Your wedding came and went, and now you’re feeling nostalgic. Your beautiful wedding dress is now sitting in the closet, and you’re not sure what to do with it. If you want to preserve it for sentimental reasons, the process is a little more involved than just sticking it in your closet. If you do this, you might end up with a dress that’s ripped, stained, or dusty. In order to keep your wedding dress in pristine condition, follow these steps. 

1. Get it professionally cleaned.
The sooner you get your dress cleaned, the better. The longer you go without cleaning, the longer the stains have to permanently set in. 

2. Store it in an acid-free box or garment bag.
In addition, store it in an area that’s safe from harsh light and fluctuating temperatures. You can also add silica desiccant packets inside the box or garment bag for humidity control. If you choose a box, make sure to wrap the dress in tissue paper to prevent fabric-on-fabric fiction.

3. Preserve your bouquet.
This is a great idea because dried flowers are gorgeous! Hang the bouquet upside down for several weeks or months, and they’ll dry up nicely. Then, you can store them in a preservation box and place it in storage.