Brides Through History:
Conservation Tips
Many thanks to Carla Turner, president of the Dorcas Society, who shared a "trivia of wedding dresses." Here are a few tips for ensuring a long-lasting wedding gown:
- Use a good box. This should be large enough in order to have the least amount of folds. Many online companies, such as Light Impressions, offer archival boxes.
- Use acid-free tissue paper. The blue tissue paper, if it gets wet, can stain the dress.
- Take dress to a dry cleaner. Any little stains made by champagne or sweat can turn the dress brown or corrode the fabric.
- Store in a light-free and humidity-free environment, as they can damage the dress. Under the bed is a good option, as it maintains a relatively stable heat and humidity.
- If storing in a bag, the fabric should be muslin or 100% cotton, with buttons instead of zippers (metal can corrode and damage the dress).
- Every few years, take the dress out of the box, fluff it and hang it briefly, then refold in a different way. This helps reduce permanent creases.
To see more photographs of the wedding dresses on display, visit Peter Mills Photography.