Your wedding gown is likely one of the most special and important purchases you’ll make during your life. After all, it is the dress that will take your from a single girl to a married woman. In order to keep the memories alive, you’ll want your dress to look pristine through the ceremony, the reception and for years down the road.
We’ve collected five simple tips that will help you avoid the common stains that happen to many wedding gowns.
1. Keep the Hem Up
When you are walking from the dressing area to the ceremony, or whenever you are walking outside, be mindful to keep the hem of your gown off the floor. Grass stains and dirt stains around the hem are the most common type of stains. While they can be removed, in most cases, it is important to limit the damage as much as you can.
2. Avoid Red Wine
Red wine is one of the hardest stains to remove, and it sets rather easily. To avoid this problem, simply avoid drinking red wine at the reception. Instead, opt for white wine or champagne. Both are easier to remove if they spill on the dress. If you do spill red wine on your wedding gown, you can dab it with club soda to help remove most of the stain, but you’ll want to get the dress to a professional cleaner as soon after the big day as possible. The sooner a professional looks at the dress, the more likely it is for them to remove the stain completely.
3. Nix the Bubbles
While bubbles after the ceremony is a time honored tradition, you may want to avoid them if your dress is made of silk or satin. Silk and satin are both easily stained by the glycerin that is in bubbles. If you have your heart set on walking through a curtain of soapy bubbles after leaving your reception, look online for a “stain-free” bubble solution. You should test the solution on a sample piece of your dress (ask your bridal shop for a sample swatch), before committing to bubbles. The sample swatch will easily let you know if your dress will be stained by the bubble solution.
4. Avoid Sweat Stains
To avoid sweat stains, which can heavily soil a dress, be sure to pick a deodorant that is also an antiperspirant. Be sure that it is a clear solid. If you must go with a gel, be sure to give the deodorant about 5 minutes to set before slipping your clothes on. If you have a perspiration problem, consider getting a clinical strength deodorant for the day, Secret makes a clinical option that is clear, and will help keep you dry during your big day, and, more importantly, it will stop sweat stains before they happen.
5. Avoid Makeup Stains
To avoid transferring your makeup to your dress, place a cloth over your face, be gentle and do it lightly. Have one bridesmaid hold the cloth, while the others boost the dress over your head. Once your dress is over your face, the cloth can be removed. This is a quick, easy and efficient way to keep your makeup on your face and off your dress while you are getting ready for your big day.
Remember, even if you’ve avoided major stains, you’ll want to have your dress cleaned within 90 days of the event. The sooner you get your dress to a professional cleaner, the sooner you’ll have it looking brand new again, and preserved!
Photo credit: veronika mart / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
