Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

ANYONE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO SAFELY STORE A WEDDING DRESS

28 replies

tenalady · 30/05/2006 11:57

I hear talk of acid free paper and boxes but I dont have a clue where you get these items. Is there any further advice on how to store or where to store your wedding clobber for a later date. (not for me to use again, I must add)

OP posts:

Bumblelion · 30/05/2006 12:00

My wedding dress was cleaned at a specialist dry cleaners and then boxed up for me. I got married in 1991 and it still looks good as new, not stained, tainted, sun scorch marks, etc. etc. It was cleaned, wrapped in a special type of paper and then boxed up.

Elf1981 · 30/05/2006 12:02

You can buy the boxes and paper from some wedding stores. I brought a box with free acid free paper from a wedding store near where I live. I think you can also get them from websites. They are expensive but worth it.

Elf1981 · 30/05/2006 12:03

\link{http://www.streamers.org.uk/dress_box.htm\web site where they sell the boxes}

LadyCodofCOdford · 30/05/2006 12:06

god i htink its sad to store htem just bing em in the loft in an old bag

Original poster

tenalady · 30/05/2006 12:07

Bumblelion, when you mention specialist dry cleaners I take it we are not talking sketchleys.

OP posts:

FioFio · 30/05/2006 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

LadyCodofCOdford · 30/05/2006 12:07

mine a next bag

Original poster

tenalady · 30/05/2006 12:07

cod i did that with my first one

OP posts:

Cappucino · 30/05/2006 12:08

I heard wrap them in calico; i just got mine from the market

i made a point when i got married of avoiding wedding shops cos they put such a markup on everything

i mean you can buy acid-free tissue in WHSmiths,
normal tissue paper is acid-free ffs

Gingerbear · 30/05/2006 12:09

Mine is in one of those vac-u-seal bags and bunged in the linen cupboard. It was going to cost me £100 to have it cleaned and boxed!
Sister and I played dressing up in mums wedding dress. It was far too old fahioned for either of us to consider wearing for our weddings.

SnowBoo · 30/05/2006 12:10

Black tissue paper is another one to use. Don't ask why, have no idea but my mums friend has hers from 15 years ago boxed up with black tissue and its as good as new.

Must get round to sorting mine out

Cappucino · 30/05/2006 12:12

my philosophy is really - take good wedding photos

then if it falls to bits you can still see it

Original poster

tenalady · 30/05/2006 12:14

I know sno, mine was 6 years this bank holiday im hoping the damage isnt already done.

OP posts:

SnowBoo · 30/05/2006 12:15

Hahaha tena! Thats I thought i was bad nearly a year in.... I feel better now!

Bumblelion · 30/05/2006 12:18

I took mine to a small dry cleaners in Wandsworth near where my nan lives. Don't know why I bothered now - cost a bloody fortune to clean and box, only got it out a few times to look at it (show my eldest daughter), now no longer married, would never wear it again, would not want my DDs to wear it as it is a bit "old fashioned" (but lovely at the time). Might like to make my first grandchild's christening gown out of it but then again my children might not be too pleased about that.

Kathy1972 · 30/05/2006 12:18

Most important thing is to make sure they are clean when you put them away, as sweat stains etc which you don't notice at the time can yellow with age and damage the fabric.

You need to protect it from the light, which may be the point of black tissue (though I would be nervous about dye from the black paper bleeding - would rather go for colourless acid-free and protect it from the light by another means (eg a box or wardrobe).

Obviously it needs to be somewhere dry (sometimes wardrobes against outside walls can get damp).

If you are folding it, use tissue inside the folds to prevent crushing. Calico would probably work just as well for that.

Hanging can put strain on the seams and stretch the fabric.

Don't forget about protecting from moth - silk and cotton do get attacked.

Elf1981 · 30/05/2006 13:15

My dress cost nearly £1000 so the idea of not paying £60 for a box to store it in seemed a bit silly to me.
(Yes I know my dress was expensive.)
I also boxed up my shoes, tiara, necklace and earrings. DH rented his suit but boxed up his pocketwatch etc. They're both things that we would like to pass to our children, so if my dd wanted to wear my dress as her dress, I'd be well chuffed. If not, I'll pass it onto my grandkids to play with (assuming I get any!)

Aside from that, wedding dresses can be worth quite a bit of money if looked after properly. Wasn't there a woman on the antiques roadshow who collected them and had a small fortnue?

boredathome · 30/05/2006 14:22

def need to get cleaned...then store in acid free paper and an acid free wedding box(Im a dry cleaner btw) also not really such a thing as specialist dry cleaner all dry cleaners have the same(ish) machines and the same chemicals.It is only the experience of the staff that differs.

NomDePlume · 30/05/2006 14:24

Mine still hasn't been cleaned, 3 years later, and it has a tear in the train where DH stood on it about 40 minutes into the day . It's still hanging in the orginal Pronuptia bag I brought it home in.

Californifrau · 31/05/2006 03:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

boredathome · 31/05/2006 10:03

funnily enough californifrau i often wonder when we pack them if people actually do that..cause it always reminds me of that!

MrsBadgerAvecUneVoiture · 31/05/2006 10:17

I had mine cleaned at a local (ie non-chain) drycleaner for about £30, but though large it was v plain with no beading or anything, which apparently is the thing that makes it cost more as they have to do it on Extra Gentle so no bits drop off (though am willing to be proved wrong by BoredAtHome).

Bought a box from \link{http://www.emptybox.co.uk/about.asp\here} - came with tissue etc and handy folding insructions (they make the boxes Elf recommended). If you buy from them, get the Travel type that has a cord handle, not the Traditional with the huge bow on top as they're a pain to stack. And choose a plain design - the flowered ones are grim.

Was £40 so not especially cheap (esp as dress was reduced in a sale...) but does mean it doesn't get mistaken for crockery, old videos etc in the loft!

LotosEater · 31/05/2006 10:21

mine is just hanging in the wardrobe in the spare room

boredathome · 31/05/2006 14:36

sounds about right badger...agree about flowery boxes too

Chandra · 31/05/2006 14:48

I also find the idea of professionally storing a dress at a considerable cost somewhat silly. It has served it's purpose, even if you get married again you will want another one, and it would look ridiculously out of fashion in a few years (actually not only the dress, same goes for wedding photographs!). So... another vote for letting them rest in peace.

Now, if you insist, it is essential they are stored in a dark place as all fine fabrics tend to fade at some parts if they get exposed tosunlight (a constant over the years). if they are professionally sealed they are less likely to die of a fungus infection. I know this because my sister decided to get the full professional service for storing it and we have spent quite a few years worrying about accidentally ruining the sealing plastic that cover the box, or damaging the box and then some light getting in, etc... It's like having Michael Jackson in his capsule resting in the upper shelf of the wardrobe!!!)

Flip

1 2