follow the instructions provided by the boutique or bridal salon where you purchased the dress from. These instructions will advise you on exactly what you need to do. Remember, always store your dress in a dark, dry space and opt for a breathable cloth bag.
Storing your dress in a wardrobe is the ideal solution and if there is a stand-alone hanging space for your wedding dress, even better!
How to preserve your wedding dress after the wedding
Many people keep their wedding dress forever, either as a memory of their special day or to pass down to loved ones. To preserve your wedding dress and keep it in the best condition, follow these top tips:
- After your wedding day, have your dress cleaned by a professional dry cleaner who specialises in cleaning wedding dresses. A professional dry cleaner will be able to remove any stains from your dress and get it looking brand new again.
- If you don’t store your wedding dress in the right environment, it can discolour extremely quickly. With this in mind, you should avoid storing it in direct sunlight, damp areas, or in hot environments.
- Store your dress in a pH neutral wrapping with tissue paper that is acid free. Investing in a wedding box is a great way to keep your wedding dress in pristine condition.
- Finally, check on your wedding dress every 6 months to make sure that nothing has happened to it.
And what shouldn’t you do?
- Avoid storing your dress in a plastic dress cover as these are not suitable for hanging and storing wedding dresses for long periods of time.
- Don’t use a cardboard box to store your dress in as boxes contain acid that can discolour your dress.
- You should also avoid wrapping your wedding dress in coloured tissue paper, especially black or other bold colours, as the dye can transfer onto your dress and discolour it.
- Hanging your dress for long periods of time can result in stress to the seams and shape of the dress.
- Avoid storing your wedding dress in the loft or basement as it could succumb to wear and tear caused by a leaking roof, dampness or even an insect infestation.
Wedding dress preservation vs dry cleaning
Wedding dress preservation is a specialist process that helps preserve and protect the wedding dress for as long as possible. The specialist will assess your dress and put together a treatment plan based on the fabric and stitching of the dress, as well as any stains or issues.
Some dry cleaners also offer specialist wedding dress cleaning services. Before you go ahead, always ask questions about their process to ensure that your wedding dress is in the best hands. What sort of solvent do they use? What are their policies – do they guarantee they won’t damage the dress?
How do I keep my wedding dress from turning yellow?
One of the main problems with storing wedding dresses is the fabric yellowing. Yellowing occurs when the original fibres of the fabric undergo chemical degradation. Unfortunately, white is one of the colours of fabric that is most susceptible to yellowing, leaving your wedding dress looking light to medium yellow colour.
When it comes to preventing your wedding dress from turning yellow, it’s always best to store it in an acid-free environment, whilst ensuring that it is wrapped and padded
with acid-free tissue or cotton muslin – this is a great way to help prevent acid migration.
Environmental factors such as sunlight, humidity and heat also accelerate the natural fibre degradation process, while putting your dress in a plastic garment bag can also lead to phenolic yellowing, where the fibres in the fabric interact with the chemicals in the plastic.
Where to store your wedding dress
The best place to store your wedding dress is in a cool, dry, dark space that’s safe from children and animals! This could be a dedicated area of your wardrobe or storage in a spare room. You might also consider a dedicated storage facility, where you can rest assured your dress will be kept safe, clean, dry, and undisturbed. Of course, any time you want to check on it, you can simply pop into your storage facility and do so!
If you’re looking for a storage space for your wedding dress, get in touch for your free, no-obligation quote.
