Destination Weddings--getting the Dress There--tips?

When I got married in Vegas the first time around, I just carried it on in a garment bag. They hung it in the first class cabin closet for me even though I was in economy.

Sadly that doesn't always work. I have checked with the airline and they are saying that they can't hang it and then it would end up in baggage.

I love this box that I got because it's easy to carry and I have two dresses--we are doing trash the dress. It's the right linear inches, but not the width requirements, I'm hoping since it's my wedding, they will let us through with it.

TSA is the one who will stop you from bringing bags outside the requirement on the plane. I used a duffle bag to fly from NC to NJ and was fine, flying back the TSA agent made me check my bag. I don’t think wedding or not they are going to care if they want to give you a hard time about it. That being said, I flew with my dress in a garment bag. I called the airlines a head of time and gave them my flight info. They said they’d make a note but couldn’t guarantee it would get hung. I also did my research on the dress going through bag check. If it’s a big/poofy dress and doesn’t fit through the scanner they may have to open the dress bag and hand check the dress, in which case you should ask they change their gloves to ensure clean gloves are touching your dress. When I got to the gate, I checked in with the desk and told them I had my wedding dress. She radioed to the flight attendant to let her know. When I boarded they couldn’t hang it because the cardboard used to keep its structure. They had me lay it on top of our carry on’s and then closed the bin so no one else could put anything in there. Either way I’d reach out to the airline for how to best handle it, but be aware TSA can still make you check the box, no matter what the airline says. Not sure what the trash the dress has to do with it, but if you have to wear it for your wedding after flying with it, I’d make sure you have some place go steam it.

I have talked to the airlines several times. They have said no to hanging it and they won't let garment bags on period. They also won't do anything just because I'm getting married. I even offered to pay to have it hung, like $100 or whatever, no dice. (Hawaiian airlines, HUGE jet)

Trash the dress--because I have two dresses so I have to fit two in there.

The box will get through TSA no problem. That is fine.

Can't steam it, won't have time, but it will be fine for one trip, I'll hang it when I get there, we get married less than 24 hours after we land.

I may fold it into a real carry-on instead, we'll see.

I'm wondering about shipping it ahead to a place that steams them and picking it up the day we arrive?

Could you buy a small portable steamer and steam the gown yourself when you get there? Like in a hotel room?

I got married in Vegas the first time and I carried my gown on the plane in a fordable garment bag made for suits. I had a few days before the ceremony so I just had is pressed by the concierge laundry service.

YAY problem SOLVED THANK YOU ladies who commented.

I'm doing this, I found a place near where we are staying that I can mail it to and pick it up after they steam it!

http://www.ellysformalwear.com/our-services/wedding-gown-pressing-and-steaming/

Or ship your wedding gown to us

1. You may send your wedding gown to us as early as 2 weeks before your wedding date.
2. We recommend using UPS or FEDEX 2 day air service, do not send your box UPS or FedEx ground service or postal service, it will take longer to get here to Hawaii.
3. Place your gown in a zippered garment bag and fold your gown neatly in the box. You may also wrap it with plastic or a sheet for extra protection.
4. Use a sturdy box that will fit your gown snugly, do not put mailing popcorns or plastic bubbles inside the box.
5. On a piece of paper, please provide the following information:
   • bride & groom’s name and shipper’s name
   • wedding date
   • all contact phone numbers (cell phone preferred)
   • date that you want to pick up your garments
   • hotel or accommodations that you will be staying at on Maui
   • all contents of the box
   • indicate whether you want us to save the box you shipped it in or discard the box
6. Call us at 808-879-7010 or email us to inform us that you have shipped your box, so that we know when to expect it.
7. We will contact you when we receive your box with the cost of pressing charges for each item.
8. There is a $30 handling and storage fee per box even if the box will be discarded.

Approximate pressing charges:

• $45 to $65 = Simple beach wedding gown
• $65 to $85 = A-line satin with train, most wedding gowns fall into this price range
• $75 + up = Silk, ball gown, long train, pick up skirt, delicate fabrics that require ironing
• $10 to $25 = Mothers, bridesmaid and flower girl dresses
• $35 = 3-4 piece men’s suit, coat, pants, shirt, and tie (linen suits are $10 more)
• $12 each = coat, pants or shirt

Super excited!! THANK YOU

Get a garmet bag. Always carry on!!! Never ever check it!! Imagine if they magically lost your “checked bag” aka your dress..... it would ruin your wedding. Bring it on with you in the garmet bag. Airlines are usually understanding.

