After the wedding, a gown becomes a memento of one of the most significant moments in the lives of most women. Thus, it doesn't come as a surprise that ladies like to keep their wedding dresses as a keepsake for future generations. The good news is, by following a few simple rules, storing a wedding dress is not complicated.

Before storing a wedding dress - clean it

Aside from wondering how to dress your wedding party, you need to think in advance about how to properly clean, protect, and store your wedding dress after the big day. The first and most important task before storing a wedding dress is to clean it properly. Hence, the preparation for storage starts at the tailor or the wedding dress store. The ones who made the dress should be able to clearly instruct you and advise you about the cleaning method. Every gown must possess a care label with symbols you should carefully follow.

Even though the dress may look flawless after the big day, it most certainly bears traces of makeup, perspiration, perfumes, food, and drink. While most of these substances are transparent and do not leave visible stains at first, they are responsible for the deterioration of the material and change in color over time. Handing the dress over to a professional cleaner right after the wedding day will greatly prolong its storage life.

Make sure you choose the cleaners who specialize in wedding dresses and provide a guarantee for their work. If the fabric of your wedding dress is simple enough and you decide to clean it at home, follow the care instructions closely, and allow the dress to dry completely before you pack it. This will prevent the growth of mildew in the storage box. Also, clean the accessories separately to prevent possible tears and rips.

How to protect and pack your wedding gown 

Your wedding dress will stay intact for longer if you store it in an adequate box. Don't hang the dress as it will soon go out of shape. In case the gown is heavy, the seams will start to weaken quickly under its weight. The best storage container is a box with a deep lid, made from a special kind of cardboard. This cardboard, and tissue paper used for wrapping, must be lignin-free and acid-free.

Note that every paper gets more acidic over time, especially if it's exposed to air and light. The same reason why books are stored in dark and dry places keeps the carefully wrapped gown safe for decades. As you will be using tissue paper to stuff the corset or sleeves as well, you should make sure you have the right kind. That is the best way to avoid the yellow stains.

Do not leave the dress in the dry cleaner's plastic bag or keep it in an air-tight plastic box to avoid condensation and mold. While plastic doesn't decompose, it can degrade if exposed to light and UV rays, and break into small particles that can damage the wedding dress.

Once you find the right kind of storage box, make sure the size is appropriate as well. The box should be large enough to require minimal folding. Too many creases will eventually damage the fabric. Before you start wrapping and folding your dress, make sure your hands are completely clean and dry. You can even consider wearing white cotton gloves.

To properly store your gown, pack it laying horizontally in a box, wrapped in and stuffed with white tissue paper. Use white paper only as dyes will most certainly transfer to the dress fabric. Don't forget to pack the accessories separately, especially if they have parts made from other materials. Even accessories like a veil, sash, headpiece, and shoes should be clean, dry, and wrapped in acid-free paper. 

Storing a wedding dress safely

Ideal storing conditions for a dress made of fine fabric such as wedding gown exclude light, heat, and humidity. Light will cause the parts exposed to it to fade, the humidity will cause the growth of mildew, and heat will accelerate the darkening of latent stains.

If you need to store many other items along with your gown, consider renting a climate-controlled long-term storage unit. Handing the delicate items to professionals like goodneighborsmoving.com warrants adequate storing conditions.

However, storing a wedding dress at home is possible as long as you find a proper spot. Don't put the box in a garage, basement, or attic as these places often do not have regulated climate conditions. Also, there is always a possibility of exposure to the elements or even pests.

Don't stack the box containing the dress. Over time, even the sturdiest cardboard deteriorates under pressure. Keep the box off the floor at all times, especially if you have pets or little children. The best place for your carefully wrapped and packed wedding gown is on a top shelf in your wardrobe; a clean, dark, and dry place. Do not forget your wedding shoes! Clean them and stuff them with the same acid-free wrapping paper, and store them in a clean shoebox with silica gel bags. Change the desiccant bags every six to twelve months.

Inspect your wedding dress thoroughly at least once a year to make sure it is still in good condition. Straighten any wrinkles and refold the dress slightly different than the last time to avoid permanent creasing. If you notice any blemishes, take the dress to the cleaners to treat the stains as soon as possible.

However, you can also opt for a wedding dress preservation box, which is, in all honesty, a notable expense. The box is air-tight, but instead of air, it is filled with nitrogen. Oxidation being the major foe of most materials, this pricey preservation method ensures a much longer storage period as long as you don't open the box. If you do, however, it is necessary to repeat the preservation process.

This is a guest post. Risa James Events has no financial relationship with the writer or with any companies named in the post.

Further reading: Top 10 Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping