How to Travel with Your Wedding Gown

Whether you are headed half way around the world or just to the next town, you want your wedding gown to look fresh and unwrinkled for the ceremony. Here are some tips to help you and your gown travel safely!

Traveling by Plane
There was a time when you could carry the gown with you and hang it in a storage cabin. Today most airlines insist you check your gown with your other luggage so unless your gown is very informal you will need a large box or an extra suitcase to protect it. Call your airline for details. Later we'll talk about how to pack it.

Packing at Home
If you pack the gown yourself, use a large box about one-third the length of the front of your gown.
• Line the box with tissue and lay the gown over it – face down. Make sure you have the gown centered in the box and the part that is face down is spread flat so there are no creases or folds.
• Beginning at the side seams, fold the skirt length-wise over bunched tissue until the skirt is no wider than the box.
• Then add more tissue and fold the top of the gown over into the box.
• Add still more tissue and fold the top of the gown over into the box. The top of the gown will now be facing up. Think of your gown as you doing the impossible: lying on your stomach with your legs folded over backwards while your head and shoulders are lying on top of your legs – facing up!
• Now use still more tissue to stuff the bodice and cushion anything else such as bows or sleeves that should be protected. When you are finished, the dress should not move or “dance,” as the Spanish say, even if you shake the box. Save the dancing for the wedding day!

Packing at a Gown Specialist
Or you could also ask a professional who specializes in gown cleaning and preservation to prepare your gown for shipping.

Quick Fixes for Pesky Wrinkles
Hang your gown on the bathroom door, turn the shower to hot, close the door, and let the shower run until the room is filled with steam, which relaxes most wrinkles.

Steamers
Invest in a portable hand steamer you can use whenever you travel. Guard against spotting water-sensitive fabrics such as silk by wrapping the head of the steamer in a small towel.

These tips will help to ensure your wedding gown is picture perfect for your destination wedding!!