If you want to preserve your wedding dress yourself, following these guidelines will help you travel the road to success. Just be forewarned that D-I-Y Wedding Dress Preservation comes with risks and no guarantees. Proceed with caution!

Always wear white cotton gloves when handling your wedding dress to prevent spots.

“ Be forewarned that D-I-Y Wedding Dress Preservation comes with risks and no guarantees. ”

Do spot test any cleaner you plan to use on an inconspicuous area just to be sure it isn’t going to damage the fabric.

Brand new soft toothbrushes are an excellent tool for addressing spots and stains.

Never use bleach on your gown! Delicate fabrics will be irreversibly damaged by any harsh chemicals including bleach.

Once your bridal gown is clean and dry, wrap it in acid free tissue paper or prewashed unbleached muslin.

Place layers of tissue paper between the folds of the dress to prevent permanent creasing.

It is recommended that you stuff the bust and sleeves, if you have them with more acid free tissue paper or muslin to help them hold their shape.

Place the dress in an acid free container with silica desiccant packets inside the box for humidity control.

Store your dress’ container some place away from sunlight, moisture and temperature extremes than cause your dress to yellow or fade. A dry closet or under your bed may be good places but a specially made acid free wedding dress chest is always ideal.

Alternatively, you can use an acid-free plastic garment bag and hang your dress in a cool, dry closet, but be sure to use a well-padded hanger if you choose this route. There are recommendations against hanging wedding dresses because the weight of the gown will pull on the fabric as it hangs, causing it to distort the gown’s original shape. th more acid free tissue paper or muslin to help them hold their shape.

Don’t store your dress in an attic or basement or anywhere that temperatures and moisture can vary by extremes.

It is recommended that you check on your dress every 2-3 years to be sure it’s preserving well and no damage has occurred.