Acid free paper is essential for wedding gown preservations. It is used to stuff the gown bodice and to protect the dress from wrinkles and hard creases when stored. The archival storage of textiles and garments also calls for acid free paper. Unbuffered tissue paper is the kind most conservators use. Collectibles such as Beanies should be placed in acid free paper. They need to be lightly wrapped and placed in an acid free chest or a small Tyvek bag.

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.

If you wish to use acid free paper to store a wedding gown you will also need an acid free preservation chest. You must first line this chest with the tissue. Stuff the sleeves of the gown using rolled up acid free paper. An acid free bust form covered with the tissue should also be used. An alternate method would be to stuff the bodice with wadded up tissue. You will then lay the gown face down in the box with much of it hanging out the sides.

Then you insert flat tissue to pad the folds and protect them from creasing. Next, you then carefully fold the train into the box while layering tissue paper into the folds and between the layers.

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.

Extra tissue will need to be wadded up and placed along the sides of the box to prevent the gown from sliding around. You may use muslin instead of tissue if you want. Now you can close the cover. You have protected your gown. A Tyvek wedding gown bag can be used 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 restoration.