The warm weather and long days make summer the ideal season for an outdoor wedding. However, along with scenic sunsets and vibrant vistas can come mud, muck, and rain. If you plan on an outdoor wedding, take a look at what you can do to protect your dress from the elements.

Ask for Help

Dragging your dress along behind you isn't an ideal option. Whether mud is on the ground, dirt, or grass, the outdoor floor can ruin the bottom of your white gown.

Instead of trying to lift and carry your gown and walk gracefully at the same time, ask for help. Your bridesmaids aren't just responsible for throwing a shower and bachelorette party. They're here for you - all day long.

Ask your maid of honor (or a few bridesmaids, if needed) to lift and carry the back of your gown as you walk. Your friends and family will almost be certainly happy to oblige.

Tailor the Dress Correctly

Even though a train should trail behind you, sweeping out across the grown, the front shouldn't billow out too. Holding the back of your dress off the ground is usually easy for your bridesmaids. But asking for a 360 assist isn't always an option.

Make sure the dress isn't too long in the front or on the sides. While you don't need to heighten the hem excessively, talk to the tailor about creating an ideal outdoor length all around.

Use an Aisle Runner

Aisle runners aren't just for indoor events. Covering an outdoor aisle with a path of fabric can transform the wedding's aesthetic and protect your dress.

Before choosing or using a runner:



• Check the ground. Covering the ground creates a visibly even surface. But it can also mask bumps, holes, and ridges. Avoid trip hazards by choosing an obstacle-free surface, making sure the ground is completely level under the runner.
• Pick a smooth, but not sleek, surface. The ground isn't the only possible trip-and-fall hazard. A highly textured runner or one that's silky smooth can cause you to slip too.
• Select a color palette. An aisle runner adds to your wedding décor. Choose a complimentary color that coordinates with other hues (such as drapery on outdoor tents) and doesn't overpower you or your dress.

Avoid all ceremony-related dress dirt by extending the runner past the actual aisle. Start a few feet back and end at the altar, gazebo, or wherever else you get married.

Consult a Professional

How can you protect your dress best? If you can't answer this question, don't worry. Wedding dress stress is an added headache you don't need right now.

With a keepsake quality garment, professional help is an option you shouldn't skip. A cleaner with specialized expertise in preserving wedding dresses can:

• Help to protect the gown before you wear it. While plenty of DIY fabric protectors are commercially available, spraying the dress's delicate fabric with just anything off the store's shelves won't do. Talk to a professional about the right protector to pick.
• Offer expert tips. The expert has plenty of experience repairing and restoring ruined gowns. Ask for advice on what to watch out for and what to do in the event of an outdoors-related accident.
• Clean the dress after the wedding. Even the best plans can fall short. If you do get dirt, grass stains, or other marks on your dress, bring the gown to the professional as soon as possible. Never attempt to clean the dress in the washing machine or with stain-stick products.

Along with cleaning your dress, a professional can preserve it. This service turns your once-in-a-lifetime gown into a forever memory.

Do you need help preparing, cleaning, or preserving your memory-making dress? Contact Crystal Cleaning Center for more information.