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HI Katherine, please read my original post and all the comments to follow. This is uncalled for and not necessary "Always carry on!!! Never ever check it!! "

I never said I was going to check it and I also mentioned that the airline can not guarantee it will be allowed on board, I have called them, or they can hang it if it's in a garment bag and I also finally said that I decided to ship it ahead of time because I found a place that will do it.

I am flying with my dress twice, but it is not a big dress. My salon explained to me what to do. If it were a bigger dress , they said they would pack it up tight. Then steam it when you get to the destination. As I said, I am flying with it twice, it will be in its garment bag rolled up in a small suitcase. Good luck!

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Hi Anna, if you see my last post, I actually figured out a solution.

There is a dry cleaner about 2 miles from where we are staying that specializes in destination weddings, so I just ship the dress to them and they press it/steam it/whatever-get it ready, and I pick it up when we land in Maui.

I have a ball gown style, it takes up a lot of room. I also have an A-line dress that I am wearing after, for the dinner, it's going into my carry on, but it's much different. I will bring them both back in the suitcase and then the big one-the main one will get sent to a preservation place, I already paid for that.

But yeah, I can't bring them both in carry-on, and Hawaiian Airlines has told me several times that they will not hang a garment bag with a wedding dress.

I think rolling it is an excellent idea, and you may not have to have it steamed, you may be able to hang it in the bathroom and see if that works.

I haven't contacted the airline yet (wedding isn't until Oct) however I have read that they are usually pretty understanding. Mine isn't big (A-line) so hopefully I don't have an issue with TSA. I have carried a suit and dress on before for my sisters wedding without issue so hopefully it's not much different.

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Our wedding is in October too, but since my dress is so huge I called Hawaiian and yeah they can't hang it. The plane is HUGE, like 10 seats across huge, but they have to reserve those gallies for strollers and wheelchairs. So if I brought it, there is a good chance it would end up in baggage and then it would be destroyed. It doesn't fit in a normal garment bag either. It's on two hangers in the bridal one. I had to create a special hook for it on the wall to even hang it. LOL

I was going to fill my carry-on with it, but then we can't bring any clothes - so we are just going to send it ahead and pick it up on the way to the hotel.

My aline is going in carry-on, I like what Anna said about rolling it. I think that would work well.

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That’s sounds doable. My dress is a A line with a soft tulle skirt. My situation is nuts. I bought it in the States, I’m living in China, and the wedding is in the uk. So I’m going home, bringing it back here, and then flying to the UK. But I’ll be in the UK for several weeks before the wedding, so that should be fine. I thought about getting something made in China, but I’m new here, and have been warned that while there are amazing places to go and get stuff made, there are just as many that aren’t as great. Besides, I am a foot taller and wide than people here, so it was just easier to get it at home. Congratulations on Hawaii, that would be amazing!

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Wow Anna, that does so tricky. I think you can get it steamed in the UK if it needs it, hanging it might be enough.

Thank you and congrats on yours too! So exciting isn't it?

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Yesh, no worries in the UK. Congrats! And I can’t wait!

View Quoted Comment This is good to know! My dress is sheath lace and fits perfectly in a garment bag. Mine as well isn’t until October and I was going to just carry mine on as well. I’m very nervous about shipping ahead to Vegas. What if it gets lost and they can’t find it etc so many things scare me that could go wrong. Thanks for all the suggestions though I’m glad I found this forum

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It really depends on the airline and how busy the flight is etc. I have two dresses so I'm bringing one and shipping the other.--it's scary for sure LOL

Fellow DW bride here!!

I actually bought the 66" Wally bag for gowns - it folds into thirds and I called Delta and confirmed it falls within the carryon size limits.

my alterations team recommended packing it in a carryon suitcase - gently folding it in thirds - they even offered to pack it for me. so maybe talk to your alterations and see if they have advice? whatever you do - fold it some how if you plan to carryon - most airlines are not going to allow you to carry the dress on as it hangs on the hanger - Delta specifically said "garnet bag" or "carryon suitcase"

happy travels!