There isn’t a bride in the world whose white gown has stayed fresh and clean as driven snow all the way through her wedding day. There are hugs. There is food. There is drink. There are kids with their sticky paws. There’s pictures in the garden. Your wedding gown goes through a lot! Here’s a handy guide to wedding dress stain removal for emergencies.
Your wedding emergency kit
We’ve already told you about the ultimate emergency kit to prepare for your bridesmaids – with all those little essentials handy, you’ll have that peace of mind that help is never far away. More than just spare make-up, tissues or perfume, we’ve suggested packing a small sewing kit, safety pins and even clear nail varnish – they may come in handy.
Wedding gown repair
Fallen hem – most gowns appear to be romantically delicate, but rest assured they’re very well made, and will hold up the whole day. Unfortunately, it’s easy to catch a hem if your gown is one of those floor-sweeping designs. A few small safety pins will do the trick – check at your local craft store, they come in many sizes, including really tiny doll-size ones.
Broken strap – you don’t want to keep re-attaching it, so best to pin it first on the inside, then run a few stitches through to secure it better. This only takes seconds, and won’t be noticeable at all if you tuck away (or nip away) any stray thread. Actually, it may be a good idea to suss out (one of your maids or family members) who is handy with a needle and thread, if you aren’t – you’ll need to run to the person with the skills as soon as the strap is down, it’s not the time to be asking everyone in sight if they can sew. You need to fix that gown, girl, and get back to the party!
Then there’s that quite popular video on YouTube of a bride whose skirt has completely fallen down, leaving her in knickers in front of everyone… don’t worry, the chance of this happening is lesser than winning the lottery. Still, if you’re a born worrier – or really, truly, comically accident-prone – stash away a spare outfit, just in case. It doesn’t have to be another wedding gown – just a formal dress you love that may come to your rescue should the worst happen. Many brides change into a “reception dress” – it won’t be strange in the least, and you can still keep your veil on if you like.
Broken beads or sequins
Embellishments are fragile, especially if attached to tulle or lace – so if you’re buying a decorated gown, be sure to ask the bridal shop to give you a few extra matching beads in a little bag. They may come in handy if any repairs are needed before the wedding – or indeed, if any calamity happens at the wedding. If you lose lots of beads, you may just have to give up – re-attaching them could take hours. But, if it’s just a few, then they only take minutes. If you lose anything off your dress, keep it if you can. If not, that bag from the bridal shop will come in handy. If the missing embellishments bother you very much and you worry it’ll show up in the photos (that’s unlikely btw), they can be quickly reattached with white thread, just like sewing on a button.
Stains on a wedding dress
You really shouldn’t worry about small stains – they’re inevitable, especially at the bottom of your dress. For all else – the good news is, as long as you act quickly, you can make them disappear almost without a trace. And, you don’t even need to bring the washing machine and pegs with you – your venue will have all the ingredients you need for a quick fix-up. Remember – take action as soon as a stain happens to minimise the damage (and be sure to check a hidden part of your dress with the solution first!).
Your two most important words – after ‘I do’ of course – are “moist and dab”. Not wet, no rubbing. Nice and easy does it.
Lipstick stains – you’ll probably be kissed by everyone, and some of those lips will be rouged. Stain removing wipes will do the trick, as will those stain emergency sticks. However, it’s important to try it on a hidden area of your gown first, to make sure it won’t discolour your dress! You can also use a few drops of vodka and a sponge or a white linen napkin to dissolve the lipstick. Remember, be gentle and go slowly.
Confetti stains – unfortunately, this does happen. Strapless dress, hot summer day or a spring shower, confetti falls down the front of your dress… stains are possible! Try to stay away from coloured paper or dyed petals, or make sure to clear them out of your dress right away. But if a stain develops, you’ll have to act quickly and use washing-up liquid and some lukewarm or cold water, on the underside of the dress. Whip up lots of foam and use the foam only, with a sponge or a white cloth – this will help you avoid a big wet stain on the front of your dress.
Red wine stains – for a small stain water will do just fine, but for something that requires more attention, you’ll need water plus vinegar plus a touch of washing-up liquid. Again, avoid making the stain very wet, and always work from outside towards the middle. Please keep in mind that some fabrics really don’t like water – they include silk and satin. So if your gown is made of those, you have to use as little water as possible, and be very gentle. Always test the remedy on an invisible spot of the dress first.
Food stains – oily stains will need to be dried up first with some talcum powder – your venue should have it available in their emergency kit, be sure to ask the wedding coordinator if they have some. You’ll also need rubbing alcohol – also part of a good emergency kit. Cover the stain with powder first to absorb excess oil, then gently work with rubbing alcohol from the outside edge using a cotton swab or Q-tip.
Blood stains – coldest possible water is your friend here, as warm water turns blood brown, so it’ll make the stain even more noticeable. Very cold water and some regular non-coloured hand soap should do the trick – of course we needn’t mention you should proceed very gently. If the stain is stubborn, you can make a very weak solution of hydrogen peroxide (hello emergency kit again) with cold water, and use it to lighten the stain. Be very careful, the solution must be very weak to avoid bleaching the fabric. Alternatively, some sources suggest you should try your best to remove the stain, then rub some talcum powder or white chalk to mask any remains. It’s a temporary solution, but worth trying.
Whatever happens on your wedding day, the most important thing is to keep smiling – and remember, photos can be re-touched to return your gown to its perfect state. After your big day, your gown will regain its snowy glory in the hands of an experienced cleaner – guaranteed.
Image courtesy of Aspect Photography
