How do I safely transport, store and steam my wedding dress?

Finessed and tailored to your precise measurements, your wedding dress is ready to wow on your big day… Now what?

As one of the most cherished elements of your special day, and likely also one of the most delicate, keeping your dress in pristine condition from purchase to “I do” is a top priority for every bride.

Megan Carberry, assistant manager at Kudos Bridal Dunfermline, shares her expert tips for storing, handling and preparing your gown to make sure it looks perfect when you walk down the aisle.

Wedding dress collection and storage

Once a bride has purchased her dress, what should she expect during the collection process?

When a dress arrives into Kudos Bridal Dunfermline we always thoroughly check it over and give it an initial steam to ensure things are perfect before we call the bride to let her know her dress is here. 

At this stage, we always like to schedule an initial try-on appointment with her original stylist so that we can assess how the dress fits and discuss any alterations that may need to be carried out closer to the wedding date.

We then discuss whether a bride would like to collect her dress to store at home, in which case we would go over the best ways to do this, or continue storing it with us here (in store) up until the big day.

Tips for transporting a wedding dress

We provide all of our brides with a breathable cotton garment bag which is ideal for storage and suggest that the dress is transported as flat as possible.

If a bride is collecting by car we would usually suggest it was laid across the back seat to avoid being crushed and folded as much as possible.

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How should a bride store her dress in the lead up to the wedding?

We would normally suggest that a bride stores her dress in the same way we would in store – hanging full-length inside of its breathable garment bag.

This will allow the air to circulate and means that you won’t have to ‘air out’ your dress every now and again.

I would also suggest keeping the dress/bag out of direct sunlight as this can cause bleaching over time! A dark, dry place is the perfect area to hang.

Proper dress handling and care

What is the correct way to hang a wedding dress to prevent stretching or damage?

Most dresses will come with ribbon loops attached under the arms, halfway down the train and sometimes at the waist.

These are designed to be wrapped around your hanger to relieve the weight of your dress from resting entirely on the straps. Using these loops is the best way to avoid stretching and damage while storing.

If the dress has intricate detailing or embellishments, are there additional precautions to take?

Very detailed dresses often arrive into store with us with their bodices wrapped in tissue paper to avoid beading or embellishments getting tangled or damaged.

You can store your dress like this, too, or use a tulle sheath over the top of your gown to avoid catching.

What’s the most common mistake brides make when caring for their dress before the wedding?

The biggest mistake I see brides making is giving into temptation and trying their dress on multiple times whilst they have it at home!

Every time you try your dress on you are opening yourself up to the chance of it getting damaged.

From fake tan to makeup, it is so easy to get marks on your gown without you even realising it. Jewellery can catch on delicate fabric and cause pulls, beads can fall off… there are so many things that can go wrong which can be easily avoided if you store your gown properly and only try it on in store or with your seamstress.

Preparation and wedding dress steaming

When should a bride arrange to have her dress steamed or pressed?

If a bride stores her dress with us, we ask that she returns her dress after her final alterations so that we can check everything over and steam it for the big day ourselves.

We would normally steam the dress and leave it to hang until a bride collects it from us the day before the wedding. That way, our brides only have to worry about hanging their dress when they get home and everything is ready to go for the day.

If you are doing the dress steaming yourself, I would ideally suggest doing this, either the day before or a few hours ahead of getting dressed so that your gown has plenty of time to dry properly before you put it on.

Can steaming be done at home, or should it always be handled by a professional?

I would say this really depends on the fabric of the dress! For silks or satins I would always suggest hiring a professional so that you don’t have to worry about things like watermarks or damaging your gown by accident.

If doing it yourself, be sure to test the steamer on something else or on the lining materials first to make sure your dress will cooperate.

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Common wedding dress steaming mistakes to avoid

Using steam directly on the fabric is always something to be conscious of. The steam can be too harsh for some materials as the high heat can damage some delicate fabrics. Always check your label and test steam on a smaller area before attempting the entire gown yourself. 

Water can also gather on the steamer head and this can cause watermarks on things like silk or satin, so never use the steamer directly on the fabric. You can reduce the risk of this by covering the steamer head with a soft flannel before starting.

Another mistake is not giving your garment enough time to dry. Steam will make the fabric damp and you want this to be completely dry before you get dressed!

Bridal dressing on the wedding day

Best way for brides to put a wedding dress on

I would always choose to step into your dress – ensure it is laid flat on the floor and then pull up gently.

This will ensure that there’s no risk of makeup transferring and, on the day, will avoid ruining your wedding hair. Make sure you are giving yourself plenty of time for dressing, too.

Any bride that wants to be extra-cautious can also invest in a pair of cotton gloves to better avoid any fingerprints or marks being transferred while trying on.

Who should help the bride get into the dress?

Your bridal party is your dream team here – if you’re stepping into your dress they can help you keep your balance, help pull your dress up and make sure everything is done up properly before you head down the aisle.

I would suggest that you always have at least one person with you at all of your alterations appointments so that they can become familiar with the process in the run-up to the day and be sure that they know how your dress is supposed to be done up.

Your consultant or seamstress can also talk them through things like corset backs, how to zip your dress and how to bustle for your reception so that there’s no stress on the day.

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How long before the ceremony should the bride be dressed and ready?

Ideally I would say at least 30 minutes before you leave you want to be in your dress. This gives you enough time for the fabric to warm up and become comfortable and allows enough time for any last-minute adjustments that may need to be made.

This is especially true if your dress has a corset back – once the material warms up with your body heat it will start to slacken off. Allowing yourself a little extra time before you walk down the aisle allows you to tighten things up properly again!