[Summer25]

i really need some advice!

I bought a wedding dress from a charity shop (brand new, donated by local bridal shop because it was "last season"). I love the dress but I'm not getting married for two years and I'm worried about how I should be looking after it.

It's quite a heavy dress with a bigish skirt and beaded bodice. The shop that donated the dresses (I was cheeky and called them) said I should just buy a special garment bag and hang it up. However I've read a lot of websites that say hanging a dress with beading for any length of time will cause damage. I really don't know what to do.

The other thing is that while the dress looks spotless, I tried it one twice in a normal changing room and I think one or two other people might have before me. I'm wondering whether the oil from fingers and dirt from the floor might cause permanent damage to the dress? I'm obviously going to get it dry cleaned before the wedding but I'm worried that will be too late.

Any advice would be very, very much appreciated.

[becci Uk]

I think that if the dress shop only told you to buy a dress bag for it, they should know the dress better than an internet site, but maybe call them again, to tell them that its not going to be used for 2 years - just to recheck. If they wont help why not take it to a dress makers or dry cleaners to see what they think?.
On the subject of drycleaning, why not take it to be done now, get all those nasty stains off, and then you will be sure that it is in a good condition while you wait for your big day?!

[smurfsammy]

I would say get it professionally cleaned now. You can find a wedding dress cleaner online. They may be able;e to advise how to store it as well.

I wouldn't 100% trust what the dress shop told you as where I got my dress from told me to fold mine up!

If you feel it is better to keep it flat i would do that as the beading will drag the dress down I imagine. Just keep checking it every now and then.

[waterbaby]

I bought mine very early too,as it was too much of a bargain to resist,it,s in a dress bag thing,and hanging up,but after reading that,i may leave it flat,never thought that hanging it for so long could damage it,i,m worried now..lol will keep it flat then.i,ll ask my nan,she,ll know lol x