Reem Acra Aline
So I bought it, praying that my then-boyfriend would propose to me before I outgrew my gorgeous dress. It was a good thing he did! At that time, though, when I bought that Reem Acra gown, my biggest problem was how to store it to keep it pristine until I had the chance to use it. I was afraid it would get permanently wrinkled, or worse, yellow with age! I asked around and here are the tips that the other brides gave me on how to store my wedding dress:
If you’re going to store it for less than six months, you can just hang it on a padded hanger. Don’t wrap it in plastic bag or vinyl as these materials trap moisture which can damage the gown. To keep the gown from getting dusty, you can cover it with anything that will allow ventilation, such as a white cotton sheet.
You can put your Reem Acra gown flat in an acid-free cardboard box, wrapped with a white sheet made of cotton. Do this when you’re storing your dress for more than six months, because hanging it can put a lot of pressure on the gown’s shoulders and seams. Make sure, though, that it isn’t exposed to direct sunlight. It’s also best to store it in your bedroom or any area in the house that’s being used; don’t put it in the basement or in the attic where the humidity is higher. If you put it somewhere that you can always see it, you’ll be reminded as well to periodically let it out every now and then so that it can breathe a bit.
Call bridal shops or dry cleaners in your area and ask if they have bridal dress preservation services. Some places do conservation packaging, and they can store your gown for months or even years without fear of it getting ruined. Of course, this service can be expensive, so explore the other options first.
Even though storage was a bit of a pain, I found it all worth it when I found my dress in pristine condition after over a year. As I walked down the aisle toward my groom whose eyes glowed at the sight of me, I couldn’t help but thank God that I had worn a Reem Acra gown to my wedding day.
