Steaming Your Dress On The Wedding Day
As a bride-to-be, one of the many details you'll be navigating in the lead-up to your big day is ensuring your wedding dress looks absolutely perfect. From the fabric to the fit, every element contributes to creating that dream bridal look you've been envisioning. However, there are a few factors that often get overlooked but can have a significant impact…let’s normalize steaming your dress before the wedding day.
First and foremost, let's address the purpose of steaming a wedding dress. Steaming is a common method used to remove wrinkles and freshen up fabrics, particularly delicate ones like silk, chiffon, and lace. It's a popular choice for brides looking to achieve that pristine, just-off-the-rack appearance for their gowns. However, when humidity comes into play, the dynamics change.
Now, before you start thinking I’m crazy, please take a moment to listen to what I’m going to say. As a beauty pro who has been in the wedding biz for 15+ years, I’ve seen some things behind the scenes that I want you to consider. I know! I know! I know! Steaming dresses on the wedding day is the new norm. But what if that could change? Consider this...
Humidity
That double-edged sword of weather conditions. While it can create a lush, tropical atmosphere or a refreshing summer breeze, it also has a notorious reputation for wreaking havoc on our carefully crafted hairdos and makeup looks. Steaming dresses in a room filled with natural heat from a room full of people moving around and talking, warm makeup lights, hot curling irons and blow dryers, and natural light from windows can produce a hot and humid environment.
Hair Reversion
Humidity affects hair primarily through its moisture contact. When the air is humid, it contains a higher level of water vapor, which can penetrate the hair shaft and disrupt its structure. For those with fine, curly, or wavy hair, this often means frizz—a common frustration during humid weather. You picked a wedding style that would work against the “humidity gods” therefore steaming your dress in the same room you’re getting your hair done in is a no-no. Your hair will slowly but surely swell, frizz, or even go limp.
Makeup Repellant
Brides with dry skin looove steam for hydration, but the increased moisture in the air can cause makeup to slide, and smudge off the skin, leading to a less-than-flawless finish. Foundation may appear streaky or patchy, eyeshadow can crease and fade, and mascara may smudge or run. Humidity can sometimes make it harder for products to set which is extremely important for brides who naturally sweat on their faces. I’ve experienced this first-hand when applying lashes to my bride in Mexico. It took forever for the adhesive to get tacky so that I could apply them.
It’s Hot
Put a bride, and 4 or more bridesmaids in a room with her mother and mother-in-law. Then add a makeup artist and a hairstylist along with their lights, blowdryers, and curling irons. Now, start steaming dresses in that room full of people and watch how quickly it will get hot and humid. It takes longer to cool a room filled with high levels of humidity and people so you’ll need a much larger room to keep heat levels down.
Prep Party
Why not have a “Prep Party” where everyone can try on and steam all dresses the week or night before to ensure everyone is ready? I’ve seen cases where the wrinkles didn’t come out because they set in the dress too long. And no, hanging the dress up in the bathroom and letting the shower steam the dress doesn’t work but it does waste water. Having a prep party can be fun aaand a way for you to make sure that everyone looks as great as you dreamed of.
