After your wedding, it is always best to store and protect your wedding dress to avoid costly damages. Special boxes and dress covers are on offer, which you can purchase to store and protect your wedding gown, but it is imperative that you choose one that fits your expensive gown perfectly.
It is moreover desirable that you practice the following do’s and don’ts to ensure that your dress is in a superior condition at all times:
The Do’s
- Make sure that your dress is cleaned before you store and protect it. This can be done right after your honeymoon or perhaps ask your maid of honor or a family member to send it to the dry cleaners the day after your wedding. It is important to choose a reputable company that specializes in wedding dress cleaning, given that their trained eyes are able to pick up marks and stains that can be difficult to detect on your own.
- Keep your wedding gown away from heat, any sort of dampness, and light. Store it in a dry room, especially one that does not have any history of insects or mold buildup.
- Make sure that your gown is surrounded by acid-free tissue and stored in a PH-neutral surrounding, for instance a sturdy box.
- Avoid choosing a wedding dress box that is made from plastic. The box should allow the dress to breathe and protect it from dust and dirt. It is better to buy a sturdy box that may cost more than you expect, compared to opting for one that cannot protect your dress for a lifetime.
- Once your dress is stored away safely and securely, you should check it every few months to be certain nothing has occurred unexpectedly. You may need to consider re-packing your wedding dress at least once a year to prevent any creases from becoming permanent.
The Don’ts
- If you are planning to pass down your wedding dress to your children or relatives, it is highly recommended that you store and preserve it in a quality wedding dress box, rather than in a simple plastic dress cover. Plastic dress covers do not permit changes in humidity and they cannot acceptably protect your dress from light. Therefore, they are not suitable for permanent storage.
- When choosing a wedding dress box, avoid picking a fabric or cardboard box, as it normally contains acids that can cause your gown to fade or discolor in due course.
- You should never store your wedding gown next to a suitcase lining, the wood of your wardrobe, in a drawer (without covers), or close to other clothes, because all of these tend to have an effect on the gown’s authentic fabrics.
- It is not a good idea to wrap your wedding gown in colored tissue paper. Use only white and acid-free tissue paper.
- Do not hang your wedding gown, because the hanger may put pressure on the seams. Ultimately, this can cause your gown to go out of shape.
- Do not store your wedding gown in the attic or loft. Dampness, a leakage, small insects, rodents, or changes in humidity could damage the dress when stored in these places, particularly if it is not properly protected.
Overall, it is best to seek out professional advice with reference to the best ways you can store and protect your wedding dress and find a company you can trust to keep your gown looking like new for years to come.
Photo credit: Wedding Dress – Factory Outlet / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
