Emergencies on the wedding day – if something happens to the wedding dress

What can break on the day and how to solve it with a needle and a calm head.

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What do I do if the zip on my wedding dress breaks on the day?

Don't pull hard on a broken zip, because it makes the damage worse. If a tooth has come off, a safety pin from the inside can hold the zip together, and a cord or ribbon can lace up the rest. If the wedding dress has buttons, they can be sewn back on in five minutes. That is why the emergency kit should contain a needle, thread and safety pins, and one guest should know where it is. Afterwards our seamstress can repair the zip properly.

How do I remove a stain from my wedding dress in the middle of the wedding day?

A stain on the wedding dress should be dabbed, not rubbed, with a dry, white cloth. Water on satin leaves a ring that is worse than the stain, so start dry: talc or powder on a grease stain and a dry cloth on red wine. If the stain is down by the hem, pull the skirt forward slightly and let it dry. Have the dress professionally cleaned afterwards; the guests will not notice the stain anyway. Read about cleaning the wedding dress.

What do I do if my wedding dress tears during the party?

Stop a tear in the wedding dress with a safety pin on the inside so it does not run further, and have someone sew it with small stitches if anyone can. If the tear is in a seam, it will hold for the rest of the evening. If it is in lace, leave it for a tailor. Let a guest carry a needle and white thread from the start of the party, not in a car outside. Afterwards our tailoring and alterations service takes care of the repair.

How do I avoid getting make-up on my wedding dress when I put it on?

You avoid make-up on the wedding dress by finishing make-up and hair first and then putting the dress on with a scarf or a clean tea towel over your face while it is pulled down over your head. If the dress has a zip, step into it from below instead. The person helping you should have clean hands without lotion. Keep powder and a damp tissue ready, but use them on your skin, not on the fabric. There is more styling advice in the FAQ on beauty and styling.

How do I avoid white deodorant marks on my wedding dress?

You avoid deodorant marks on the wedding dress by putting deodorant on in good time so it is completely dry, and by choosing one that is not white and creamy. If it happens anyway, do not rub hard: a dry nylon stocking or a piece of the dress's own fabric removes most of it if you rub lightly. Water makes it worse. Avoid spray tan the same morning, because it rubs off in exactly the same place. There is more advice about the morning before the ceremony in the FAQ on beauty and styling.

Can my perfume stain the wedding dress?

Yes, perfume can stain the wedding dress, because alcohol and oils can leave yellow or dark marks on satin and silk, and the marks only appear later. Spray the perfume on your skin before the dress goes on, and keep the bottle away from the fabric all day. If you want the scent close by, put it in your hair or behind your ears, not on your neck just above the neckline. If marks appear anyway, you can read about cleaning the wedding dress.

Who should help me get into my wedding dress on the day?

Choose one specific person to help you into the wedding dress, and tell her in good time instead of counting on someone being there. If the dress has a lace-up back, she should have tried it at least once, because it is hard to guess how tight it should be. Show her how the train is bustled up and how the dress comes off in the evening. Feel free to bring her along when you go for a fitting.

How long does it take to get into the wedding dress in the morning?

It takes 15 to 30 minutes to get into the wedding dress with a helper, and longer if there is a lace-up back, many buttons or a petticoat. Set aside time for it in the plan, and do it before the photographer takes detail shots, not at the same time. Practise the order once at home: underwear, stockings, dress, shoes and veil. Then the morning becomes calm instead of a scramble. Plan the rest of the morning with our planning FAQ.

How do I steam my wedding dress when we are staying at a hotel?

At the hotel you steam the wedding dress by hanging it in the bathroom, closing the door and running a hot shower for ten minutes, so the steam loosens most of the creases. Keep the dress away from the water. If you have a steamer with you, steam from the inside, never with an iron against the fabric, and test a spot that does not show first. Do not steam close to lace and beading. Read more about steaming under cleaning the wedding dress.