Wondering how to travel with your wedding dress? We’ll help you figure it out so you don’t totally wrinkle it all up! But first… you ARE on the list, right?! ;)

So, you’re planning on flying with your wedding dress and the thought just crossed your mind: how are you supposed to travel with your wedding dress WITHOUT messing it up?

You’ve come to the right place because we have the best tips on how to travel with your wedding dress including:

-can you take your wedding dress on a plane?
-how DO you transport your wedding dress?
-will your wedding dress count as your carry-on?
-what kind of garment bag should you use?

and…

-what is one thing you need to do once you are done traveling with your wedding dress?

We’ll answer all of that and more… grab a huge cup of coffee (I’m lovin’ this hazelnut blend today, btw) and let’s get to it!

Here’s how to get your beautiful wedding dress to your travel destination looking it’s very best.

1. Call your travel agent or airline.

If booking with a travel agent, ask for their advice on flying with your wedding dress. You’ll also want to speak directly to the airline where your flight is booked to tell them you’re a) bringing your wedding dress, b) where it can be held and if they have any special holding locations on the plane for flying for your wedding gown.

IF they tell you the dress will go in the overhead compartment, don’t fret– this happens very often with passengers flying with a wedding dress or other formalwear. Your garment bag (we’ll talk about that next) can be rolled up, hanger first OR lay it flat, above other luggage in the compartment.

In addition, make sure you know if you can count your dress as a carry-on item. If not, you may need to check the wedding dress before boarding. (You can weigh it ahead of time and measure the length when it is inside the garment bag, just to be on the safe side!)

2. Place your wedding dress in a garment bag.

A garment bag is a definite, absolute must-have in this situation. :) Don’t fly anywhere with your wedding dress — or, travel anywhere, honestly! — without one.

Depending on how large your gown is and how many layers it has, how long the train is, etc., you’ll want to pick a garment bag that can hold it all without overstuffing it (which can make for wrinkles!)

When you choose a garment bag, here are a few things to watch out for:

-avoid a colorful garment bag, as the dye might transfer onto your gown (yikes!),
-don’t choose one that has a heavy odor, as it may make your gown smell bad (yuck), and
-choose a garment bag that is light and breathable

We found one that fits all three criteria and it receives great reviews. It’s by Your Bags and it is made in this white color and is on sale for under $20 (great price!)

And this wedding dress garment bag is extra-long and features extra space for your bridal accessories (bonus!) This garment bag fits all the criteria, too, and is under $15. By Miss Lo. Get it here.

Wondering where to get a wedding garment bag for the groom? This suit or tuxedo garment bag is perfect for traveling with the groom’s attire. It also includes a zippered shoe bag to make transporting his footwear easy. This tuxedo garment bag is breathable and available in different sizes for proper length when traveling. By Univivi and only $15.99. Great find!

3. Don’t leave home without a garment steamer.

THIS is the one thing you’ll need to do once you’ve finished flying with your wedding dress.

You’ll need one of these, since you’ll need to remove some minor wrinkles once you reach your destination.

First, you’ll want to hang the dress up once you reach your hotel and let it hang for a while to get rid of any wrinkles naturally. Then, use a garment steamer to rid of any wrinkles that occurred while traveling with your wedding dress. Be careful when doing this and don’t get too close to the dress itself so it doesn’t leave marks or water stains.

If you don’t already own one, you’ll definitely want to buy a travel-sized, portable garment steamer like this that offers a fast heat time, is leaf-proof, and works well. This MagicPro one is highly rated for formal garments of all kinds, especially great for wedding garments like your gown and his tuxedo.

Once you’ve de-wrinkled it, let it hang for the remainder of the time until you are getting ready for the big day. You’ll be so glad you gave it time to air out and that you brought along that steamer. I’m sure the bridesmaids will be borrowing it for their own dresses, too! ;)

And there you have it! That’s all you need to know about how to travel with your wedding dress. If you have any other questions or tips for other brides-to-be, please let us know in the comment box below!

Happy Travels!

xo
Emma