How to Care for Your Gown: Before, During, and After the Wedding!
You found the gown of your dreams and sooner than you know it, you’ll be taking your perfectly altered gown home where it will wait for your big day! The bulk of the work is done, and now it’s time to store away your gown so it looks flawless when it’s finally time to walk down the aisle. Your wedding gown is a sentimental piece that you’ll want to save forever, but common mistakes in handling your gown can cause unwanted imperfections. That's why our team has developed a quick guide to caring for your gown before, during, and after your wedding to help keep your wedding dress pristine for years to come!
Storing Before the Wedding
Always handle your gown with clean, dry hands and refrain from rubbing or adding friction to the fabric. When storing before the wedding, keep the gown hanging in your provided cloth bag to prevent creasing.
Resist trying on the gown or handling it outside of the bag except for when necessary. The less the gown is out in the open, the fewer chances there are for your gown to catch any stains or imperfections!
Store your gown in a dry, temperature-controlled environment and out of the way in a closet. Keep your gown in the provided cloth gown bag and hung off the ground so the bottom doesn’t bunch and cause creasing.
Hanging your gown by the sleeves alone can distress the fibers and cause stretching and other damage. Use the hanging straps inside your gown to take weight off the fabric and prevent stretching!
Don’t leave your gown in direct sunlight for long periods of time. Over time, this can cause discoloration.
If you find any imperfections develop after handling the gown, don’t stress! Call our salon and ask what the best solution is for your particular gown. Always remember, never rub a stain!
It’s the Big Day!
Lightly steam out any wrinkles and creases on the day of the wedding and get familiar with your train’s bustle! Keep it off the ground and away from busy traffic areas.
Pack an emergency kit to be carried by your planner or a bridesmaid at all times. Items to include are safety pins, a sewing needle and white thread, baby powder or cornstarch, cotton swabs and clean, dry white towelettes!
For water spills, softly blot and dry the area with a clean white towelette. If possible, you can press or steam the area once dry!
For makeup, lipstick, or oily spills, lightly coat the area with baby powder or cornstarch to absorb the oil. Wait 15 minutes, then brush off excess powder. This technique will help mask the stain and prepare the stain to be treated by a professional!
For wine or beverage spills, gently blot the area with a dry towelette and apply baby powder or cornstarch, which will absorb the remaining moisture. Don’t apply water or another liquid cleaner! The powder will help mask the stain and prepare the area to be treated by a professional.
Congratulations, newlywed! Now what?
Don’t send your gown to a dry cleaner! Many chemicals and techniques used in dry cleaning processes can cause more harm to your gown’s delicate fabric. Instead, invest in gown preservation that specifically caters to wedding gowns. Though this is a costlier process (around $500-$600), it’s worth it to have a perfect gown to enjoy for a lifetime to come! We trust J Scheer & Co. with any gown preservation needs.
With lots of care, and the help of preservation experts, your gown will be a treasured heirloom for future generations of women to come!