If you are looking to your own wedding gown preservation, then acid free paper is a requirement. You must stuff the bodice of the wedding gown, and any other garment that you are preserving with acid free tissue paper
There are different types of acid free paper on the market. The kind needed for preservations is soft and thin. It must have no buffering agents and contain no lignin. A pH of 7.0 means it's acid free. You can also use it in between the pages of photographs, or wrap woolen or silk material because it is soft. It is the best thing to use for cushioning material. Damage to the item in handling and storage is eliminated.
An acid free preservation box is also a requirement for wedding dress preservations. You will need to line the bottom and sides of the box with tissue. You must also use the tissue to stuff the sleeves of the dress. Another item needed is an acid free bust form which you will line with the tissue. If you can't find one, you can always use wadded up acid free paper to shape the bodice. After you have shaped it you will then carefully place the gown in the box front side down and hanging over the edges of the box.
Lastly, the bodice gets folded back over placed in the box to make it look good. The sleeves of the gown should be stuffed with rolled up tissue and placed over the bodice so they look natural. If the bodice is plain and the train is fancy you may move the train around so it may be seen better.
You then arrange the bodice in the box so that it looks natural. Any fancy parts should be situated so that they show. Stuff the sleeves to highlight any beading or appliqus and lay them over the bodice.
In order to keep the gown from sliding around inside the box you will need to stuff more tissue paper along side the gown inside the box. Muslin will serve the same purpose. You have now packed and protected your gown so it may be safely stored. You may use a Tyvek gown bag instead of a box if you prefer
Sam has been professionally preserving wedding gowns for over 20 years. Come visit his website to learn more about acid free tissue paper and wedding gown preservation.
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