Most brides don’t wear their wedding gowns after their wedding. So, they commonly forget about their precious gown in the whirlwind of post-wedding activities, leading to irreversible damage. However, your wedding dress deserves a better fate than being tucked away and forgotten.

Putting a little time and effort into taking care of your precious gown after the wedding will not only give you an opportunity to keep a treasured keepsake from the exciting day but also allow your future to honor you by wearing your gown on their wedding day.

So, let’s discuss the common mistakes brides make with their wedding gown after they say “I do”:

1. Forgetting About It Entirely

Once the wedding is over, life tends to get busy. Between the honeymoon, thank-you notes, and settling into married life, many brides simply forget about their wedding gown and do nothing at all. 

However, this is the worst thing a bride can do for her wedding gown. Wedding gowns are made up of delicate fabric and can easily get makeup stains during hugs from relatives, food stains during the cake-cutting ceremony, dirt around the hem on the dance floor, and grass stains due to an outdoor wedding. Leaving these stains as it is for a long time can lead to fabric degradation and yellowing over time. 

That is why getting your gown cleaned within 2-3 weeks of your wedding is recommended. This will help you ensure your gown is free from all kinds of stains and maintains its original beauty.

2. Attempting DIY Stain Removal

As discussed above, wedding gowns can easily acquire stains, whether from food, drinks, or even makeup. At times, it might be tempting to grab a stain remover and attempt to fix the problem yourself. 

However, this can be a costly mistake. DIY stain removal often leads to further damage to delicate fabrics, leaving permanent marks that are difficult, if not impossible, to remove.

So, it is always good to leave stain removal to professionals. They have the expertise and the right equipment to safely treat your gown without causing any harm to the delicate fabrics of your wedding dress, such as silk, taffeta, lace, and tulle.

3. Choosing the Wrong Dry Cleaner

Many brides don’t understand that not all dry cleaners are equipped to handle the delicate nature of a wedding dress. Many brides mistakenly take their gowns to a local dry cleaner without checking whether they specialize in wedding dress cleaning and preservation. 

General dry cleaners use traditional cleaning methods and harsh chemicals such as PERC to clean your gown. They don’t realize that the delicate fabric of your gown is different from a regular shirt, leading to permanent damage to your gown.

If you don’t want your gown to get damaged, it is wise to carefully choose a dry cleaning company that specializes in wedding gown cleaning and preservation. 

4. Storing It in the Attic or Basement

After the wedding, many brides make the mistake of storing their gowns in an attic or basement. These areas are often exposed to fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels, which can cause the fabric to degrade over time. Additionally, these spaces may be prone to pests like moths, which can damage the fabric.

That is why professionals recommend to store your gown in a dry area with moderate temperature conditions, no matter whether you choose to have your gown cleaned or not.

5. Leaving It on a Hanger

Another common mistake is leaving the wedding dress hanging on a regular hanger in the closet. Wedding dresses comprise embroidery, embellishments and bedding, which make the dress heavy. 

The weight of the dress can distort the fabric, especially with heavy gowns, and over time, the hanger can cause the dress to lose its shape. Plus, leaving your gown on a hanger can cause delicate fabrics like silk and lace to stretch or tear.

When you choose to have your wedding gown preserved professionally, you need not deal with such situations. Professionals use customized bridal dress storage boxes, which will help you maintain the shape of your gown and prevent unnecessary stress on the fabric.

6. Waiting Too Long to Get It Cleaned

After your wedding, you might think that there’s no rush to clean your wedding dress. However, the longer you wait to have your gown professionally cleaned, the more likely that stains or dirt will set in, making them harder or even impossible to remove later. 

A fresh stain is much easier to treat than one that has been left to sit for weeks or months. Moreover, wedding gowns also get some invisible stains during the event, which can develop over time and lead to permanent damage to your gown.

So, it is wise to plan wedding dress cleaning ASAP, usually 2-3 weeks following the wedding. This will ensure that any stains or dirt can be treated effectively before they set in.

7. Thinking Professional Cleaning & Preservation Is Expensive

Many brides mistakenly believe that professional wedding dress cleaning and preservation is too expensive and opt for regular dry cleaning. While many companies charge you $800+ for wedding gown cleaning and preservation, some reputable companies offer their services at reasonable prices. 

Moreover, preserving your gown can actually save you money in the long run. Without proper care, your wedding dress can get permanent stains, which means you won’t be able to wear it again or even showcase it to your friends.

So, think of wedding dress cleaning and preservation as an investment. The cost is much less than the potential expense of restoring a gown that has been neglected.

8. Ignoring Fabric-Specific Care Needs

Each wedding dress is made of unique fabrics that require specific care. Silk, satin, lace, chiffon, tulle, and organza all have different needs when it comes to cleaning and preservation. 

For instance, using dry cleaning for silk and satin, delicate handling for lace and chiffon, and storing tulle and organza properly are recommended. Many brides fail to take the fabric into account when caring for their gown, which can lead to fabric degradation or color fading.

So, it is recommended to ensure that the dry cleaner or preservationist is aware of your gown’s specific fabric and any special care requirements. If you're doing it yourself, carefully read the care instructions for each fabric type.

9. Keeping it in a plastic bag

After cleaning, it’s tempting to store your wedding dress in a plastic garment bag. While this may seem like a convenient option, plastic bags are not breathable and can trap moisture, leading to mildew growth and phenolic yellowing over time. The chemicals used in plastic can also cause discoloration and fabric weakening.

If you want to keep your wedding gown in good condition, store your gown in an acid-free preservation box or a breathable garment bag made specifically for wedding gowns instead of plastic. This will help protect it from moisture and environmental damage.

10. Forgetting About Accessories and Veil Care

While most brides focus on the gown itself, it’s easy to forget about the accessories and veil, which are often just as important. Like the gown, accessories can accumulate dirt, oil, and stains and may require cleaning and preservation. Failing to care for them properly could result in permanent damage.

So, when it comes to gown cleaning, include your accessories and veil in the professional cleaning and preservation process. These items often require the same level of attention as your gown.

11. Neglecting the Need for Periodic Inspection

Even after your wedding dress is cleaned and stored, it’s important to periodically inspect it for any signs of damage or deterioration. Over time, the fabric may shift, stains may reappear, or the preservation box might begin to break down.

You can set a reminder to check on your wedding dress every couple of years to ensure it remains in good condition. If you notice any issues, it’s best to address them sooner rather than later.

12. Not Considering Future Use or Repurposing

Many brides fail to consider the future potential of their wedding gown. As a result, they end up having a damaged, yellowed, and stained gown that can’t be worn again. So, it it is wise to plan in advance about what to do with your gown. 

You can choose to pass it down to future generations, have it altered into a keepsake piece, or repurpose it for another special occasion after your wedding.

Conclusion

Your wedding dress is an irreplaceable part of your special day. That is why proper care is essential to preserving its beauty and sentimental value.

Now that you know the common mistakes brides make after their wedding, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with Trusted Wedding Gown Preservation and keep your gown in pristine condition for years to come.

We use advanced fabric cleaning technology to remove all kinds of stains from your gown. With us, your gown will also be protected against future yellowing and stains, even if you wish to wear it again.