Post # 1
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
I like to be prepared. My dress is getting steamed at the tailors right now but it will have to travel 14 hours in a packed car this weekend and will probably need to be resteamed. I did my homework and found a place that will steam it for me for 30 bucks. I just realized however that I won’t have time to take it there and then wait and pick it up to wear for my bridal portraits. I was looking online and found steamers at some local department stores and am now contemplating purchasing on.
Is it a bad idea to steam your own dress? Can I mess anything up?
Post # 3
Member
655 posts
Busy bee
I haven’t tried it myself but I have heard you have to be really careful because if you do it wrong you can get water droplets on the material which may leave spots. Personally I wouldn’t risk it myself!
Post # 4
Member
3126 posts
Sugar bee
Do not overfill the steamer, it will shoot water. Be sure to steam from the inside out, go underneath the lining and steam up so it doesnt ruin the beading (if you steam stones or sequins, sometimes it can take the shine off of them). Wear an oven mitt so you don’t burn yourself. If it is a new steamer, it should be clean so it would have an sediment in it that will turn the steam a weird color (like brown) and stain the dress. Continuiously move the steamer and do not hold it on one spot for more than a few seconds. If we hold the steamer at work below about waist height or tip the nozzle down or at a weird angle it also shoots water. I usually stand back and hold the dress out so that it is taut and never lower the steamer nozzle belove chest height. I would also recommend steaming some less important garments first so you get the hang of it.
Phew. Sorry if that was long winded. If I think of any other advice I will let you know. You should be fine.
Post # 5
Member
3126 posts
Sugar bee
Oh! Be sure if you try to steam something else first none of the dye comes off on your steamer that you could transfer over to your wedding dress. In all of my years steaming, I have only had one item leak dye. I steam all of our prom dresses at work and all of my clothes at home so I have a lot of experience, so that was truly an exception, but I just wanted to warn you that it *couuld* happen.
Post # 6
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
Eeks! I’m not sure how I’m feeling about this anymore…
Post # 7
Member
610 posts
Busy bee
I wonder if you could leave it hanging in the middle of the bathroom with the shower on hot to create a “steam room”. I’ve used this method for other garments, but not a wedding dress. Does your hotel have a concierge service that could do the drop off/pick up for you? I would check that option first.
Post # 8
Member
2600 posts
Sugar bee
@MissTatas: had great advice!!!
I’ve had really good success using commercial style steamers that had a clean, lintfree white tshirt wrapped around the end and secured with a rubber band. Helps keep water from dripping or pooling.
Try hanging the dress from the top of a door, have someone else help pull it taut, and it’s much better to go over an area many, many times lightly than to hovering over one spot for too long.
If you buy a new one, fill it, use it, and empty it to ensure any gunky stuff and the burn-y smell that happens with new plastic hoses is gone before using it on your dress.
If the steamer doesn’t have a long pole that’s tall that it attaches to to rest on, be extra careful and try not to put the hose down and pick it back up or it will drip.
You can also use it on a veil if you’re wearing it – put a sheet or tshirt over the veil and it should loosen up the wrinkles.
Good luck!
Post # 9
Member
3126 posts
Sugar bee
I train in high school girls who have never touch a cleaning product or iron in their life how to steam all the time. I promise it is super simple once you get the hang of it. Could you ask a nice lady at the bridal store where you bought it and are having it steamed to show you or give you some pointers? Maybe call them up and ask if you can come in some time when they are slow? I have no problem doing this for my customers.
If you are still unsure of yourself a month or so before your wedding, I would make an appointment to have it professionally done. Do you know someone who could drop it off or pick it up for you?
Post # 10
Member
3126 posts
Sugar bee
@thewheelsonthebus: Oh good call on the white tshirt!! We use a piece of cheeseclothe and tape it on with packing tape haha. It doesnt come off easy! That helps with dripping or any risk of stains.
Post # 11
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
@MissTatas: Thanks for all of your advice. Glad I asked!! I have some old prom dresses that I think I’m going to practice on!
Post # 12
Member
1690 posts
Bumble bee
wherever you are staying as soon as you get there, run a hot bath, and hang the dress in the bathroom, then do it again and again til the creases drop.
Post # 13
Member
379 posts
Helper bee
I steamed my own dress, and it wasn’t a big deal at all! However, just make sure you’ve used a steamer before so you don’t freak out steaming your own dress on your wedding day… that wouldn’t be any fun.
