Protecting Your Wedding Dress on Your Wedding Day
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Whether you will be wearing a new gown that you have chosen for yourself, one borrowed from a good friend, or a family heirloom, extravagant or simple, your wedding gown holds a very special place in your heart and is central to the splendor and festivity of your wedding day.

You will want to take precautions as possible to ensure that your wedding gown makes it to and through the wedding neat and clean. Unfortunately, there is no fairy godmother of wedding gowns to magically protect it from the obstacle course it will run on your wedding day. Prewedding hints and during-the-wedding precautions will help you wear your gown with pleasure.

The excitement of the day may cause you to perspire more than usual. It's a good idea to have cotton shields sewn into the underarms of your gown. When you apply deodorant, make certain it contains an antiperspirant. The first controls odors. The second helps control moisture. Take some talcum powder with you to the reception, so if you feel you need a "touch up," you can sneak out to the ladies room and freshen up.

When selecting your wedding bouquet, check with your florist about which flowers to choose. Some flowers have color-intensive stamens. These stamens, should they come in contact with your gown, can stain it. If you are set on having such flowers, ask your florist if the stamens can be removed. If you have any allergies to particular flowers, mention them to your florist.

Traveling in your gown puts it "at risk." Your best bet is to dress at the reception or ceremony site. If you are not going to do that, you will need some prewedding transportation planning. If you will be traveling in a limousine, carriage, or other rental vehicle, you can be fairly certain that professional standards of cleanliness will be adhered to.

If you'll be traveling in a friend or family member's car, it's a good idea to talk about having the vehicle cleaned before the big day. You might suggest and pay for a thorough inside and out cleaning. That's a nice way to say "thank you" and to ensure that the car will be clean. An usher can be asked to bring a white sheet, which you supply, to the car you'll be traveling in and spread it over where you will be sitting.

With a winter wedding or in anticipation of the sun gods staying away, preplanning is especially helpful. A white sheet or carpet runner placed strategically where you exit your vehicle will keep the bottom of your gown from getting "weather stained." If yours is a gown with a long skirt or train, lift the skirt to keep the hem off the ground. Your attendants may be asked to help you going up stairs, through doorways, or getting out of your vehicle.

Some gown fabrics wrinkle more than others. Always hang your gown by the loops sewn into the sturdy side seams, never by the fragile shoulder seams, which can stretch and or sag. Never store your gown in a plastic bag. It can yellow the gown and trap mildew in the fabric. If you are concerned that your gown will become wrinkled during your traveling, ask one of your attendants to take a portable iron or garment steamer. Remember to take an extension cord. Check with the manufacturer or your tailor about the temperature setting appropriate for your gown. You want to make sure that you don't inadvertently scorch the gown. A clean, white, cotton cloth, put under the iron will give your gown added protection.

Wherever you get dressed, a little extra care is in order when you put on your gown. If you can, step into the gown, as apposed to pulling it over your head. Have someone help you keep your balance. Put a cotton pillow case over your head to keep makeup on your face and off the dress and keep your hairdo in tact. There are also mesh nets made especially for this purpose.

When you decide to touch up your makeup, it is a good idea to have a salon coverup (like those used in beauty parlors) to put over your wedding dress. Wedding days make for shaky hands and clumsy fingers, so this becomes an extra precaution. Have a towel and washcloth with you for emergencies.

If you dress on carpeting, you may find that static electricity becomes a magnet for dust and carpet fibers. That's why it is a good idea to have a cotton flat sheet on the floor beneath you where you're dressing.

Your gown will be most vulnerable at your reception. Many a gown has been decorated by a guest's drink or a dip in the gravy. It stands to reason that you will be careful, but mishaps happen. Once again, a little preplanning can save the day. Talk to your local cleaner, or the gown manufacturer about how to spot clean your gown in the event of a spill. Sometimes you can reduce the appearance of a spot by blotting, not rubbing, the fabric. There are spot remover pads that work well on many fabrics, but you want to be certain that you won't cause more harm by not leaving the stain to a professional to deal with later on. Wine or champagne spills should be treated immediately, or stains may become permanent. Place a towel under the fabric and blot the top with a damp cloth wrung out in a solution of white vinegar or detergent and water. Blot dry to prevent a ring. Should you have a mishap, deal with it as best as you can and then get back to enjoying your wedding day. In the event of a "there's not time" stain, try covering the spot with baking soda, cornstarch or baby powder.

It's a good idea to bring along a wedding gown carrier bag. The bridal shop, manufacturer or dry-cleaner can supply one. The bag can be used to transport your gown to your wedding site and hold it until you return from your honeymoon.

With some preplanning and a few precautions you will protect your wedding gown and care for it as a prized possession. Do remember, however, that whatever happens, your wedding and your love are more important than your gown. Be cautious, but have a great day!

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