Wedding Dress Storage - Short Term and Long Term

Finding the perfect wedding dress normally takes a lot of time, effort and money. However, to ensure that this prominent, and valuable, piece of one of the most memorable days of your life can be passed on to your descendants, it is essential that you store it correctly.

With proper wedding dress and prom dress storage, you can prevent unnatural stretching of the delicate fabric, yellowing and/or formation of brown spots/stains, permanent creasing as well as formation of mold and mildew.

To find out more about how to properly store your brilliant wedding dress, and keep it in perfect condition, before and/or after your wedding day, read on below.

Start By Seeking The Advice Of Wedding Gown Preservation Companies

When it comes to the proper preservation of your wedding dress, the first step is to seek advice from the wedding gown preservation company. Their knowledge of the fabric, embellishments, garment bag and how the dress hangs is second to none; and, should be your go to guide when it comes to cleaning and storing your dress for any period of time.

Also Read: Acid-Free Wedding Dress Box: Everything You Need To Know

Handling Your Wedding Dress

If your dress is going to survive short- or long-term preservation, proper handling, before, during and after storage is essential. Wedding dresses are made from very delicate fabrics. Any direct contact with sweat, natural oils produced by the skin, perfume and lotions as well as sharp objects – such as jewelry – can lead to serious damage.

To minimize any risk of staining or damage to your wedding dress during handling, it is recommended that you thoroughly wash up – to get rid of any make up, natural oils and lotion on your skin – remove any jewelry that may pull on the delicate fabric; and when possible, wear white cotton gloves. The same goes for anyone else who might be handling the dress before and after storage.

Most importantly, whether you are preparing your wedding dress for, or taking it out of storage, remember to keep the bottom from coming into contact with the ground.

Also Read: Wedding Gown Cleaning and Preservation FAQs Every Bride Should Know

Storing Your Wedding Dress In The Short-Term

It normally takes around six to eight months for a brilliant wedding dress to start yellowing. This simply means that you can keep the dress looking as good as it did when you bought it by leaving it in its garment bag. During this short-term period, the dress should be stored in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight.

If you need to handle the dress at any point during this period, be sure to follow the above tips.

Hanging your wedding dress in the short-term is totally acceptable. However, this must be done correctly to avoid placing undue stress on the fabric. If you need to hang your wedding dress, be sure to use a padded hanger, instead of a normal plastic hanger. Furthermore, you should only use the hanging straps sewn inside the dress. With these tips, you will be able to keep the pressure off the shoulders of the wedding dress.

Also Read: 7 Essential Tips in Storing Your Wedding Dress

Storing Your Wedding Dress In The Long-Term

Some of the main concerns when it comes to long-term storage of your wedding dress – more than 8 months or a year – include yellowing, brown spots, growth of mold and mildew and formation of deep creases.

Before placing your wedding dress in long-term storage, it is recommended that you first have it professionally cleaned – the same goes when taking the dress out of long-term preservation. This way, you can get rid of any invisible stains that may cause serious damage in the long run.

You should also avoid leaving your dress hanging in a plastic cover over the long-term. The plastic cover increases the risk of mold and mildew growth, as well as the formation of stains as chemicals leach from it and into the dress, over time.

To solve these problems, it is recommended that you store your dress in an acid and lignin free storage container designed for this specific purpose. Storing the dress in a container also eliminates the need for hanging.

One of the most expensive items on any wedding budget is a wedding dress. If you wish to keep your wedding dress in its best condition, for a few months, before the big day, or for years, afterwards; our proper wedding dress preservation is essential.