Wedding Dress Keepsake Box: How to Protect and Preserve Your Gown

Your wedding dress will always be a highlight of your big day. You spent a lot of time and money getting it, and you felt radiant as you walked down the aisle. Now that you're married, you might be wondering what comes next for your bridal gown. With safe storage, you can preserve a delicate gown for the long-term.

The first step is choosing a wedding dress keepsake box. The right box will protect your gown for decades, allowing you to pass it down as a family heirloom. However, not all boxes are created equally. Should you select the wrong box, your dress could yellow, develop stubborn wrinkles that cannot be pressed out, or even grow mold.

To help you prevent these disheartening outcomes, we've written this comprehensive guide on preserving your dress. We'll look at why you should maintain your dress, what differentiates boxes from other storage solutions, how to store your garment, and how to protect other mementos from your wedding day. Let's remove the mystery from bridal gown preservation.

Why You Might Want to Preserve Your Wedding Dress

It's easy in all the excitement for a wedding dress to end up stuffed in the corner of a closet after the big day, but properly storing your dress preserves its sentimental and monetary value. Your dress provides a lasting memory of one of the most significant days of your life. You could pass it down to a daughter or niece for their special day. Or, you could repurpose it in another form for a family member's ceremony. The fabric could become a lace tablecloth, cushion the rings as the ring bearer presents them, or be converted into meaningful accessories for the bridal party.

Many brides also choose to wear their dresses again. You could dye it and have it altered, transforming your dress into elegant formal wear suitable for any occasion. You could also wear it on milestone anniversaries, recapturing the feeling of your special day decades later.

If you don't want to hold onto your dress, be sure that's the final decision. You can get rid of your dress later, but you'll never recover it once it's gone. If you do choose to let go of it later, secondhand dresses can be worth a lot of money, and many charities accept gowns as donations. Both resellers and charitable organizations prefer clean, carefully kept dresses, so it's best to preserve your dress until you determine your plans.

What Is a Wedding Dress Keepsake Box?

A wedding dress keepsake box is a special container for storing and preserving bridal gowns. They're generally constructed of cardboard or treated plastic (to reduce fumes) and feature acid-free interiors to minimize the presence of contaminants. Boxes should also be breathable so the contents don't grow stale over time.

You might see bags advertised as alternatives to a presentation box, but they're generally not as effective. Sharp objects can easily penetrate bags, exposing your dress to the elements. Accidental spills can also permeate a bag, potentially causing damage to your dress. Bags are also less attractive and more challenging to personalize, making them less appealing to display in your home, if that is a consideration.

How to Properly Store a Wedding Dress

Storing your dress begins with a professional cleaning. Spills are common as you're celebrating at your reception, and body oils can cause hidden stains even if your dress looks pristine at first glance at the end of the night. You don't want any stains to set, so it's best to clean your dress as soon as possible.

Next, fold your dress with acid-free tissue paper between the layers. Wrapping your dress offers further protection. Place your folded garment into your chosen bridal storage box and store it in a cool, dark, dry place with a stable temperature. Temperature and humidity changes can cause yellowing, so a spot out of direct sunlight in an air-conditioned room is the ideal location. Closets and under the bed are popular choices. Hot, humid locations such as garages and attics are not ideal options. Dust-free locations are also preferred.

You might be tempted to hang your dress, but it's best not to if possible. Wedding dresses are significantly heavier than other garments, and hanging them often stresses the straps until they break. Instead, lay your dress flat if you have the space to do so. Spare bedrooms are usually recommended for this purpose. If you must hang your dress, use the dedicated hanger straps instead of the normal ones. Most dresses have them, and a seamstress can easily add them if necessary.

While some wrinkles are unavoidable, you can minimize them by ensuring that your dress has enough space. Most garment bags are too small, forcing you to stuff the dress in. Instead, try pinning two fitted sheets together to protect your dress. Similarly, vacuum seal bags save space but result in wrinkles that are impossible to press out. Speaking of wrinkles: You should never iron your dress, because the heat will damage it. Investing in a portable steamer is the most effective way to remove wrinkles once they appear.

If dress storage preparation seems overwhelming, consider expert help. Professional wedding dress preservation services are available to ensure the proper care of your dress. You'll receive a box and storage tips for fabric care, environmental conditions, and other considerations.

Choosing the Right Keepsake Box

Choosing between keepsake boxes comes down to protective features and personal style. Look for an acid-free lining to protect your dress, and ensure it's big enough so you're not stuffing it in to make it fit. Verify that the material won't damage it, and look for quality hinges and closures to ensure it opens and closes smoothly.

If you plan to showcase your dress, you will probably want a box that matches your decor. A custom design can transform your dress into a one-of-a-kind piece, while a vintage look can reflect the history it represents. Presentation is key, and you'll know you have it right when it complements the rest of the room.

How to Personalize Your Wedding Dress Box

Here are some ideas to help you personalize a box:

• Custom Engraving: Engraving your box with your wedding date, the vows you exchanged, or an inspirational quote can make it even more meaningful.
• Monograms: A monogram is a design of two or more interlocking letters for decorative or identification purposes. It can be as simple or ornate as you wish.
• Decorative Finishes: Decorative finishes can complement your decor or stand out as a conversation piece. The only limiting factor is your creativity.

Preserving Other Wedding Keepsakes

Your dress was a huge part of your big day, but there are other keepsakes worth hanging on to. Everybody loves a good wedding photo, and most ceremonies involve lots of pictures. You might also want to save the card you received from your favorite uncle, the cork from your champagne bottle, or your cake topper. Other mementos worth keeping include dried flowers from your bouquet, invitations, and a favorite small handmade gift.

A wedding trunk provides the space you need to organize and protect all of the special items from your big day. As with storing your dress, give some thought to the quality and aesthetics of your selection. Look for a secure metal exterior to shield your items from light, moisture, sharp objects, and contaminants. The interior should be acid-free with a padded fabric lining. The hinges should lock securely and open easily when you want to relive your wedding. Pest resistance is essential, especially if you plan to store your trunk in a basement.

A stylish wedding trunk also makes a great piece of furniture. Many vendors allow you to customize the exterior color, interior fabric lining, and offer embroidery options to make your trunk something truly unique.

You'll treasure your "I dos" forever, and you want your mementos to last just as long. A durable trunk is the perfect complement to your carefully preserved dress.