Wedding Dress Mishaps: What To Do When Emergencies Happen

Want to make sure that wedding dress mishaps don’t ruin your wedding? This post has you covered!

Imagine this. It’s your wedding day. Things are exciting. Emotions are high. Everything is perfect, until something goes wrong with your wedding dress. What could have been done to prevent something from happening? What can you do next? No one wants an issue with their wedding gown on their wedding day. How do you fix it?

The thing is, wedding dress mishaps happen. In fact, they can be super common. However, the good news is that they are almost always fixable. The key is to stay calm and be prepared. By planning ahead, you can handle just about anything that comes up with your wedding dress with minimal stress and a lot of grace. You just need to know what to plan for.

Wedding Dress Mishaps: What To Do When Emergencies Happen

This post is going to share some of the most common wedding dress mishaps, and give you tips on what to do when emergencies happen. In some cases, you’ll need the right product available. In others, you’ll need to plan ahead or take actions before your wedding. Remember, if something happens, it’s not the end of the world. Almost everything can be fixed.

Let’s get into it!

THE BROKEN ZIPPER PANIC

Zippers can cause wedding dress mishaps, and they aren’t fun.

Whether the zipper is broken, gets caught on itself, or just gets stuck, they can really ruin the vibe when they don’t work correctly. If you find your zipper isn’t cooperating, try some soap or a graphite pencil to help loosen it. If the zipper is broken, you may may be able to seal your dress with safety pins, or just cover that spot with your veil. And, if you have time, you may be able to see a tailor or bridal boutique for an emergency stitching.

How to prevent this: Zipper mishaps aren’t easy to prevent, but you can do a test run. Always make sure your zippers zip ahead of the wedding, so you have time to get them fixed if there’s an issue. Keep soap, a graphite pencil, safety pins, and the number of an emergency tailor handy as well.

MAKEUP OR SPRAY TAN STAINS

Getting makeup or spray tan stains on white wedding dresses is so common.

I mean, the dress is white, isn’t it? Something is bound to smudge on it at some point.

If this happens to you, you can do something about it. Most stains will come out, or at least become less noticeable, if you use a white cloth or cotton pad with a little baby powder or chalk to neutralize marks right away. If the makeup was oil-based, blot the stain with a dry paper towel, then dab with cornstarch or baking soda. Avoid the temptation to put water on it or rub it aggressively, which can spread the stain.

How to prevent this: To avoid this wedding dress mishap, be super careful around your dress. Put on a dress shield or place a silk scarf over your face while getting dressed. Let your spray tan settle for a couple days before you wear your gown. Do what you can to avoid the issue in the first place.   

A TEAR OR RIP IN THE FABRIC

Tears and rips can happen whenever you’re dealing with delicate fabrics.

Maybe your dress got caught on something. Perhaps a heel caught a hem or a seam popped while you were dancing. It happens.

If you experience a tear or rip in your wedding dress, emergency sewing kits are your friend. You can sew your dress from the inside using tiny stitches with a matching thread. You can also use fashion tape or double-sided toupee tape for invisible support. If you have a tulle layer, you can trim uneven parts instead of trying to sew it up. Chances are no one will notice.

How to prevent this: To help combat this wedding dress mishap, have a small sewing kit and a person who knows how to sew on standby. And be careful!

A SPILL RIGHT BEFORE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE

As mentioned earlier, stains happen. And they suck.

I know that when I wear white clothes in general, they attract spills. No bueno. Wearing all white? Expensive? Fancy? Important? That’s like a gravitational pull for the worst of the worst.

If you are going to drink red wine, coffee, or any sort of messy food while wearing your wedding dress, you need to be prepared. For starters, try to cover yourself so if something does spill it won’t land on your dress. If you missed that step, or it’s not feasible, have the right tools on hand.

How to prevent this: First, know that blotting is better than rubbing. Using a dry cloth at first, followed by cold water if needed, a lot can come out. Club soda can also work wonders. When in a big pinch, see if you can cover the stain with your bouquet or veil. Get creative.

YOUR DRESS DOESN’T FIT ON THE BIG DAY

What about wedding dress mishaps with how your dress looks on you? For example, it doesn’t fit on your wedding day?

With all the stress leading up to your wedding, it’s very possible that your dress may be too light or too loose on your wedding day due to weight loss or gain. It’s also possible that your dress wasn’t altered correctly. Either way, it can be really stressful.

How to prevent this: If your dress is too tight, see if you can use a corset back converter or a panel insert to bridge the gap. Be sure to try on your dress at least a few days before the wedding to insure you have time to build something in, if needed. If your dress is too loose, you can get creative with fashion tape, safety pins inside the bodice, or adding temporary padding or folded fabric to fill you out. Don’t resort to starving yourself or binging food to try and fit. That isn’t healthy, and it likely won’t work.

BRA STRAP OR SHAPEWEAR MALFUNCTION

No one wants their undergarments showing while they are wearing their wedding dress. At least, most of us don’t.

It’s so common for a bra strap to slip out, shapewear to roll down or bunch, or underwear lines to become visible under thin fabric. Luckily, there are easy fixes out there. Fashion tape can hold straps in place. Seamless shapewear or bodysuits designed for bridal wear are usually pretty solid choices. And, of course, if underwear doesn’t look great, you can consider going commando as a last resort.

How to prevent this: To help avoid undergarment wedding dress mishaps, test your full outfit out ahead of your wedding day. Bring the items you’ll wear underneath to your final fitting, and see if your alterations person has any suggestions. Plan ahead, and you’ll look incredible day-of.

DRESS WRINKLES AND CREASES

Wedding dresses are a pain to store and transport. They can be bulky, they can be sensitive, and they may be prone to wrinkles when transported.

If your wedding dress has wrinkles or creases, you have options. First is to leave it in a steamy bathroom for about half an hour. Most dresses will relax in the steam. Additionally, most dresses, with the right fabrics, will respond to a handheld steamer, just avoid any lace or embellishments. If you are having a destination wedding, ask your hotel about steaming services. You never know what others may be able to take care of for you.

How to prevent this: To help prevent wrinkles, transport your dress in a garment bag and always hang it immediately. Letting it relax will help.

SOMETHING BREAKS—A BUTTON, STRAP, OR EMBELLISHMENT

With all the beads, buttons, fabric, and extras placed on gowns, it’s not a surprise when something breaks.

The key to combating these wedding dress mishaps is to be prepared. If a button falls off, having extra buttons and thread will come in very handy. If something comes off the dress, safety pins or thread can help place it back on. Sometimes embellishments, like belts, may get lost, but a strategically placed veil or bouquet can help disguise any gap.

How to prevent this: To avoid these mishaps, you need to plan ahead and be prepared. Have your alterations person go over all buttons and fastenings to make sure they are in place. And, have the right tools on hand just in case.

THOUGHTS ON WEDDING DRESS MISHAPS

Friends, wedding dress mishaps happen. And while they can be incredibly stressful in the moment, most are fixable, or at least manageable. Give yourself peace of mind with a properly stocked emergency kit, a cool head, and some helpful people around you. Remember that if something happens to your wedding dress, things will be okay. Your wedding will still be amazing. Happy wedding planning!

More On Wedding Gowns From Hummingbird Wedding Advice 

9 Things You Should Do Before You Put On Your Wedding Dress

Should You Wear More Than One Wedding Dress?

Pros and Cons of Renting Your Wedding Dress

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