How to Preserve Your Wedding Dress

After countless hours spent searching for your dream wedding gown, you're not going to say goodbye to it as it crumpled on the floor. Take a moment to remember why you chose this dress in the first place: the daring neckline, the perfectly cutting, all reasons to save it for posterity.

 

Cleaning Techniques
Some gown specialists use the wetcleaning method, which consists of gently washing the gown by hand with gentle cleansers that remove noticeable stains such as champagne and sugar. If left untreated, unseen stains can turn yellow over time. Others use a more traditional dry-cleaning method, which involves pre-treating the stains and then placing the garment in a dry-cleaning machine.

 

Wrapping It Up
The correct packaging materials are utterly imperative for guaranteeing the life of your gown. Most gown preservationists highly packing your dress in plastic, but it can cause wrinkles and moisture which promotes mildew. Most preservationists agree that white paper or muslin are the ideal packaging materials. Don't use colored tissue paper either. If the box accidentally becomes wet, it could stain your gown.

 

Packaging for Posterity
To protect your gown, many professionals recommend it be placed in an acid-free box, such as paperboard boxes which allow the gown to breathe and adjust with changing temperatures. Some boxes feature a viewing window: a clear panel designed so you can see your gown without opening the box.