How To: Wedding Dress Preservation

Congratulations, you’re officially married and waking up in pure, newlywed bliss to the love of your life! At Grace Loves Lace we’re no stranger to the dance floor and know our brides are the same. So, if you’re waking up the morning after with a wedding dress in need of a little (or a lot of) TLC, you’re certainly not alone.

Whether you want to preserve your wedding dress as a keepsake, cut it short and wear it again or turn it into lingerie, the first thing you want to do is clean your wedding dress. Washing your wedding dress is a unique and incredibly delicate process, that without proper care, can result in colour changes, oxidation and stains, fabric tears and shrinkage; so, trust us when we say you won’t want to miss the care label on this one.  

Wedding dress preservation is a great way to ensure your dream gown will last a lifetime. From dry cleaning to spot cleaning, silks to laces, and pulling twigs out of the train, we’ve put together your ultimate guide to wedding dress cleaning and preservation post-walk down the aisle.

Before doing anything to your gown, regardless of the fabrication, ensure you carefully remove any leaves or twigs that you may have collected throughout your special day. It’s also important to remove any additional embellishments on your gown, if applicable before you begin the cleaning process. For example, the diamante detailing on Zsa Zsa or Anu’s removable brooch would need to be taken off before cleaning to ensure it remains in perfect condition.

Each of our Grace gowns are handcrafted with intricate detail and unique fabrication, meaning that the care guide and instructions on how to clean and wash your wedding gown may differ depending on the design and fabrication of your dress.

Our classic lace gowns are a favourite of our Grace brides for their timeless style, comfort, support, ease of movement and so much more. Whether it's our signature stretch lace, eyelash lace trim or our innovative and environmentally friendly eco-lace, see our care instructions for our beautiful lace wedding dresses below.

Cold spot wash 

Lay flat to dry 

Cool iron 

Do not bleach 

Do not tumble dry 

Do not dry clean 

Do not wring 

Do not soak

If your gown is made from lace and silk, please also consider the below.

Our luxuriously smooth silk gowns are each a masterpiece of their own, creating an effortless and chic silhouette for our brides. Our stunning Crepe de Chine silk, spotlighted on gowns such as Bella and Honey Silk vary slightly compared to our luxurious silk gowns. See below for detailed care instructions for our silk and silk crepe de chine dresses.

Silk Fabrication Care Instructions:

DRY CLEAN ONLY (speciality silk dry cleaner recommended) 

Cool iron with pressing cloth 

Do not wash 

Do not bleach 

Do not tumble dry

Crepe De Chine Silk Fabrication Care Instructions:

DRY CLEAN ONLY (speciality silk dry cleaner recommended) 

Do not wash 

Do not bleach 

Do not tumble dry 

Our luxurious, comfortable stretch crepe gowns create a flattering, figure-hugging silhouette you can dance the night away in. If you’ve done just that, she may need a little cleaning attention. See below for our care guide to cleaning your crepe wedding dress.

Cold spot wash 

Lay flat to dry 

Cool iron 

Do not bleach 

Do not tumble dry 

Do not dry clean 

Do not wring 

Do not soak 

Our stylish satin wedding dresses are handcrafted with double layer pearlescent ivory satin and create a stunning silhouette for our modern brides. To clean your satin wedding dress, see our care instructions below; 

Cold spot wash 

Lay flat to dry 

Cool iron 

Do not bleach 

Do not tumble dry 

Do not dry clean 

Do not wring 

Do not soak 

Our innovative pearlescent ivory Lycra wedding dress is handcrafted with our signature stretch satin to ensure unparalleled comfort on your special day. To care for your lycra gown, see our care instructions below;

Cold spot wash 

Lay flat to dry 

Cool iron 

Do not bleach 

Do not tumble dry 

Do not dry clean 

Do not wring 

Do not soak 

After you’ve cleaned and washed your gown as per our unique care instructions, it’s time to store you gown somewhere safe, where it won’t crease or be damaged by other items or affected by moisture.

We recommend storing your gown in a dry, non-humid environment, out of direct sunlight. Your beautiful gown will arrive in a box with tissue that is acid free and PH neutral which is fantastic for short term storage however to ensure your gown remains beautiful for years to come, your wedding dress is best stored in a breathable, acid free and PH neutral storage bag that blocks out light.

Keep in mind that hanging your dress may cause strain on the seams and fabrics over long times, because of this you may choose to store it in a box instead. If you are storing in a box, we recommend ensuring the box and any tissue paper are acid free and that the box is PH neutral. It’s also important the box is made from strong, durable material that can prevent insects whilst still being breathable.

“I recommend checking on your dress every six months to

ensure it is aired and permanent creases are prevented.” 

- Tara, Head of Product Creation 

“I recommend checking on your dress

every six months to ensure it is aired

and permanent creases are prevented.” 

- Tara, Head of Product Creation 

Tip: Always check storage areas for signs of mildew, condensation and mould in surrounding environments particularly after weather events.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to take care of your Grace gown please reach out to our Customer Experience team at cx@graceloveslace.com or our expert team of online stylists on our website.