After the flowers have wilted, the cake is long gone, and the sparklers have burnt out, one thing still remains – your wedding dress. Although photos and video of your special day are fun to look back on, there's nothing quite like holding a tangible item from your wedding day. And just imagine getting to put it on display at your 50th anniversary party as your grandchildren admire the heirloom. With the right preparation, your dress can last for years to come, so keep reading to learn how to store a wedding dress. Although it's not as easy as simply sticking the gown in the closet, it's still a simple process.
How to Store a Wedding Dress
Clean Your Dress
Remember climbing through dirt and tall grass to get the perfect photo with your adventurous photographer? Those grass stains you earned need to be cleaned as soon as possible. With any fabric, the longer you give a stain to settle, the more stubborn and hard to remove it will become. Even if it doesn't look like your dress has any stains on it, items like champagne and sugar can find their way onto your dress. Years later, you'll be left with yellow stains that are nearly impossible to remove.
As soon as you return home from your honeymoon, or better yet, before you leave, consult with your bridal salon about where to clean your dress. You can expect to spend a minimum of $90 to clean your dress. However, the price will vary depending on where you live and the number of details your dress has, like lace and beadwork. If you decide to purchase a wedding preservation package through a local bridal salon like Norman's Bridal, cleaning is often included in the base price. A professional wedding dress preserver will examine your dress for any stains, special fabrics, and embellishments and come up with a specialized approach to clean your dress.
Work with a Reputable Company
When it comes to storing your wedding dress, don't try to DIY it (leave that for tasks like drying your wedding bouquet or making your own frames for your wedding pictures). It's important to work with a company you can trust with the dress that holds so many memories. After your dress is clean, you'll want to have a professional wedding preservation company package your dress with materials that are free of acid.
We know it's fun to look at your wedding dress from time to time and reflect on the moment of your first look. Luckily, some wedding dress preservation companies use a pH-neutral box with a viewing window. If your box doesn't have a viewing window, you can still open it from time to time. Just be careful when you handle your wedding dress. Make sure you've thoroughly washed your hands and rinsed all of the soap off, and do not wear any lotion. Or, put on a pair of clean white cotton gloves.
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Storing your wedding dress isn't as simple as tossing it in a box and placing it in the corner of your basement, but learning how to store a wedding dress properly can save you heartache 20 years from now. Are you looking for a company to trust with your wedding dress preservation? If you live near Springfield, Missouri, stop by Normans Bridal. Even if you did not purchase your dress from us, we'd love to help you keep it safe for years. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at 417-866-9800. We also have a wide selection of gowns, affordable prices, and helpful consultants. If you're in the market, you’re sure to enjoy shopping for your wedding dress at Normans Bridal.
