Using the Right Wedding Dress Garment Bag

There are three basic kinds of wedding dress garment bags, each for a different purpose. Most brides will have some experience with all of them over the course of getting the gown and wearing it. The first is the bag that the dress is displayed in at the boutique. This protects the dress, while still leaving it on display. It's usually made of plastic and clear, so that you can see and handle the dress without causing staining or wear. These bags keep your prospective wedding dress clean and fresh until you decide to try it on.

After you buy your gown, it'll probably go into a different, heavier wedding dress garment bag. Anything with a heavy bodice or flowing skirt, especially dresses with a lot of delicate bead work or embroidery, needs to be gently handled. The garment bag that you transport your wedding gown in will be able to stand up to a trip in a car, and support the gown until the day you need to wear it. Most bags of this type don't contain regular coat hangers. Instead, they should have a special hanger that will provide support to all areas of your wedding dress. This keeps heavy beads, pearls, and embroidery from straining or tearing out of delicate fabrics. Your wedding dress garment bag will probably be longer and wider than a normal garment bag, to allow for full skirts. This won't be the case if you buy a simple sheath or other modern-style dress, but is common for traditional types.

Just because your wedding dress garment bag is there to provide protection and support doesn't mean that you shouldn't handle it carefully, however. It's important to make sure that you don't put strain or weight on the dress through the bag, since the fabric can still be torn or damaged inside. However, the gown isn't as delicate inside the bag as it is unprotected. Most wedding dress garment bags are filled with tissue paper, and the dress hanger itself will be padded to offer more protection. If you must take the dress out of the bag and put it back for any reason, make sure that you've hooked it only the hanger correctly, using the fabric looks sewn in the train and shoulders. That way, the dress will get the support it needs.

The third type of wedding dress garment bag is the one you'll use after the wedding, for long term storage. As soon as convenient after the wedding, have your dress cleaned by a company that's experienced in dealing with these delicate dresses. Then have it placed in a sturdy cotton bag, and once again put on a padded hanger and supported by tissue paper. It's now ready to be stored. However, don't forget about your wedding dress entirely! You still need to open the garment bag once a year to air and check the dress, and wash and dry the garment bag. This makes sure that your beautiful gown stays pristine.

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