Your wedding dress is more than just fabric – it’s a cherished part of your big day and a lasting symbol of those special memories. Whether you’re storing it safely before the ceremony, getting ready to walk down the aisle, or preserving it for years to come, caring for your gown properly is key. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to protect your dress before, during, and after the wedding, so it stays as flawless as the day you said “I do.”
Related: How To Prepare For Your First Wedding Dress Appointment
Before the wedding: storing the dress at home
Hoover your room.
Close your curtains or blinds to keep sunlight from fading your gown.
Place a clean, white sheet on the floor under your gown.
Use white gloves to avoid staining.
Take your gown out of the bridal store bag if it’s plastic and non-breathable.
Hang the gown on a strong wooden hanger.
Cover it with a white duvet sheet, with an opening at the end to allow the train to hang.
If your dress is vintage or too delicate to hang, place it flat on a bed, covered both under and over with a white sheet.
Things to consider when storing your dress
Temperature – Make sure you store your wedding dress in an area that is cool and mildew-free.
Longevity – Protect your dress by keeping it away from other clothing and from coloured or acidic tissue paper.
Lighting – Light can turn your white dress yellow, so keep it in a dimly lit or dark space.
Humidity – An air-conditioned home, or one with a humidifier, is a good place to store your wedding dress.
Right before the wedding
Keep the gown in a dry room, in a breathable dress bag.
Avoid trying it on too frequently, as oils, dirt, or make-up on your hands can transfer and cause staining over time.
The week before the wedding, the gown should be taken out of the hanging bag or preservation box and hung to let any creases fall out. Make sure to hoover the room beforehand, as any floor dust may leave marks. Place a white sheet on the floor beneath where the gown will be hanging and cover the dress with a white duvet cover to keep it safe from prying eyes.
Do this before you put on your dress
Wash your hands – Before you even go near your dress, give your hands a wash! Even if you don’t realise it, you may have touched your face – and no-one needs mascara streaks on their precious gown.
Eat and drink – Have breakfast well before putting on the dress! Once you’re dressed, try to stick to clear liquids (no red wine, please!) and keep food intake to a minimum. Avoid drinking too much – you don’t want to be running to the loo just before walking up the aisle.
Use the bathroom – With nerves running high, be sure to use the bathroom before putting on your dress. You likely won’t get the chance again until long after the ceremony, and doing the wedding dress shuffle over the toilet isn’t ideal.
Wear the perfect underwear – You’ll likely have this sorted well in advance, but make sure your underwear suits the cut and style of your gown. If you’re unsure, ask your bridal consultant for advice at your final dress fitting.
Put on your worn-in shoes – Put on your shoes before your dress to avoid needing help to find your feet afterwards! If your dress has a full skirt or lots of layers, ask your mum or bridesmaid for a little help to ensure your heels don’t get caught. Always break in your shoes before the big day.
Have your make-up done – Makeup on a wedding dress is one nightmare you don’t need. Make sure it’s set perfectly before the dress goes on, with only minimal touch-ups (like lipstick) needed afterwards.
Dry off your bouquet and get going – Most bouquets arrive in water. Ask one of your maids to dry off the stems with tissue before handing it to you- water stains are not the look you’re going for!
Now, you’re all set… time to walk up that aisle!
After the wedding: wedding dress preservation
Bridal Gown Cleaning share more about their gown preservation services:
We offer a preservation boxing service. The storage boxes are acid free and ph neutral, this is the only way to prevent the gown from oxidising over time.
Unfortunately most brides wouldn’t be aware of this and believe once they have the gown cleaned, that it will be safe from further staining.
Unfortunately all fabric will age if not stored correctly, the aging process appears quicker on lighter fabrics, you can see it turning yellow “oxidising” as the fabrics break down.
We would advise all brides to avail of a clean and preservation service at the same time to prevent this occurring.
We offer nationwide collection with cleaning of gown, veil, acid free preservation boxing and return delivery.
A few cleaning tips from Bridal Gown Cleaning:
I would recommend that they book the cleaning of the gown the same time they are booking all other wedding related services, not to be left disappointed if their chosen cleaning specialist is booked up. We are usually booked out 3 weeks to a month in advance, but popular dates and months can book out faster. Make sure that the couple include the cleaning and preservation in the wedding budget.
Also cutting the hanging loops off the bridal gown will decrease the cost of the gown if selling after the big day, especially if it’s an off the shoulder gown, as it makes it very difficult to clean and to hang for pictures the morning of the wedding. It’s very easy to prevent them from popping out on the day, once the bride steps into the gown, they can pop their hand up either side of the gown from underneath the skirt and pull the loops down at either side.
