How to Take Care of a Wedding Dress After the Wedding Ends, According to Experts

Just because the party is over doesn't mean your dress has to be.

By: Jen Glantz

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Wedding Dress Aftercare

After shopping around town for the wedding dress of your dreams, finally finding the one that you’re excited to wear on your big day can feel like an accomplishment. You might spend quality time searching for the right accessories for the dress and meeting with a seamstress for alterations.

But after wearing your wedding dress and creating endless memories in it at your celebration, you might find yourself wondering what to do with the gorgeous gown once the day comes to an end.

Take note of what these fashion experts share so you can take care of your wedding dress and keep it in good shape for years to come.

Take Care of it On Your Wedding Night

After dancing the night away and hugging all of your wedding guests, you might find yourself coming home, taking off your wedding dress and tossing it on the floor at the end of your party.

But Malinda Macari, the owner of Your Dream Bridal, said that it’s important to take good care of your dress on your wedding night.

First, Macari said to make sure to un-bustle your dress and get it back in a breathable garment bag.

"Taking the stress off the bustle points of your dress will help to not strain the fabric while it's hanging," she said.

Macari recommended hanging your wedding gown by loops inside your dress that are connected to the sturdy side seams, never straps themselves that can stretch or sag under the weight of your wedding gown as you place it back into a breathable garment bag.

When transporting the dress back home, or to a dry cleaner, she said never bag a wedding dress or veil in plastic because plastic bags emit fumes that can yellow your wedding gown and trap moisture that can cause mildew to form.

"The fabric needs to breathe otherwise, especially now with sweat and champagne possibly on it, plastic will cause what you can't see to stain faster," she said.

Keep the Dress In a Safe Place

If you’re not sure what you want to do with your dress after you wear it, whether to preserve it or sell it, Monica Diaz, a sustainable fashion consultant, shared the best way to keep the dress safe until you figure out what to do next.

She said to be strategic about where you store the dress inside of your house and try to find a space that’s dry and dark.

"Exposure to excessive moisture or sunlight can lead to discoloration, mold growth, or fabric deterioration," she said.

Instead, Diaz said to consider storing your dress in a temperature-controlled area to maintain its original beauty.

"Basements, attics, and garages are typically not ideal due to potential temperature and humidity fluctuations," said Diaz.

Take the Right Steps to Archive Your Dress

If you do decide to keep your dress and hope to pass it down as an heirloom, Hillary O’Dell, a designer for Hilandel, shared that you have to preserve it.

Before doing that, she recommended getting the dress thoroughly cleaned first.

"Make sure the dress is rid of stains and invisible things like sweat and perfume," she said. "These things oxidize, age, and develop into stains over time."

When it comes to preserving it, she said it could be good to work with a service that helps you do this so they can provide you with the right material to prep and store your garment.

She advised that the dress is stored in an acid-free bag or box to help slow down the decomposition of your garment.

"When it is stored properly, typically there is a form or tissue filling out the inside of your garment. This helps to maintain the shape and take pressure off the straps or shoulder seams," she said.

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