How To Care For Satin Wedding Dresses

Behold, the chic, ever-stylish, and ever-versatile category of satin wedding dresses. They’re romantic, sophisticated, and oh-so super fancy. (When else do you have the chance to wear such a luxe, covetable fabric?) And above all, they’re truly timeless. If you’ve had your eye on satin, Mikado, or silk-like gowns for your big day, you may have questions. How to take care of a satin wedding dress? How does it hold up to weather? And what about cleaning and dewrinkling? We have the perfect rundown of style, pricing, and treatment inspo below! 

Are Satin Wedding Dresses In Style?

We see it season after season, vibe after vibe — satin wedding dresses are always in style! Recent reports have seen a major uptick in brides donning satin wedding gowns on their big day, and for very good reason. Satin is a luxe fabric with a beautiful glossy finish. It photographs beautifully. It’s wrinkle-resistant, AKA less time steaming it before you walk down the aisle. It’s also made with a thicker fabric, allowing it to hold up over time and be wind-resistant for outdoor weddings. And of course, satin is a vibrant choice if you’re looking for a colorful wedding dress. Dive into our blog Colorful Wedding Dresses For A Unique Bridal Look to see examples in action. 

Long story short, if you’re looking for a wedding dress that is luxe, durable, and trendy, satin is a perfect choice!

How Much Is A Satin Wedding Dress?

PC: Brey Fuentes Films

Here at Maggie Sottero, we have satin wedding dresses in all three of our collections that meet different price points. Start with our more budget-friendly line, Rebecca Ingram, featuring dresses ranging from $1059-$1799. From there, our main line, Maggie Sottero, has something for everyone with dresses ranging from $1349-$3299. Finally, our most luxurious line, Sottero & Midgley, ranges from $1749-$4299. Curious about which line is right for you? Here’s a little more about each:

Rebecca Ingram

The Rebecca Ingram Bride is drawn to the simple pleasures in life. She’s flirty, sexy, fun, and maybe even a little bit retro. She knows who she is and what she wants and has a zest for life that makes her the center of any social circle. For her wedding, she’ll be too busy dancing the night away with her partner and making memories with the people she loves to be worrying about keeping a $5,000 dress pristine. Don’t get us wrong, no one is more deserving of a stunning gown than big-hearted Rebecca brides — but labels and price tags just might not be their priority. They find their dreams come true in a Rebecca Ingram wedding dress, the perfect balance of style and affordability.

Maggie Sottero

The Maggie Sottero bride values authenticity above all. They look for a gown that is gorgeous yet classic, effortless yet intentional. These stunning brides want a gown that perfectly fits who they are because they know that life is too short to be anything but happy. They want a gown that brings to life the wedding day that they’ve dreamed of since they were a little girl. A gown that fits their unique personality and vision for their wedding… That makes them feel like the truest version of themselves.

Sottero and Midgley

The Sottero and Midgley bride is a glamorous it-girl with a natural taste for high fashion, looking for the ultimate one-of-a-kind statement gown that will rise to meet her fearless essence. The Midgley Bride doesn’t follow trends, she sets them. She is the moment, and she’s ready to turn heads and drop jaws. Midgley brides look for elevated styles that create a luxe red carpet feel with dramatic details and opulent fabrics. They want to incorporate cutting-edge fashion into their wedding day for an impact as unforgettable as they are.

Getting an idea of which label speaks to you and matches your budget? Great! We’re ready to dive into more into fabulous satin wedding dresses from our latest collections. 

Do Satin Gowns Crease?

PC: Asha Bailey Photography

Satin, a staple for wedding dresses, is fairly crease-resistant, although creasing is always a possibility for any wedding dress if it is not stored and cared for properly. Let’s talk about how we can prevent and fix it…

How To Unwrinkle Satin Wedding Dresses

Wondering if you can use a steamer? When it comes to unwrinkling satin wedding dresses, it’s good to know that they are safe to steam. Don’t hesitate to use a hand-held steamer to remove any wrinkles before you walk down the aisle.

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to use a handheld steamer, which is our recommended method of removing wrinkles:

• Fill the steamer with clean water, turn it onto a low setting, and turn the dress inside out. Use long downward strokes along the fabric while steaming. Test the steamer on a small area of the dress first to avoid damaging the material. You can steam the dress the morning of the wedding or at a bridal shop before the event.

There are also a few other methods of unwrinkling satin wedding dresses if you don’t have a handheld steamer:

• Iron: Use an iron on a low heat setting with steam to remove wrinkles and deep creases.
• Hot shower: Hang the dress in the bathroom on the back of the closed door while the shower is running and let the steam accumulate.
• Wrinkle-release spray: Spray the fabric with a wrinkle-release spray that contains fabric softeners to relax the fibers and help them dry smooth. (Make sure to test on a small area of the fabric first.)
• Hairdryer: Run a hairdryer on a low setting over the fabric to smooth out minor wrinkles and creases.
• Hanging: Hang the dress on a hanger in a cool, dark place and wait a few days for the wrinkles to fall out. 

