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| Protecting from Stains & Spills |
Photo by
Enchanted Moments
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You've
chosen the perfect dress! You'll wear it all day for
everyone to see. And, maybe, someday it will
be worn by your (future) daughter. How can you
protect your gown from stains and spills on your special
day and keep it fresh looking for that day in the future?
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Protecting Your Gown from Stains and Spills
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After choosing the perfect wedding
dress (and probably spending a fortune!), the last thing you want
to worry about are any spills or stains on your beautiful
dress. So we're giving you a few tips on how to protect your
gown from any stains or spills:
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Be sure
to wear a deodorant that is also an antiperspirant. If
you know you perspire a lot when you are nervous, consider
having shields sewn into the underarms of your wedding
dress. This will prevent your dress from getting any
perspiration stains.
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Bring a
towel with you so you can drape it over your shoulders when
touching up your makeup.
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If you
choose a flower with a strong-colored stamen, ask the florist
if the stamens can be removed.
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Whatever
transportation you choose, be sure that it is clean. A
professional limousine service will make sure that their limos
are clean. However, if you decide to take a friend's
car, be sure to spread out a clean white sheet. Don't
take any chances!
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When
getting out of the limo, car, etc., be sure to gather up your
skirt to keep the hem off the ground. Also, gather up
your skirt when walking up the stairs -- you don't want to
step on the hem and rip it.
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Bring a
travel iron or steamer and extension cord to quickly take out
any wrinkles.
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Be very
careful around food.
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Be sure
to ask the bridal shop for the best way to clean any spills.
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After you
change into your going-away outfit, you'll need something to
put your wedding gown in -- bring a garment bag with you.
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You
should get your wedding gown professionally cleaned as soon as
possible after the wedding. Find
a reputable cleaner who specializes in cleaning and storing
wedding gowns. Who
knows, maybe you may just need it some day for your own daughter!
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Before
the wedding, you should purchase a white, cotton sheet (with as
little synthetic fiber content as possible) and wash it in hot
water without detergent. Bring
it with you on your wedding day so you can wrap your gown in it
right after you take it off. Since most couples leave for their honeymoon right away,
designate a friend or relative to bring your gown to the cleaners. Be sure that either you or the person who brings the dress
to the cleaners points out every stain. It's easy to get makeup, food and beverages spilled on your
dress and you'll want to be sure that every stain is removed
before storing. It is
best to get the gown cleaned within the first thirty days after
wearing it. The
longer the stain sits, the less chance there will be of removing
it.
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Ask
the cleaners how they will store your dress. You'll want to make sure that they pack it in acid-free
paper and an acid-free box. You
don't want the box to have a cellophane window because this can
cause discoloring of your dress. If you are not going to preserve your dress right away, you
should still get it cleaned as soon as possible. Then you should wrap the dress in a white sheet, hang it on
a padded hanger, and store it in a room where the temperature does
not get too hot or too cold (such as the attic or basement). You'll also want to make sure that it is not stored in
direct sunlight.
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Every
five to seven years you should take the gown out of the box and
refold and inspect it. Be
sure to wear white gloves to prevent any oil on your fingers from
damaging the fabric. A
wedding gown in an all-natural fabric (such as cotton or silk)
that is preserved with care, will last longer than a gown that is
made out of man-made fibers.
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