Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind: Wedding Gown Storage

July 20, 2007

I've haven't purchased a wedding gown (yet), but I can tell from married friends that preserving that gorgeous and way-too-expensive gown is of top priority once all the celebrating is over. So how does one properly store their favorite wedding dress?

First things first, never store your dress in a plastic bag for more than a few days. Just like you, your gown needs to breathe.
Do not hang your dress like you would any normal garment. Chances are your dress is heavy so hanging it for a long period of time will not only take up room in your closet, it will weaken the seams.
Start by laying your dry-cleaned dress flat and covering the whole thing with white tissue paper. I'd wear gloves during this process so as not to get lotions or oil on the dress.
Next, fold and store your dress in a sealed cardboard box. Try to get a very large box to avoid folding the dress too many times.
Be sure to store away from direct sunlight to prevent your dress from eventually turning yellow. The best spot is on a high shelf in an interior closet.
Don't forget to check up on your dress once a year to make sure it's in good condition.

Helpful Links:

Wedding Gown Preservation Kit, $30.

Museum Method Bridal Gown Preservation Kit, $90.

Heirloom Wedding Gown Box Storage, $80.

Source

7 Comments

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 43 weeks

I had mine, including the veil professionally sealed, 7 years later its still gorgeous...and mine was all silk, and pearls

miss matilda 5 years 43 weeks

I totally lucked out on my gown and it was clearance for 350. Well my MIL took it to be cleaned while we went on our honeymoon and when it came back it was in a hermetically sealed giant box with a lid that opened to a clear front with my dress in it on a form (looked like it had boobies its cute) picture a GIANT barbie box. I asked how much it was and she said 250!!!!! But 5 years later its still beautiful in the box. We will seen if I ever break the seal for say a future daughter, what it actually looks like.

julieulie 5 years 43 weeks

A much better idea is to DONATE your dress when you are done. Organizations like Brides Against Breast Cancer (www.makingmemories.org) accept donated dresses, re-sell the dresses at lower costs, and then donate the proceeds to breast cancer research. Let's face it -- regardless of how wonderful your dress is, you will never wear it again. Chances are that your daughter will want her own dress in a style that is popular at the time, or she will be a completely different size than you, beyond altering ability. On her 35th anniversary, my mother pulled out her dress, realized she had nothing to do with it, and threw it away (despite preservation, it was yellowed beyond repair). Instead of taking up valuable closet space, why not help 1) someone less fortunate who cannot afford to go out and spend $3,000 on a dress, and 2) women across the world with breast cancer? It seems like an obvious decision to me. I will definitely be donating my dress when I am done with it!!