Your wedding gown is the most important garment you will ever own; it’s a symbol of your marriage's first bloom, a delicate piece of wearable art and destined to become a priceless heirloom cherished by your children and grandchildren. Preserving your white wedding gown for posterity requires diligent maintenance and careful attention to details to prevent fabric discoloration through the coming years.

Prevention is the first step to avoid yellowing in your wedding gown. Have your gown dry-cleaned immediately after use. Contact a reputable dry-cleaner that you trust beforehand and prearrange details for cleaning. Tell the cleaner what kinds of fabrics were used to make the garment, and, if possible, request that the cleaner remove metallic buttons, which can oxidize and rust during storage.

Take the gown to your dry-cleaner within 24 hours of wear; if this is not possible, arrange for a responsible person to take the gown to your dry-cleaner. The longer that soiled materials remain untreated, the more difficult it will be for your dry-cleaner to remove them. Stains may not be immediately apparent in the gown. Alcoholic beverages and body oils can dry clear, but they will turn brown or yellow over time.

Request that your dry-cleaner prepare the wedding gown for storage. Most dry-cleaners have access to acid-free boxes and acid-free tissue paper. If your preferred dry-cleaner does not offer this service, you may prepare the dress for storage yourself.

Line the acid-free garment-storage box with acid-free tissue paper. Gently lay the dress flat in the box. Wrap the gown in tissue paper, placing the paper in the sleeves and in any crevices to prevent fabric-on-fabric friction. Store your garment in a cool, dry space. Keep your garment in a dimly lit or dark space; light can cause yellowing in natural fibers.

Wedding-gown storage requires periodic garment checks. Remove your garment from storage once per year. Carefully examine the gown for signs of age, mildew, holes, stains and discoloration. Have all damages repaired by a professional dry-cleaner.