You've found the wedding dress that will transform you into the bride of your dreams… but what will it look like 10 or 20 years from now? Not to worry -- we have the skinny on what to do with your gown post-ceremony with authoritative help from preservation expert Jonathan Scheer of the venerable J. Scheer & Co. Fine Apparel Preservation in Rhinebeck, New York. Pay attention to the following guidelines, and your beautiful gown can stay beautiful for decades to come.
Don't Wait
We know you're probably heading for your honeymoon right after the wedding, but tossing your gown to the back of the closet in its crumpled, post-party state for months is not the way to go.
It's essential that you get your gown in for cleaning as soon as possible -- and no more than six months after the wedding -- in order to properly preserve it. Even if it looks clean, your dress may have stains that are not immediately visible to the eye and should be treated before anything sets. Your wedding coordinator, your mom, or even a bridesmaid can drop off or send your gown to be preserved the morning after the wedding, or you can attend to it yourself as soon as you're back from your honeymoon. No textile can be safely stored for long periods unless it's clean, so whatever you do, don't procrastinate!
Store It Properly
Until you take your gown to be cleaned and stored, keep it in a dark, dry place -- a closet is better than an attic or basement, as the latter can be subject to extreme temperatures. Hanging by the shoulders or dress loops for an extended period is not recommended as it can stress the fabric, so storing the gown flat is ideal. Simply lay a white sheet flat on your bed, lay the gown on top of it, and fold the sheet over the gown; then, fold the sheet-wrapped gown twice (once at the waist, and again at the train) and place it on a closet shelf. You can take the gown out and refold it so creases don't set if it's stored for more than three months before you clean it. If you are storing your gown for less than a month before preservation and prefer to hang it, cut a small hole in the middle of a white sheet and pull the hook of the hanger through so the dress is shrouded before placing it in your closet. Never store your dress in a plastic bag or container, as gasses emitted from plastic can yellow the fabric.
Find A Preservation Expert
If your wedding dress is made of a synthetic fabric such as polyester, then a high-end professional dry cleaner with extensive experience with your style of wedding gown may be perfectly capable of successfully cleaning your dress. If your gown is made of an organic material such as silk, however, then we strongly recommend you entrust it to specialized handling. Many of the cleaning solutions used on organic materials can damage embellishments such as beading and sequins, so it's essential that an expert analyze your gown and conduct physical and chemical tests to identify areas of staining and devise the best treatment plan for your gown. There are companies that specialize in the maintenance and preservation of textiles that will treat your gown by hand after a thorough evaluation.
Keep It Safe
Once your gown has been properly cleaned and returned, it's important that you maintain it properly while it's being stored. A preservationist will most likely return your gown in a box made of polypropylene (the man-made material museums most often use to store valuable textiles). If your gown is returned to you in a cardboard box, make sure that the cardboard has been chemically stripped of acids and not simply neutralized, as it's essential that your dress be stored in conservation-grade, acid-free products. Keep the box in a dark, dry place, and open it two or three times a year to air and examine the dress. If you preserve your gown properly, there is no reason why your daughter -- or even great-granddaughter -- won't be able to wear it on her wedding day many years from now.
You can consult the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works for information and referrals to a professional preservationist near you (call 202-452-9328, or email them at InfoAIC@aol.com).
You can contact Jonathan Scheer and J. Scheer & Co. at (800) 448-7291 or via email at jms@jscheer.com. Visit the J. Scheer & Co. website at www.jscheer.com.
See More: Gowns , Traditions