Where to store the dress? - Smoke smell

Do you have any sisters or a close friend that could store it (maybe your MOH, if you have one)?

You should make room in your apartment. Have a closet clean-out, move things around to different places and enact some creative storage solutions to get that dress in your closet! Keep it away from the chain smokers, for sure.

Note My family and wedding party are out of state.

^ ^ dancingbearbride - drycleaners store things, but make sure you pick a reputable one, and preferably IMO a 'green' one so there are no ambient chemicals in the air that could give an off-smell. After 8 months, it may inevitably have a bit of a musty smell - there are drycleaners that offer "ozone" treatments for clothing that removes all smells and freshens them without damaging the fibers.

I recommend to pick it up T-8 weeks before the wedding, and have an appointment with a bridal seamstress to allow sufficient time for alterations and to have it steamed/pressed if necessary.

Are you getting alterations done? I know sometimes if you go in to get your alterations started, they will store the dress for you until it is completed. 10 months is kind of a long time to store it at the alterations place though too.

I stuck mine in the dress cover in my daughters closet lol. I was initially going to have my SIL (brothers wife) store it in hers but I rather have it home with me .

I will likely have this same problem, as we have a 1 bedroom apartment with limited storage as well. I will probably move boxes/things I don't need to have at my apartment to my parent's house (also a smoker's house) and make room for my dress. Could that be a good option for you?

Do you have a furrier in your area? Regardless of your view on wearing fur, they take proper storage very seriously and many if not all of them offer cold storage for a fee. I would choose fur storage over dry cleaner storage if I had the choice.

Since, I also live with FH my mom will be storing it for me. My mom purchased my dress, took me to my 1st fitting. So, I asked when we pick it up on the 8th if she can just take it straight to her house.

I know you mentioned your family lives OOT, but you can always ship it to someone you REALLY trust (MOH) and have them store it if they have room. I shipped a wedding dress (it was pretty huge- Kitty Chen Ginger- if you want to look it up) and they only charged me a little over $20 for standard shipping. They packed it up and all for me. The bride who received it said it came in perfect. Just a little wrinkle, but that is a very easy fix!

I actually purchased that dress when we first got engaged, but when we didn't start planning I decided to just sell it until we were going to plan, if anyone is curious why I would sell a brand new wedding dress. I almost regret it, because it was gorgeous! I love my dress too, but the train isn't as long as I would have wanted it to be- like my 1st dress.

Anywho, maybe that could be an option for you.

I would find some solution to keep it with me. I live in a small one bedroom too. Can you shift items around- put stuff that's hanging in a closet in drawers or boxes and hand the dress? Hang it on the back of a door? It will be temporary