How to Store or Pack Your Wedding Gown

Wedding Dress Storage & Packing Tips

Whether jetsetting to Maui or heading to a church down the road, your wedding dress should make the trip in comfort. Remember that no matter how carefully you pack or store your gown, your first stop should always be at a professional wedding dress cleaner - an experienced gown cleaner should return the garment in a custom-cut bag stuffed with lots of tissue and a bust form.

Packing or Storing Your Wedding Dress at Home

If possible, use an acid-free storage bag – most professional providers of gown preservation services will provide this bag after any cleaning, which is another great reason to have your gown cleaned and pressed before storing it!

If you don’t have a gown storage bag handy, use 2 large sheets - one to cover the front of the dress, another for the back – and pin them together. Fitted sheets work best for this.

The box you choose should be about one-third the length of the front of your gown. Line this box with tissue and lay the gown over it, centered and face down. Make sure that the front of the gown is flat to avoid any creases or folds.

Fold the skirt lengthwise over bunched tissue, beginning at the side seams, until the skirt is no wider than the box.

Adding more bunched tissue as needed, fold the bottom of the skirt into the box.

Now fold the top of the gown over into the box – the top should now be facing up.

Stuff the bodice with additional tissue for cushioning, as well as any sleeves or bows that should be protected. Remember, the goal here is that the dress should not move at all, even when the box is shaken.

Travelling with Your Wedding Dress

If you’ve packed your dress at home, remember that your bridal gown, properly packaged, will be rather bulky! If travelling by car, a custom-cut garment bag for your dress may be more appropriate. The gown should hang with the bodice facing the door – don’t forget to stuff the bag itself with lots of tissue, as well as a bust form to prevent crushing and wrinkling.

When it comes to air travel or shipping, your dress can face some pretty rough handling. Consider one of Shores Cleaners’ destination wedding kits, which are specially designed to fit in the overhead storage compartments on airplanes. This eliminates the need to check your gown with your other baggage, ensuring that your gown travels safely with your carry-on luggage (and away from overzealous baggage handlers).

• Acid-free container (20" x 17" x 7")
• Acid-free tissue paper
• Detailed packing instructions
• "Stain stick" (for wedding day emergencies)
• Specially designed shipping carton (doubles as an airline-friendly carry-on carton with handle)
• Coupon for $35 towards cleaning & preserving your wedding gown after the wedding!