31 Jan Wedding Dress Care: Before, During & After
The more educated you are now about the best ways to care for your wedding dress, the greater the likelihood that you won’t have any stain or damage catastrophes on your wedding day. At New York Bride & Groom of Raleigh, providing you with a beautiful wedding gown isn’t our only goal. We also want to help you keep it that way with information and professional dress preservation.
To get started, check out the following tips and tricks to keep your bridal gown in pristine condition:
On Your Wedding Day
- APPLY perfume and hair spray before putting on your wedding gown as the mist from such products may cause stains. Use care in dressing to avoid staining your gown.
- STEP into your gown and have your bridesmaids put your shoes on for you.
- COVER your gown with a towel before applying any touch-up products such as hair spray or lipstick.
- POLISH nails at least a day before your wedding. Wet nail polish on a silk garment can remove color, damaging the fabric permanently.
- WATERMARKS: softly blot & dry with a clean towel. If possible lightly press with a hand iron when dry.
- MAKEUP, LIPSTICK, or any OILY SPILL: lightly coat with CORNSTARCH or BABY POWDER to absorb the oil. Do not rub the area! Wait 15 minutes and gently remove the excess powder from fabric. This technique will mask unsightly spots & prepare the area for professional care after your wedding day.
- WINE & BEVERAGE STAINS: do not apply water or other liquid that might disperse stain. Blot area dry with a towel & apply powder as for oily stains.
- BLOOD: for minor bloodstains, apply your own clean saliva with a dampened Q-tip. The enzymes will safely break down the stain, Blot to dry.
- ASPHALT: It deteriorates the fibers of your gown while grinding the tar into the fabric and can not be removed. Have your bridesmaids hold up your skirt & train when walking on a driveway or street. Learn more, compliments of All Brides Beautiful
Pack a Wedding Day Survival Kit
Being prepared can drastically reduce feelings of stress when things go awry on your wedding day. For instance, if you spill wine on your gown at the reception. There are some great stain removers on the market that can save you from ruin. Pack a survival kit for your bridesmaids to keep nearby and make sure to have a stain remover pen in it. Depending on your dress fabric, you may be able to fix the issue with a few simple swipes. Just be sure to read all labels beforehand and consider testing the stain remover in advance on the inside of your hem to ensure there are no unsavory side effects. Discover more about wedding gown stains below:
Invisible Stains Might Be Lurking on Your Wedding Gown
“Oddly, the most dangerous spills are the ones you cannot see,” says Sally Conant, the Executive Director of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists. “White wine and other things dry clear, and these latent stains contain sugar that caramelizes over time into dark brown stains that ordinary dry cleaning cannot remove. You may think your gown is fine, but in six months or more, the latent stain becomes pale yellow and then darkens as it ages. Heat accelerates the process.”
Pay Attention to the Label on Your Dress
This is one label you don’t want to ignore. Look for any specific dry cleaning directions it might have, such as “Dry Clean Only with Petroleum Solvent.” Whatever it says, listen to it, and make sure the preservationist or dry cleaner you choose has the appropriate cleaning solutions for your wedding dress.
Bridal Tip
Take your dress off as soon as the reception is over and make sure it gets to the dry cleaner the very next day. If you’re jetting off on a honeymoon, arrange for a bridesmaid or your mother to take it for you. Learn more, compliments of Brides
After the Wedding: Preservation
Once you’ve found “the dress,” we will gladly go over the designer’s care tips and label information with you. If you have any questions or concerns, please share them with us. Also, let us know if you plan to hold onto your dress as a keepsake for yourself or to become an heirloom for your children, so we can discuss professional wedding dress preservation. After the wedding, utilizing this service will be essential for ensuring the integrity of your gown for decades to come. We can arrange your wedding dress preservation, so just ask us and we’ll be happy to help.
Find a Gown Worth Keeping
Once you’ve found your dress, we’ll go over the designer’s care tips with you, and you can ask about keeping it in our complimentary gown storage until the big day. Our Bridal Stylists are ready to help you find it in one of our 18 private bridal suites.
Choose the visit that fits you:
- Walk in anytime we’re open. No appointment needed.
- Book a personal appointment, Tuesday through Friday, for a reserved time with your Bridal Stylist.
- Reserve the Say Yes Experience, a private Sunday booking of the entire store for you and your guests.
Want to look before you come in? Browse our wedding dresses in Raleigh to see the designers we carry.