Bringing Home the Gown
August 29th, 2008 @ 10:59 am by Miss Hot Cocoa
As you may recall in my dress post from a while back, I ended my search for an affordable couture gown at the website of Dream Bridal LA, from which I purchased the very lovely Monique Lhuillier “Mona Lisa” gown. A week later, Mona showed up at my door. Instant gratification! But after the oohing and ahhing was done, I came to the sudden realization that Mona was here for the long haul; she didn’t have anywhere to go until late October, when I have my first fitting.
[Image source.]
Flashback to 4th grade, when my mom finally got me that Cabbage Patch doll I coveted. Um, now what do I do with her?
Surprisingly, there’s not much on the internet about how to store a gown before the wedding. Thank goodness for Martha:
Ideally, you’ll bring your dress home a day or two before the wedding. But if you must store it for longer, you’ll want to take precautions. If storing it for less than six months, hang it on a padded hanger in a closet away from direct sunlight, leaving several feet of space on either side. To shield fabric from dust, cover it with a material that allows for ventilation, such as muslin or a white cotton sheet. Don’t use plastic—since it’s nonporous, it can trap condensation, causing mildew and mustiness; it might also emit gases over time that cause deterioration. If you’ll be storing the gown for more than six months, it’s best not to hang it to avoid stressing shoulders and seams. Instead, package the dress in an acid-free cardboard box.
Based on this advice, I went to the Container Store and bought these items:
Unbleached cotton twill gown storage bag
I took Mona out of the garment bag she came in, hung her on the padded hanger (using the hanging straps of the gown—not the embellished cap sleeves, since that could damage/stretch the gown), and placed her in the canvas garment bag with the cedar hang up. For those of you with lacy gowns, Britta from Dream Bridal adds that it’s best to store those horizontally because lace can stretch or tear in the pressure points. You can just fold up your dress in a “Z” formation, putting crumpled up acid-free tissue between each fold (so as not to leave creases) and store it in an acid-free box.
I think Mona’s been pretty happy in her new storage place. Fingers crossed that she’ll still like me when it’s time to take her to the seamstress.
For those of you with sample or off-the-rack gowns, where/how have you been storing them in advance of the wedding? Any additional tips or advice?
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13 Responses to “Bringing Home the Gown”
so right! there’s barely anything online about it!
after similiar researching i’ve done something very similiar. got a garment bag off of ebay…..but i didnt do the cedar block…….would that not leave a scent in your gown? i’ve never been able to rid my clothes of the smell of cedar when removed from a cedar chest…..i guess yours is not one of those strong smelling ones…..
Miss Hot Cocoa- You are a saint for posting this. You’re right— there is not much online about what to do with your gown before your wedding. We haven’t been able to figure out what to do, so it’s still in the plastic garmet bag that DB sent me home with! I bought an off-the-rack Monique Luo gown (for $149!!) a few months ago. I’m going to order those bags and hangers and store this dress properly! 
Nicole Miller gives you your gown a few weeks after you order it, so I’ve had mine since March (For a 9/27 wedding). Stupidly, it didn’t occur to me to ask or look into how to store it! It’s just been hanging on the hanger and in the bag they gave me!! I’m kind of having a momentary - “how could you be so detailed oriented and not think of this?!?!” panic attack.
I have my only alterations fitting next week and the tailor will steam it out for me after that. Luckily it’s a very light fabric, with so straps or sleeves or lace. Hopefully all is okay!!
Um, um, um! I too am having a mild panic attack now… my dress is hanging in my sisters room (in direct sunlight?! maybe!) and it is lacy, and it is still just in the plastic DB bag AND I’m not getting married until July! holy moly I need to go find an acid free box, pronto.
[...] holy moly. I read this post on weddingbee about what to do with your gown before the wedding, and now I am flipping out. I [...]
@MrsFroggy: You put your finger on the one thing I’m worried about — even with the longest garment bag, my gown’s still puddling up at the bottom. But I suppose it’ll have to be altered and steamed anyway (and I’ll have to take it from Boston to LA) so hopefully it won’t be that big of a deal. Fingers crossed.
@GetMarried4Less: I was worried about the same thing, but these cedar/lavender blocks are pretty mild (and smell more lavender than cedar). I also do have a sheet around the gown, so hopefully that’ll take care of it. I hope I don’t smell like a moth ball on my wedding day! 
@mdouris25 and @Heather: Oh no! Don’t panic! I’m just a klutz and was anxious about some crazy accident happening. I’m sure what you’re doing is just fine!
As a museum professional, fabric bags are much better than plastic (which emite toxic gases that damage the dress). However, six months in the plastic probably won’t do noticeable damage. But why risk it right?
Thank you! I am picking up my dress tomorrow…yea! I had not even thought about it. I was just going to keep it in the bag but now I will be taking a little swing by The Container store tomorrow as well.
@cece21: Definitely. After all, this is the most expensive purchase I’ve made!
@Sarah: Good luck with the pickup! Very exciting.
Those hanging gown bags look prefect. I will have my gown back and pressed from alterations over a month before our wedding so i have to figure out a way to keep it from getting too wrinkled, maybe these would work…
I’ve also heard that you can lay it flat under your bed, wrapped in a white sheet, then placed in the bag.
That’s what I plan to do because closet space is at a premium in my house. I can’t spare 4 feet for just my dress :o)
Thanks for this blog I’m getting married this December and i bought my gown already.. and i still dunno what to do with my gown. I’m afraid of hanging my gown maybe it might sag/stretched…I’m afraid too if i fold it inside its box the petticoat might be deformed and may discolor…:-)
Miss Hot Cocoa, Boston/Los Angeles
Age and Occupation: 31, JD/PhD Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Medical Student
Engagement Date: May 30, 2008
Wedding Date: March, 2009
Blogging Since: April, 2008
Venue: Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey
About Me:
I am a professional student by day and an amateur cupcake taster, bargain shopper, and wedding planner by night. I am obsessed with NPR, the Food Network, paper, dance shows, Anthropologie, post-structuralist theory, Weddingbee!, "The Office," and celebrity gossip. When not procrastinating from my dissertation, I spend time catering to Jellyby, our overly anxious shih tzu, and getting to know Mr. Hot Cocoa. We have only been dating for fifteen years, so it's like I'm in love with a stranger! From the East Coast, we are planning a Jewish-Chinese Extravaganza in L.A., where we both grew up.
I’m storing it in my closet in the garment back it came with (it’s breathable). Just hanging.
It’s a two piece dress so thankfully there isn’t too much weight to worry about. So far the dress is doing great. I bought it on memorial day week-end for our November wedding.
If it’s hanging I’d also say: make sur it doesn’t touch the ground and that you smooth the fabric down as you hang it to avoid creases.
Thanks for sharing the Martha Stewart advice.