With all the planning that goes into a wedding, it’s only natural that you’d want treasured souvenirs to remember the day. If you plan on handing your wedding gown down through generations, donating it, or repurposing the material into a veil, it is critical that it be kept in perfect shape. Even though you won’t be pulling your wedding gown out from storage frequently, it is a significant part of your story that should be preserved, just like your engagement ring.

You need to think in advance about how to properly clean, protect and store your wedding gown after the big day. Preservation is a step-by-step process. Not sure where to start? This piece focuses on the dos and don’ts of storing your wedding gown.