Keeping Your Train Clean

Most brides-to-be are aware of the to-dos and the not-to-dos when it comes to caring for the wedding dress itself but what about the train of the dresses, if you so happen to have opted for one?

Before the Wedding

Most trains come readily attached to wedding dresses so when it comes to storing such trains prior to the big day, it's pretty much the same as the advice your dressmaker or wedding dress designer would give you: store them in the garment bag that's been provided.

If the train you've picked happens to be extremely long, like the cathedral or royal train, then you should avoid hanging your wedding dress because the extra weight from the train can cause stress on the seams of the skirt and may even cause stretching or tearing. Instead, store the gown neatly in an acid-free storage box packed with tons of acid-free tissues; acid-free materials will prevent discoloration from occurring to both your gown and train. This storage method can also be applied in the case of a detachable train.

On the Wedding

Once your big day has arrived, it's time to showcase the gown and train that you've so lovingly cared for. To ensure that you continue to keep your train in pristine condition, lift your train up whenever you're walking. Long trains will require the help of your bridesmaids or flower girls but whatever the length, if the train isn't lifted it will turn into a huge dry mop and you never know what might be on the ground. You could, alternatively, bustle your train. Most wedding dresses with trains are accompanied by little loops, buttons or ribbons so as to allow brides to shorten their trains such that the length becomes the same of that of the wedding dress.

If, unfortunately, some food or wine spills on to the train, don't start stressing. A stain on a train made out of polyester or nylon can easily be rinsed out with water before blotting dry with a clean towel. A stain on a train made out of silk, rayon or acetate, on the other hand, requires extra care. To remove such a stain, carefully blot out the food or wine spills with a clean, dry towel but avoid from rubbing because such fabrics are more delicate and can be permanently damaged as a result. A spot cleaner will also come in handy so you may wish to have them close by, just in case!

After the Wedding

If you hope to pass down your wedding dress along with its train to a younger sister or even a future daughter, you will want to keep the train in good condition. Don't attempt to wash your train on your own and have them sent to the dry cleaners. Once you've gotten them back all clean and boxed in their acid-free boxes lined with acid-free tissues, avoid from chucking them in the basement or garage. Have them placed in your closet instead where it's neither too hot nor cold and where it isn't too damp or dry. With your wedding dress in sight whenever you open your closet doors, you'll be sure to remember to check on them every few months or years to ensure that they're still in great shape.

While caring for the train as well as the dress itself may be tedious, these steps are necessary in helping keep your special dress and train in tip-top condition. Who knows, one day you might just be able to watch your own daughter walk down the aisle in that very dress and that very train!

Posted by Anna K.