TALLAHASSEE, FL – Long after the big day ends, brides will preserve their wedding dresses by
storing them in attics, basements, and in the back of closets. By keeping their
wedding gowns, brides are holding on to the memories of their engagement, the
planning of the wedding, the choosing of the dress, and the actual wedding
ceremony and reception.
However, many brides don’t think about the proper
way to care for the wedding dress. Most of the time, a bride will place her
dress in a box, and in turn, store the box in a dark closet or attic. Over
time, the dress will become wrinkled and discolored. A wedding dress should be
kept in a location that is free of light, dust and insects, and not be wrapped
in plastic.
Sarah Scaturro, is the head conservator at the
Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She says wedding dresses
should always be stored in a stable environment.
“Garments, like people, need a stable environment
with nonfluctuating temperature and humidity in order to avoid damage,” said
Scaturro.
If a bride isn’t comfortable with packing away her
dress in a box, storing it on a hanger is also an option.
“Some garments may be hung on a padded hanger if not too heavy with embellishments. The garment should be covered with a dust cover made of cotton or muslin,” said Scaturro.
“Some garments may be hung on a padded hanger if not too heavy with embellishments. The garment should be covered with a dust cover made of cotton or muslin,” said Scaturro.
Brides wishing to preserve their dresses also have the option of having their dress maintained by a dry cleaning company.
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| Photo Credit: Philadelphia Wedding |
Brooke Weber is a clerk at
Tallahassee’s Blue Ribbon Dry Cleaners. She says her company cleans about three
wedding gowns a month. Weber says their busiest months for cleaning wedding
dresses spans from February until May. During these months, they clean, on
average, four dresses.
Weber also says that cleaning and
caring for a wedding dress differs from caring for any other article of
clothing.
“They are spotted and cleaned multiple
times. We then box and preserve them so they keep shape and stay away from
weather,” she said.
But having your gown professionally cleaned may be a
little pricey. Blue Ribbon charges around $200 to have a dress cleaned, while
Hallak Cleaners, located in New York, charges up to $1500 for their services. According to Francesca Granata, the wedding dress
may not have historical value to everyone, but it does hold a symbolic meaning
for a bride.
“In contemporary society, the garments we keep are
important in terms of rites and passage. The wedding gown is a garment worn
when a woman goes from one place in life to another,” said Granata, an
assistant professor of fashion studies at Parsons the New School for Design.
Patricia Grunebaum, the mother of two teenage
daughters, agrees that it is important to preserve the wedding dress.
“I don’t think a gown is really an heirloom like a
ring or a piece of furniture. But it’s a moment to preserve, and a very
important memory,” said Grunebaum, a resident of Bedford, N.Y.
If stored properly, you will be able to enjoy your
dress for many more years to come.
By, Naikeema Fields
With contributions from the New York Times
Photo, Philadelphia Wedding
Video, philwtv
With contributions from the New York Times
Photo, Philadelphia Wedding
Video, philwtv
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