How To Take Care Of Satin Wedding Dresses

PC: Pat Furey

• Before your wedding day, we recommend you keep your gown hung up inside a garment bag to prevent any wrinkling or other damage. Making sure to transport your gown carefully within a garment bag to and from alterations appointments or to your venue on your wedding day is also important for preventing damage to your gown. Satin wedding dresses should be stored in cool, dry places to prevent moisture from ruining your dress.
• When storing your wedding dress once your big day is over, you can place it loosely folded in paper inside a garment bag or box in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. This will help preserve your satin wedding dress for as long as possible.

How To Clean Satin Dresses

PC: Shannon Bryn Montgomery

Whether you need to spot-clean your gown before your wedding, or get it professionally cleaned after the celebration, it’s important to know how satin should be cleaned. A dry cleaner is always a good option, but depending on the soil level and care instructions, you may be able to get away with hand washing. 

If hand washing, soak the dress in a basin of lukewarm water and mild detergent for about 10 minutes. Gently agitate the water to create suds, but avoid rubbing or wringing the dress. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water until all soap is removed, then hang to dry. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources, and don’t hang the dress by its straps or embellishments. 

When washing satin, you can also try these tips:

• Treat stains before washing with a tested spot cleaner
• Use cold or lukewarm water
• Avoid fabric softener, bleach, and harsh detergents
• Tumble dry on low heat or air-dry in the dryer

10 Of Our Favorite Satin Wedding Dresses

Love the features of satin wedding dresses? Here are beautiful styles from our latest collections:

Sexy Wedding Gowns

• Marilyn by Sottero and Midgley is a work of art in geometric satin. The origami bodice is both classic and fashion-forward, a gorgeous upgrade to a vintage Art Deco-inspired motif. 

• Fabienne by Sottero and Midgley is a satin wedding dress in a curve-hugging silhouette made with ultra-structured satin and beaded trim along the neckline. A stunning choice for a black-tie bridal aesthetic. 

• Jett by Rebecca Ingram is an effortlessly sexy silhouette. This slip satin wedding dress design is a little boudoir, a little 90s grunge, and soooo comfortable for an outdoor wedding.

Classic Bridal Dresses

• Ambrose by Maggie Sottero takes a classic ballgown silhouette and adds a touch of edgy glamor. The asymmetrical neckline is the perfect flourish for satin. 

• Selena by Maggie Sottero creates that beautiful balance of effortless and formal. The silhouette is classic and the satin creates a luxe, regal feel — so versatile for a range of venues, seasons, and aesthetics. (See similar styles Selena Lane by Maggie Sottero and Selena Vida by Maggie Sottero for variations in tailoring and coverage!)

• Missy by Rebecca Ingram makes a daring statement with exposed boning in the corset of your satin wedding dress… These romantic flourishes create a boudoir-inspired vibe without losing the romance and refinement of the fit-and-flare silhouette. (Add the Missy Detachable Sleeves for a playful flourish!)

Unique Bridal Gowns

• Ayan by Maggie Sottero is a regal, ultra-glamorous A-line with tiered, ruched layers in the skirt. We adore how this style fuses high-end vintage vibes with fresh and modern romance. 

• Davie by Rebecca Ingram is a satin fit-and-flare with lace flourishes. The motifs create beautiful texture and shimmer, a nature-inspired vibe that’s irresistible for garden celebrations. This style also features matching accessories:
  • The Davie Detachable Sleeves offer a lovely way to add coverage and visual interest. They’re soft, boho, and unspeakably sexy. 
  • The Davie Veil adds ethereal dimension to the fitted silhouette of this satin wedding dress, completing the floral motifs and airy shimmer. 

• Emmanuelle by Maggie Sottero showcases another beautiful way to combine satin and vintage-inspired tailoring. The dropped basque waist looks like something out of a fairytale, yet it’s totally fresh and modern for a more edgy celebration. 

• Satin wedding dress Vercille by Sottero and Midgley plays up the drama with a tiered overskirt with lush, structured layers of satin. It’s an irresistible statement for a formal celebration vibe.
  • Similar style Vercille Lane by Sottero and Midgley features the same overskirt treatment over a short skirt. It’s so chic and flirty! 

Ready to shop satin wedding dresses with your crew? Head to an Authorized Retailer near you to browse all your favorites. Sending you all the good vibes for finding your dream wedding dress! Happy shopping!

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