CARING FOR YOUR DRESS: BEFORE AND AFTER THE WEDDING

Delivering a client's dress yesterday I bombarded her with directions on how to get her beloved home safe and sound, unwrinkled, clean, and intact.  Albeit, designing wedding dresses from the ground up has been my life’s work.  Keeping  those dresses white and spotless before the wedding has been as much a challenge as the design itself.  Once delivered though, the dress is all yours, to have and to hold in a real world rampant with dust, dirt, blood, and household pets—all potential accidents just waiting to happen.

PROTECTING YOUR DRESS BEFORE THE WEDDING

Getting your gown home safely is the first step.  You’re going to have to treat it with all the love and care of a newborn.  No, you won’t need an infant seat but just about any size back seat of a car will do.  In all probability once delivered your gown will be packed in plastic.  Hang it on the hook above the back door draped across the back seat.  Once home, remove the dress from the bag and make sure to put it on a padded hanger.  An alternative to the padded hanger is my hanging dress form below.  This is a display hanger I use in the studio to show off my designs.  They have another function: keeping your gown shaped and taking the stress off the shoulders or from whatever point your dress hangs. 

Next find a hook.  A chandelier would be great if you have one.  So would hooking it to an armoire or highboy.  Cover the floor below your gown with a clean sheet and let the train fall.  This will prevent wrinkles. Ideally the room you hang your gown in is low on traffic.

No spare room?  Okay, find an empty closet or one with enough room to accommodate the volume of your gown.  Actually, hanging your gown on a dress form that is dialed to match your own measurements would be optimal.  I know, I know, you don’t sew but if you can borrow one from a friend or if you find one cheap in a thrift store, grab it!  

Here’s another option for storing your dress especially if your wedding is more than three months off.  Lay your gown on a spare bed or sofa and spread it out.  This will ease stress caused from hanging. 

YOUR WEDDING DAY

 Some suggestions about pressing.  If your gown is made out of tulle, don’t you dare press it!  Steam it instead.   The same goes for your veil; ironing scorches tulle. 

Pressing wrinkles out of your gown is done with a cool, dry iron over a piece of broadcloth or muslin, called a press mitt.  Forget worrying too much about wrinkling your gown going to and from the ceremony.  Just push the bulk of your skirt aside once you’re in the car. 

AFTER THE BALL IS OVER

 Did you know Victorian brides have us beat when it comes to going green?  Tradition was, that they not only wore their gown to exchange vows, a bride of yesteryear was expected to wear her gown out and about.  That’s right, she wore it to the opera and dining at Delmonico’s for about a year till everyone knew her status.  In other words, a bride could revel in her bridaldom while putting some mileage on her gown.  I say, let’s reinvent this trend.  The gown in this post is certainly worthy f rewear.  Whether you’re preserving or consigning your gown after the wedding you’re going to need to find a cleaner that specializes in wedding gowns.  Expect common wear and tear after your wedding day to be dirt and grass stains along the hem and train, makeup stains inside the bodice, a torn seam, bustle hooks missing.  Oh, and the proverbial splash of red wine on the skirt. After cleaning your gown should be professionally pressed even if it will be stored away in a box.  Remember to ask it be packed in acid-free tissue in an acid-free box to prevent any staining.  Remove any dress shields or bra cups, otherwise they’ll fragment through the years, soiling arms and bodice.

Photographer: Nathan Larimer of Winter Tree Studios | | Bride’s Dress: Amy-Jo Tatum | Makeup Artist: Kat Louis Makeup Artist |  Venue: Asti Winery