How to Preserve Your Wedding Veil

If you're a sucker for sentiment, then you'll want this important big-day accessories to remain pristine forever.

sofi ben camp wedding veil
Photo: Jamie Mercurio

Family and friends have probably stressed the importance of having your wedding dress cleaned and preserved, but it's not the only element of your bridal attire that deserve a little post-nuptial attention. If you wore a veil, you should also bring it to the pros. What goes into preserving a wedding veil? To get the answers, we caught up with John Mahdessian, owner of Madame Paulette, a New York City specialty dry cleaning service. Since he employs experts well-versed in the art of stain-removal and restoration, Mahdessian is in the unique position to share the most important steps all new brides need to take in order to ensure their veil stands the test of time. Here, how to get it right.

Whatever you do, don't DIY.

While there are plenty of DIY options out there, if you really want your veil to look beautiful forever, it's worth it to leave it to a professional. "One of the most common mistakes made with veil preservation is placing it in a so-called vacuum sealed bag instead of a specialized preservation box," Mahdessian explains. "Think about it: If something is truly vacuum sealed, it means all the air is sucked out, which means you would have a crushed veil in a bag." Spending more money post-wedding is probably the last thing you want to do, but it's an investment you'll be thankful for in the years to come, especially if you've been hoping your veil could become a family heirloom to be passed down to future generations.

Timing is key.

Now that you understand that the professional route is the way to go, you may be wondering how long you have to send the veil out. While you certainly shouldn't put your preservation efforts off for too long, getting your veil preserved is something Mahdessian says can wait until at least after the honeymoon-with one exception. "If there are stains, there's more of a sense of urgency to clean and preserve it because stains will oxidize, which makes them more difficult to remove as time goes by," he explains. So, give your veil a once-over before jet-setting away to determine if it needs to be spot-treated by a pro or if it can await your return.

Treat it like a person.

If you're wondering where to keep your veil, find the room you'd most like to stay in, suggests Mahdessian. Climate-controlled, room temperature space? Perfect. Stuffed in a corner behind forgotten holiday decorations? Not so much. While you're biding your time before sending it out, follow Mahdessian's expert packing method: "Remove any ornamentation to prevent any tarnishing or cross contamination, create soft folds as you layer the veil with acid-free tissue to buffer the creases."

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