If you’re traveling with your dress or just worried about your wedding dress getting wrinkles on it, read on! We’re sharing some helpful tips to keep wrinkles a thing of the past so you can walk down the aisle in confidence – without all the wrinkling.
It’s important to have a wrinkle-free dress on the big day… you’re The Bride! I’ll show you how it’s done – without messing up your dress in the process. :) Let’s go!
Choose the Right Fabric
Some fabrics wrinkle more than others – that’s just a fact! Some of the most wrinkle-prone dresses are satin, crepe, and taffeta. If you can, avoid these and choose a wedding dress made of alternatives like silk or tulle.
To test the fabric for wrinkles before purchasing the dress, test a small section and fold it with your hands. If it makes a crease, it’s likely to become wrinkly very easily. If it “snaps back” into place seamlessly, you’ve got yourself a nice wrinkle-free alternative. :)
Handling and Transportation
It is very important to handle the dress properly in order to prevent wrinkles when traveling. You may be bringing your dress in an airplane for a destination wedding, or locally in a car to the place where you’re getting ready. Here’s what to use in order to carry the dress without causing creases.
Garment Bag with a Hanger
You’ve likely heard of garment bags, but did you know they make special wedding dress bags that carry your dress on a hanger? It has a longer width and length in order to accomodate a variety of bridal gowns in different styles, with or without trains, and with bustles. I highly recommend getting a garment bag with a hanger that has padded shoulders to keep the dress straight.
This garment bag is one I regularly recommend to clients and have seen first-hand. I like how it offers a long length, a wide bottom to allow movement of the dress, and has plenty of room for accessories like wedding shoes and your veil. It also comes with a tote bag – nice bonus for the day-of. (PRO TIP: Make sure you pack these items in it!) It also has a shoulder strap to make transporting easy.
When you keep the dress straight in the bag, it’s unlikely to crease and wrinkle as easily.
Let’s talk about how you’ll use the garment bag when storing your dress ahead of the wedding day.
Airplane
When transporting the bag, place it down flat, as much as possible. Do not allow the dress to fold, or you’ll end up with wrinkles and creases. On airplanes, the flight attendant can help you with storing the dress in an overhead compartment, and some offer other areas solely for items like wedding gowns to keep them nice and neat.
Car
If transporting the dress in your car, place it in a clean, dry trunk laying out completely flat to avoid wrinkles.
Subway or Bus
For a subway or a bus, you’ll need to hold the dress in its garment bag, up and away from the floor. It may seem like a pain transporting it this way, but it’s the best way to avoid wrinkling your wedding dress while transporting it.
Storing the Dress
You’ll need to store your wedding dress at home once you receive it back from getting alterations. Once your dress is ready for the big day, transport it home in the garment bag mentioned above, then hang it in your home (or a parent’s home) in a cool, dry place. I highly recommend a closet with a hook high enough to keep the dress from dragging on the floor. If needed, a great place to hang the dress in the bag is from the top of a doorway, so the dress doesn’t touch the floor.
Keep the dress inside the garment bag, which is breathable. The garment bag will also prevent color transfer due to sunlight and help to maintain the shape of the dress. Talk about peace of mind while waiting for the big day! When you properly store your dress, you have one less thing to worry about. :)
How to Get Rid of Wrinkles on Your Wedding Day
On the morning of the wedding, remove the dress from the garment bag and allow to hang freely without touching anything. A tall windowsill or door will make it easy to do so. Allow the dress to breathe, then access the wrinkles or creases (if any). Some wrinkles happen, and that’s OK. It’s easy to fix with these techniques.
Steaming
Do NOT iron your dress. An iron will most likely ruin the fabric. Instead, use a steamer: I highly recommend this one and use it all the time myself.
Wrinkle-Release Sprays
Some wrinkle-release sprays – like this one I use myself – are perfect for last-minute touch-ups before the walk down the aisle. It’s sort of like an iron, in a bottle. :) Get it here.
I hope this helps you to plan accordingly and prepare for a wedding dress wrinkle-free on the big day! If you do get creases or wrinkling, don’t worry: just utilize the tips I provided with the steamer and the wrinkle-release sprays. If you have any comments to add, let me know in the comment box below. And don’t forget that garment bag: it’s such a helpful item to have.
Hope it helps!
Chat soon,
xo
Emma
