Everything you need to know about travelling with your wedding dress
So you’re nearly there, location booked, wedding planned now just to get there with your gorgeous dress. If you’re planning to fly with your dress you’ll want to map exactly how you’re going to get this done ahead of time.  You may be very lucky and your airline may have wardrobes onboard to accommodate your needs, but with full flights, cramped spaces and grumpy passengers you want to ensure a smooth transition of your dress from A to B in mint condition.  If you don’t plan ahead you may find yourself frantically trying to find space in packed overhead lockers.Here are some top tips & advice on how to travel with a wedding dress stress free, relaxed and ready for you big day.
Contact your chosen airline
Make sure you contact your airline in good time. Every airline is different and some can very well accommodate wedding dresses and also the groom’s suit on board, whilst others don’t have any cabin space to hang wedding attire.Whilst they may not be able to give you a guarantee, they will at least give you their policy on dealing with passengers’ delicate but large carry on items such as wedding dresses.Ensure with your airline or travel agent that your gown will be classed as carry on. The last thing you want is for your dress to be whisked away into checked baggage. So double check the weight and size rules for your airline to avoid a potential disaster at the gate.
Buy your dress a seat!
Well this may seem quite far-fetched but yes it’s definitely a viable option. It is one way to put your mind at ease, as your dress will be by your side at all times. Some brides have been known to buy the dress its’ very own seat to travel safely.So if you have money to spare and want to be super cautious, book your dress a one-way ticket to your wedding destination and you will guarantee it arriving in tiptop shape.Plus if your dress has its’ own ticket it will have its own carry on allowance, which is great if you have a large cathedral length veil or petticoat to travel with as well.
Available seats
If buying an extra seat is just out of the question, you may get on board and find spare seats available. So why not ask if there are any open seats together where you can put your dress (free of charge of course). Â Chances are some people will be willing to move to help out or a nice flight attendant can assist you in finding the open seating.
Pack your dress with care
When packing your dress there are usually lots of factors to consider as most dresses come with lots of fabric and veils plus any extras. So getting it all into a garment bag isn’t necessarily a straight forward task.Here’s how to pack your dress properly and avoid getting wrinkles in the dress during the flight.First, stick the hanger end through the top of the garment bag and hang it up high so you can work with the dress. Then take the left side and the right side of the gown and fold into the center, from there take the bottom of the train and roll it up until the fabric is contained nicely and neatly in your garment bag.Once all that is done make sure you zip it up with care placing a finger on the inside of the zipper as you guide it up so that the dress doesn’t get caught.
Fly first class or book priority boarding
Try be that first passenger on board. They say the early bird catches the worm, and the first on board gets first dibs on that front closet. But don’t forget if your dress does go in that closet and out of sight, remind your seat buddy to not let you forget it at the end of the flight.If money is no object on the other hand, why not buy a first class seat which will indeed guarantee you that closet in first class and a delivery of your dress to your seat at the end of the flight.
Place it in the overhead lockers
The alternative options on board are the overhead bins, but you will most likely need to fold up your garment bag or roll it up depending on the size. If you need to roll it start from the hanger end or you can try and lay it flat in the over head lockers on top of other luggage already in the bin, which again is all dependent on space.
Don’t forget to pack a portable steamer
Trust us, this will be your saving grace after travelling on a long flight with your dress, you’ll want a steamer (don’t forget your adaptor).And remember to guard against water spots, put a towel, steamer-sock or even a cotton sock over the head of the steamer whilst using it on your dress.Now you’re all set and you know everything there is to know about travelling with your wedding dress. Safe Travels …
Get In Touch
Considering a destination wedding? Not sure where to start? Get in touch with our dedicated team who will be able to chat things over with you.
Email: info@eventsbyknight.co.uk or call +44(0)20 3130 4040‍