Steam or Iron a Bridesmaid Dress Without Damaging It

Quick answer

Steam from the inside out and keep the iron off the fabric unless the care label allows it. Hang the dress on a padded hanger, steam in sections from lining to hem, and let it dry completely before the wedding. For chiffon and satin, press only through a pressing cloth on the lowest safe setting, or skip the iron and steam instead.

Read the care label before you touch the dress

The care label is the only reliable guide for your specific dress. Look for the fiber content and any iron symbol, then set your iron or steamer to the lowest temperature that matches. If the label says dry clean only, do not steam or press at home; take it to a professional who can handle the fabric and any beading. Kennedy Blue dresses arrive with their own care instructions, so check those first. If you cannot find the label or it is missing, treat the dress as delicate and steam only from the inside.

Set up a safe steaming station

Hang the dress on a padded hanger that supports the shoulders, not a thin wire hanger that can leave marks. Use a steamer with a hose or a handheld model, and fill it with distilled water to avoid mineral spots. Work in a room with good airflow and keep the steamer head at least six inches from the fabric. Never steam a dress while wearing it; the heat and moisture can burn you and stretch the fabric.

Steam from the inside out in sections

Turn the dress inside out if the lining allows, or work from the underside of each layer. Start at the lining and move to the outer fabric, steaming in slow passes from top to bottom. Hold the steamer still for a second or two on stubborn creases, then move on. Let each section dry before you move it, and do not press the steamer head directly against beading, sequins, or lace; steam around them instead.

Press chiffon and satin only with a pressing cloth

If wrinkles remain after steaming, use a cool iron with a pressing cloth between the iron and the dress. For chiffon, place the dress flat on an ironing board and press lightly with a low setting, lifting the iron rather than sliding it. For satin, use a slightly higher setting but still low, and always test on an inside seam first. Never iron directly on the fabric, and never use steam from the iron on satin, which can leave water spots.

Remove wrinkles from a bridesmaid dress without an iron

If you do not have a steamer, hang the dress in a steamy bathroom after a hot shower for 15 to 20 minutes. The ambient moisture relaxes light creases in chiffon and similar fabrics. You can also use a wrinkle-release spray made for delicate fabrics, but test it on an inside hem first. Do not use a hair dryer, which can overheat and damage the fabric.

Handle beading, lace, and structured bodices with care

Beaded lace and structured bodices need extra caution. Steam these areas from a distance, or hold the steamer several inches away and let the steam drift onto the fabric. If the dress has boning or a structured bodice, avoid pressing the seams flat; you can crush the shaping. For heavily beaded dresses, spot-steam only and let the dress hang to dry completely before wearing.

Step-by-step: steam and press safely

1. Check the care label and fiber content: Read the label for iron and steam symbols, and note any dry-clean-only instruction. If the label is missing, treat the dress as delicate. If it says dry clean only, stop and call a professional.
2. Hang the dress on a padded hanger: Use a hanger that supports the shoulders and allows the dress to hang freely. Fill your steamer with distilled water. Avoid wire hangers that can leave shoulder marks.
3. Steam from the inside out, top to bottom: Work on the lining first, then the outer fabric, keeping the steamer head six inches away. Pause on stubborn creases. Never touch the steamer head to beading or lace.
4. Press only through a pressing cloth if needed: Use the lowest iron setting that matches the fabric, and test on an inside seam. Lift the iron instead of sliding it. Skip the iron entirely on satin if you can steam instead.
5. Let the dress dry completely before wearing: Hang the dress in a dry, ventilated area for at least an hour after steaming. Any moisture left in the lining can cause new wrinkles. Do not put the dress in a garment bag until it is fully dry.

Product facts

• Milly: Milly is a chiffon bridesmaid dress with delicate pleats, a flowing back, and a structured shape. Chiffon responds well to steam, but the pleats and structure mean you should steam from the inside and avoid pressing the pleats flat.
• Etta Platinum: Etta Platinum features a short skirt, square neckline, bow straps, and pockets, with buttery-soft lining and boning for structure. The boning and lining require careful steaming; do not press the bodice flat, and steam the lining separately to avoid water marks on the outer fabric.
• Denver: Denver is a V-neck A-line wedding dress with flowing chiffon, secret pockets, and a delicate beaded lace back. The beaded lace back should be steamed from a distance or spot-steamed only, and the chiffon skirt can be steamed in sections to remove travel wrinkles.