After the wedding – cleaning, storing and selling the wedding dress

Clean, store, sell and how the dress can get another life.

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How soon after the wedding should my wedding dress be cleaned?

The wedding dress should be cleaned within a couple of weeks of the wedding. Sweat, white wine and grease from make-up are invisible at first but turn into yellow stains that will not come out once they have sat for months. Tell the cleaner what is on the dress and where, for example red wine on the lap and grass at the hem. If the dress is to be stored or sold, have it cleaned first. Read more about our wedding dress cleaning.

Can I wash my wedding dress at home in the washing machine or by hand?

No, a wedding dress should not be washed at home. Lace, beads, a built-in corset and layers of tulle cannot take a machine, and satin can get water marks that stay. Even hand washing in the bath can pull the colour out of an ivory dress in streaks. Send the dress to a cleaner experienced with wedding dresses, and ask them before you try anything yourself. See how professional wedding dress cleaning works.

How do I get red wine and grass stains out of my wedding dress?

Do not try to remove red wine and grass from a wedding dress yourself. The two stains each need their own treatment, and the wrong one sets the stain or bleaches the fabric. On the day, just dab with a dry white cloth and leave the rest. Afterwards the dress should go to the cleaner within a couple of weeks, where you point out each stain and say what it is. The sooner the cleaner sees the stain, the better the chance. Read about stains and wedding dress cleaning.

Why does a white wedding dress turn yellow over time?

A wedding dress turns yellow because traces of sweat, sugar from drinks and grease from the skin oxidise and turn brown, even where nothing could be seen. Plastic bags also give off substances, and sunlight bleaches the fabric unevenly. That is why the dress should be cleaned soon after the wedding and stored in acid-free paper and a cotton bag, away from light and damp. Start with a thorough clean of the wedding dress before it is put away.

How do I best store my wedding dress after the wedding?

Store the wedding dress cleaned, in acid-free paper, in a box or a cotton bag and somewhere without sun, damp or changes in temperature. That means neither in the basement nor in the loft. Skip the plastic bag, because it keeps moisture in. Put paper in the folds so they do not become permanent, and check the dress once a year, it takes two minutes. If you would rather give the dress a new life, read about sustainability and reuse.

How should I store the wedding dress at home from purchase until the wedding day?

Hang the wedding dress high so the hem does not touch the floor, on a wide hanger that can carry the weight. Use the bag as a dust cover, but do not close it tightly. Keep the dress away from sun, radiators, damp and pets, and do not try it on every week. Hang it out a week before the wedding so the creases drop out. If the dress needs altering before the day, book a time with our tailor in good time.

Can you keep my wedding dress at the shop until the wedding day?

You can ask us about that, because we agree on keeping wedding dresses at the shop case by case. It is a good solution if you live in a small home or want to keep the dress away from curious eyes. We write down what we have agreed and when you will collect the dress. If the tailor is altering it anyway, it is often easiest for the dress to stay with us until the final fitting. Ask us via the contact page, or read about tailoring and alterations.

Should my wedding dress hang on a hanger or lie in a box?

Until the wedding, the wedding dress should hang so the creases drop out. For long-term storage it should lie in a box with acid-free paper, because a heavy dress that hangs for years pulls out of shape at the shoulders and bodice. If the dress has beads or many layers of tulle, the box is clearly the best choice. Put paper between the layers so the fabric is not pressed. Remember to have the dress cleaned before it goes in the box, see wedding dress cleaning.

Is it all right to vacuum-pack a wedding dress to save space?

No, a wedding dress should not be vacuum-packed. Vacuum presses the fabric flat and creates creases that become permanent, especially in tulle, organza and lace, and a dress with no air around it can develop blotches. Use a box with acid-free paper or a cotton bag instead, which lets the fabric breathe. It is one of the mistakes that are hard to put right afterwards. If the dress already has creases, you can ask about cleaning and steaming.

Can I sell my used wedding dress on commission through you?

You can ask us about that, but we cannot take in every wedding dress. Send us photos, the model name, the size and the original price, and we will tell you whether the dress fits in. We buy in one piece of each model, so the answer depends on what we already have. If the dress is cleaned and in good condition, the chance is better, and you will get an honest answer, even when it is no. Send the details of the dress via our contact page.

Where is the best place to sell a used wedding dress in Denmark?

A used wedding dress sells best on the large marketplace sites and in Facebook groups for brides, where buyers are looking for exactly your size. Have the dress cleaned first. Take photos in daylight from the front, the back and close up on the fabric, and state the model name, measurements and original price. Be honest about any alterations, because a dress taken in to your measurements sells most easily to someone with the same figure. See also why reusing dresses makes sense under sustainability.

Can I donate my wedding dress once the wedding is over?

Yes, second-hand shops often accept wedding dresses, and some organisations collect them for brides who cannot afford one, or remake them into christening and memorial gowns. Call first and ask whether they accept them, so you are not left standing at the door with the dress in a bag. Hand the dress in cleaned, otherwise it cannot be used. Before you give the dress away, you can get it ready with a wedding dress clean.

Can my wedding dress be remade into something I can wear again?

Yes, a wedding dress can be remade, and it is the best way to get it out of the bag. A long dress can be shortened into a party dress, the bodice can become a top, and the lace can be sewn onto something new. If the dress is simple, the remake is straightforward. Bring the dress in and our tailor will tell you what can be done and what it costs before you decide. Read more about our tailor and remakes.

Can my wedding dress be remade into a christening gown for our baby?

Yes, and a christening gown is one of the most beautiful things that can be made from a wedding dress. Not much fabric is needed, so there is often enough for both the christening gown and a small bag or a scarf. The lace from the wedding dress can be used as a trim. Bring the dress in once it has been cleaned, and our tailor will see which piece is best suited. Talk to our tailor before you cut into the dress.

Can I keep my wedding dress so my daughter can wear it one day?

Yes, with the right storage a wedding dress can last for decades: cleaned, in acid-free paper, in a box and away from sun and damp. Be prepared that your daughter may not want it, and that fashion changes. On the other hand, the lace, the veil or a piece of the fabric can be sewn into her own dress, and that is often the solution everyone is happy with. When the day comes, our tailor can help sew a piece of the dress in.

How do I take my wedding dress on the plane for a wedding abroad?

Take the wedding dress as hand luggage in a garment bag, and ask the airline in advance whether it can hang in the wardrobe on board. Put tissue paper in the folds so they do not set, and never check the dress into the hold. If the dress is very large, consider sending it by freight to the destination in good time. Hang it out as soon as you land. You will find more advice on getting the dress there safely under transport.

Can my wedding dress stay in the plastic bag from the shop?

A wedding dress should only stay in the plastic bag for a short time, for example during transport and to keep dust off in the last days before the wedding. Plastic keeps moisture in and over time gives off substances that can yellow the dress, especially in warm conditions. If the dress is to be stored, switch to a cotton bag or a box with acid-free paper. If the dress hangs in the plastic bag anyway, leave the bag open at the bottom. You will find more useful advice about wedding dresses on our blog.