In her insightful article, “Quick Fixes for Wedding Dress Emergencies,” Sally of Wedding Gown Specialists shares practical tips to keep you calm and prepared for any last-minute gown issues. When it comes to your wedding day, the last thing you want to worry about is a dress mishap right? From loose buttons to unexpected spills, Sally offers expert advice to ensure you feel flawless as you walk down the aisle.

Photograph via Linda & Nick’s Elegant Romantic Wedding at Riverstone Estate

What could ever be more exciting than planning your wedding! Given all the wedding emergency kits you can buy, it’s even fun to shop for those little extras you might need on your wedding day.  But have you thought about the things your wedding dress might need?  What if something spills on it or a loop on your bustle breaks or you step on your gown and tear it?  Here are some things that could help.

Emergency: Fiber   

Be sure you know the fiber of your wedding dress or outfit!  Satin, crepe, chiffon, velvet, and all those other fabric names are just a way to describe how the fiber is woven.  In fact, if your gown is satin, the fiber itself might be cotton, silk, rayon, polyester or even nylon, and you need to know whether your gown is made from a natural fiber such as silk or one that’s artificial such as polyester because it makes a huge difference in case of a spill on the day of the wedding.  For example, silks and rayons, particularly silk and rayon velvets, are water-sensitive, and you can easily turn stains into permanent water spots.

Photograph via Athena & Kaushik’s Bright Classic Wedding at The Calile Hotel

Emergency: Wrinkles

If it’s really an emergency you won/t have time for the tried-and-true way to relax wrinkles by hanging your wedding dress or outfit in a steam-filled bathroom, and you run the risk of scorching your gown if you use an iron.  A portable hand steamer is your best bet for removing pesky wrinkles, and it’s something you can use whenever you travel, not just for your wedding.  Do cover the head of the steamer with a washcloth or towel and secure it with a rubber band or twist tie of some kind.  Then if the steamer “spits” water instead of steam, the cloth absorbs the extra moisture.

Photograph via Elly & Derek’s Garden Party Wedding at Austinvilla Estate

Emergency: Liquid Spill  

Unless the spill is truly major and makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably better leave the spot alone.  A natural fiber such as silk is hollow and absorbs the stain plus silk is so easily damaged, it’s better to try to hide the stain with baby powder than to try to remove the stain.  But an artificial fiber such as polyester is solid and very forgiving so you can have a go at it if you feel you must do something, If the spot is a water-soluble stain such as coffee, tea, or wine, put a towel behind the stain, and use another towel or absorbent cloth to dab the spot gently with cool water or club soda.  Do NOT rub hard or you will rub the finish away with the stain.  If the stain is blood, your own saliva can be surprisingly effective.

Photograph via Tuyet & Nathan’s Micro Wedding at The Sydney Opera House

Emergency: Make-up Spots  

Again, it’s better to hide stains on silk than to try to remove the stain.  Make-up, mascara, lipstick, and other greasy stains such as salad dressing are not water soluble and are much more difficult to remove, but you can use baby powder to mask the stain and absorb it, too.   On an artificial fiber such as polyester, you might try baby wipes, and there are also stain sticks you can buy that lift stains.  A volatile dry solvent such as lighter fluid works, too, but it can dissolve any dye that may have been used to color your gown.  Always test whatever you are going to use on an inside seam where it will not show if you damage the fabric.

Photograph via Ella & Gen’s Fun Party Wedding at Little Creatures Brewery

Emergency: Rips and Tears

If nothing else, be sure you have lots of safety pins on hand to hold together a broken bustle or secure a loose strap.  A mini sewing kit Is useful, of course, but safety pins are faster, and sometimes pinning a stain into a fold can hide stains better than a needle and thread.  Pin some extra safety pins near the hem inside your gown where you can easily find them.  If you run out of safety pins, you can use sticky tape, double-sided fabric tape or even staples, but staples can leave nasty holes in the fabric of your gown.

Photograph via Elizabeth & Michael’s Romantic Winter Wedding At Maleny Manor

Emergency: Sticky Zippers   

One last thing that can be good for you and good for your gown, too.  Try your chapstick on a stubborn zipper, but if that fails, go for your reliable friend, a safety pin.

Of course, there are lots of other things to have on hand that can help in an emergency, but these few, a steamer, baby powder, stain stick, safety pins, sewing kit and chapstick can solve most wedding gown problems.  And do remember, whatever the emergency, your friends and family are there to share the joy of your wedding day–not to look for stains or safety pins!

Photograph via Dharshana and Muneeb’s Romantic Garden Wedding at Beaumont House

A big thank you to Sally of Wedding Gown Specialists for imparting her invaluable wisdom on our Polka Dot Wisdom blog today! We loved the practical tips for handling wedding dress emergencies – perfect for those of you preparing for the big day this upcoming wedding season. With these helpful insights, you’ll be ready to face any last minute mishaps with confidence and grace.

About the author: Our members, represented in more than 500 cities around the world, offer very special care for wedding gowns, both old an d new.  Our award-winning gown care includes your personal inspection, a museum-quality container, and a written international guarantee.  Restorations return yellowed and stained vintage gowns to the true colour.  We also offer cleaning and pressing for your wedding day as well as destination wedding kits for travelling with your gown. Endorsed by Association of Bridal Consultants. We are pleased to announce that couples can now preserve the beauty of the planet along with their wedding gowns. We’ve established a Reforestation Fund™ and will provide support to the Arbor Day Foundation by planting a tree for every gown our dry-cleaning partners preserve. Celebrated in Australia as well as worldwide, Arbor Day Foundation is the largest members nonprofit dedicated to planting trees in neighbourhoods, communities, cities and forests around the world.