5 tips on wedding dress aftercare
Ladies, you looked incredible! You certainly got the reaction you were hoping for and your dress was a huge hit! If you were lucky enough to make it through the day without any real damage, well done to you! Chances are, though, that your wedding dress isn’t heading straight to the cleaners after the reception so keep it safe in the meantime and follow my 5 tips on how to care for your wedding dress after your wedding day.
Every bride takes so much care in their wedding dress leading up to the wedding. Hanging it nicely, trying not to crease it but once the toasts are made, the first dance has been danced and the wedding bouquet is thrown and you've walked around saying hello to all your guests, what happens with your beautiful wedding dress – now covered in champagne spills, muddy marks, and makeup stains?
Although you may not be intending to ever wear your wedding dress again, cleaning and preserving it is so important as this iconic dress that we ladies either like to pass down to our own daughters or attempt to fit into on our tenth anniversary needs to be preserved in the best way.
How to care for your wedding dress after your wedding day?
Bag it and keep it safe!
Use a garment bag.
Wrapping your dress in plastic traps moisture, which means mold and mildew, and plastic also emits fumes that can yellow your dress. Store your wedding dress in its proper garment bag that you would have been given from your bridal boutique in Cornwall.
Keep it away from the light.
Like any fabrics that are left in the sun, they can after time fade, so make sure you don't leave your dress near a window that gets lots of daytime light.
Lay it flat (or hang properly).
How you store your dress will depend on its fabric, weight and construction. If you're hanging it temporarily, use the internal hanging loops rather than putting all the weight through delicate straps or shoulders.
For longer-term storage, ask a professional wedding dress cleaner or preservation specialist what they recommend for your particular gown.
Leave the cleaning to the experts.
This is a tricky process. One wrong move could set the stain and make it worse! Remember that sometimes the best course of action is to leave the spot until it can be professionally treated.
2. Consider professional wedding dress cleaning and preservation
Preservation can protect your wedding dress from yellowing, permanent creasing, mildew and mould, oxidation spots, light, and dust. Since wedding gowns can be expensive, getting them cleaned professionally will protect your investment. Professional wedding dress cleaners will usually remove stains, make necessary repairs (within reason), press or steam the dress, wrap in acid-free tissue and store it. Generally, there are two types of preservation methods used.
If you'd like to keep your wedding dress after the wedding, having it professionally cleaned is worth considering.
Wedding dresses can contain delicate fabrics, lace, beading and embellishments, so look for a cleaner or preservation specialist who has experience working specifically with bridal gowns.
Tell them about any stains or marks you're aware of and ask what cleaning and storage method they recommend for your particular dress.
If you're hoping to preserve your gown for many years, they can also advise you on suitable long-term storage.
3. Don't leave cleaning too long
You don't need to worry about getting your wedding dress to a cleaner the morning after your wedding, but it's sensible not to leave stains untreated for months.
When the celebrations are over, keep your dress somewhere safe and dry and arrange professional cleaning when you can.
If you know something has been spilled on the dress, tell your cleaner what it was. Avoid experimenting with stain removers yourself, particularly on delicate fabrics or embellishments.
4. Store your wedding dress somewhere suitable
Once your dress has been professionally cleaned, think carefully about where you're going to keep it.
A cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, damp and big changes in temperature is generally sensible. Avoid simply leaving your dress indefinitely in an ordinary plastic garment bag.
If your dress has been professionally preserved, follow the storage advice provided by the specialist who treated it.
5. Budget for your cleaning
Wedding dress cleaning is one of those costs that's easy to forget when you're planning your wedding budget. If you'd like to keep, preserve, sell or pass on your dress afterwards, it's worth allowing a little extra for professional cleaning after the wedding.
Every bride that finds their wedding dress with me will receive my full dress guide on how to care for your wedding dress after your wedding day, along with the best suppliers to help you preserve it in the best way that’s right for you.
I hope this helps ladies! How to care for your wedding dress after your wedding day can be just as important as the preparation prior to your wedding. For more information get in touch with me and let’s talk through any queries you may have. If not, head to the blog and read my crazy story of why I decided to trash my wedding dress!
