As summer comes to a close, so does wedding season. People do get married throughout the entire year, but you probably get more invitations to summer weddings than during any other season. The ceremony is done, the guests have gone home and now the bride is left with an expensive and beautiful dress that they likely won’t wear again. Wedding gowns are probably the most expensive item of clothing people ever purchase. It’s only fair to store the gown properly. Luckily, we have experience with wedding dress storage.
Wedding Dress Storage and Preservation
Have Your Wedding Gown Professionally Cleaned
After the wedding, experts recommend you wait no longer than six months to have your dress professionally cleaned. If you have a silk wedding dress, you should especially have it cleaned as soon as possible. Body perspiration, clear alcohol or soda stains on your dress may appear faint at first but, left untreated for too long, can result in discoloration. Having your dress professionally cleaned ensures that someone familiar with embellishments and delicate fabrics handles your gown with expert care. Be sure to research cleaners in your area to find a company that has experience cleaning wedding dresses and a good reputation.
Consider Professional Wedding Dress Preservation
If you can afford to have your wedding dress professionally preserved, this will further help protect your investment. Whether you plan on passing the dress down to a special person in your life or preserving it for long-term storage, a professional can usually remove stains and make necessary repairs. A professional wedding dress preserver will also press or steam the gown, wrap it in acid-free tissue and prepare it for storage.
If you opt to go this route, be sure to ask questions. Find out who is responsible if any damage occurs during the preservation process. Do they offer a warranty?
Boxing or Bagging Your Wedding Dress for Storage
There are several ways to preserve your wedding dress, but you’ll probably choose to box it or bag it. Another common option is vacuum sealing the dress before storage, but museum conservators discourage this, because it promotes mold and mildew and could cause permanent fabric creases, too.
- Boxing Your Wedding Dress — The gown is folded and placed in an acid-free box. Acid-free tissue is used to protect the dress from permanent creases. The box is left unsealed, which allows the fabric to breathe. We recommend using boxes made from actual acid-free board, not boxes with an acid-free coating.
- Bagging Your Wedding Dress — This option leaves your dress hanging and unfolded. The dress is reinforced with twill tape to add support and to prevent long-term damage from hanging. The dress is then placed in a cotton bag to be safely hung with a padded hanger.
After packaging your dress, whether you choose to do so on your own or have it professionally preserved, you should store it somewhere safe. Wedding dresses should be stored away from extreme light, heat and humidity.
Climate-Controlled Storage For Your Wedding Gown
Finding the right place to store your wedding dress is the essential final step of the preservation process. The gown should be stored in a cool, dark, dry space. Avoid storing your wedding dress in a basement or attic, as these places are prone to extreme temperatures and moisture. Many brides choose to store their wedding dresses in a closet or under their bed. If you don’t have room for your wedding dress storage box or bag at home, Security Public Storage offers a variety of climate-controlled storage units at select locations.
Storing your wedding dress in a climate-controlled storage unit helps ensure it will be protected in a dry, cool place. Climate-controlled storage units are maintained within a set temperature range, which creates a consistent environment for your wedding dress. These units are typically located inside of a storage facility, which helps prevent pests, moisture and dust from entering the unit.
Remember to Refold
For the most successful wedding dress storage, we recommend taking the dress out of the bag or box every two to three years to examine and refold it. This helps prevent permanent creases. Remember to wash your hands first, as your body produces natural oils. Don’t wear any perfumes or lotions when handling your dress, as they can transfer onto the fabric. You may want to invest in a pair of white cotton gloves specifically for handling your dress in order to keep it pristine.
Wedding Dress Storage at SPS
A person’s wedding dress is one of the most cherished items of clothing they will ever purchase. It’s important to preserve the integrity of the dress, especially if you plan on handing it down as an heirloom someday. Remember to have your wedding dress professionally cleaned within six months of your ceremony. Wedding dress storage, either in an acid-free box or cotton bag, will help preserve your dress.
Store your dress in a cool, dark, dry place in order to prevent fading and other types of potential damage. Find an SPS location near you with climate-controlled storage units available.
If you don’t have immediate plans for your wedding dress, preserving it and then donating to a bride in need would be a great pay-it-forward opportunity — one that will make a big difference in another person’s life.