How to Properly Store Your Wedding Dress

Planning your wedding can feel like an overwhelming task, with endless details to manage and the excitement of the big day itself. But once the wedding is over and the honeymoon is behind you, there’s still one crucial task left: caring for your wedding dress. Whether you plan to keep it as a cherished memento, sell it, or simply store it away, proper cleaning and storage are essential to maintain its beauty.

Why Cleaning Your Wedding Dress Is So Important

It’s tempting to set aside the task of cleaning your wedding dress, especially with everything else on your plate. However, it’s crucial to clean your dress as soon as possible after the big day. Stains from sweat, champagne, or even unseen marks can oxidize over time, causing permanent discoloration. If left untreated, these stains can turn brown, making them much harder to remove later.

When choosing a dry cleaner, make sure they specialize in wedding dresses. Standard dry cleaning methods can be harsh on delicate fabrics and cause shrinkage. Look for services that use gentle detergents and offer wedding dress preservation, which includes stain detection and packaging in acid-free materials that protect your gown over time.

How to Pack Your Wedding Dress for Storage

After cleaning, it’s important to handle your wedding dress with care. Wear white cotton gloves to avoid transferring oils from your hands to the fabric. These oils can cause staining and attract moths, which is the last thing you want for your precious gown.

Once your dress is cleaned, pack it away immediately to prevent dust from settling and causing mildew. Avoid using regular cardboard boxes, as the acids in them can damage the fabric. Instead, opt for a PH-neutral storage box specifically designed for wedding dresses. Our PH-neutral wedding dress storage boxes come in various designs, including Pink & White and Black & White, ensuring your dress stays protected.

Never store your dress in plastic boxes, as they are not breathable and can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. To protect your dress, use white acid-free tissue paper, placing it between each fold and scrunching extra paper to support the bodice and prevent creases. Avoid using colored tissue paper, as the dye can transfer onto your dress.

For short-term storage, breathable garment storage bags are an option, but keep in mind that hanging a wedding dress for long periods can cause strain on its seams. For long-term preservation, always store your dress in a box.

Choosing the Right Storage Location

Where you store your wedding dress is just as important as how you store it. It should be kept in a cool, dry, and dark place to prevent damage from heat, humidity, and light. Avoid storing it in the attic or any other uninsulated space. It’s also important to store your dress somewhere accessible so you can check on it every six months to ensure it’s still in good condition. During these checkups, unpacking and repacking the dress can help prevent creases from becoming permanent.

Protecting Your Wedding Dress from Moths

If you plan to keep your wedding dress for sentimental reasons, you’ll want to protect it from the threat of clothes moths, which can cause severe damage. To keep moths at bay, use natural moth repellents such as essential oils that contain compounds known to repel these pests. Our May Chang Blend, available in drawer sachets, is a great option to tuck into your storage box and replenish every six months.

You can also use a Moth Box in the room where your dress is stored. This box uses pheromones to attract male moths to a sticky board, alerting you to any potential infestation. If you already have a moth problem, it’s essential to address it before storing your dress, as natural fibers like silk are prime targets for moths.

By following these storage and care tips, you can ensure that your wedding dress stays in beautiful condition for years to come, whether you’re keeping it for future generations or passing it along to someone else. Proper storage will help preserve its beauty and value, making it a cherished memory for a lifetime.