A couple of weeks ago I picked up my dress, since it came in much too early to start alterations. My aunt- and uncle-to-be are kindly letting me keep it at their house, so that we can have the big surprise walk down the aisle! On the hanger, it looks like a giant pile of fabric, so only a couple of people know what it really looks like …

This left me with quite the predicament. How do you store a dress for six months? There's plenty of information on how to preserve a dress, but that's assuming you're not going to wear it for a long time. So as a PSA to my fellow brides to be, here's what I learned:

Store your dress in a fabric garment bag - not plastic. Something that breathes well. If it's for longer, store it in a paper box (think like a giant cake box, with no plastic window). I read the plastic could make the fabric moldy or smelly. Ew.

Storing it in a box is better for longer term. If you store it in a box, fold it accordion style and put acid-free tissue paper between the folds. I don't know what kind of paper that is, but the dry cleaner might have some.

Since this is only a few months (OK, a lot of months), keeping it in the garment bag works. Hang it by the annoying little dress straps that always pop out at inopportune times. Then wrap it in a plain, white, brand new, unwashed flat sheet. (That might be overkill, but whatever.) I bought a queen size for my dress, and twin for my veil, and they worked out pretty well. The idea is to keep the light out, but keep air moving.

Ultimately, it'll need to be steamed and pressed again. Seems like that should come with the alterations, though.