Flying with wedding dress

I would take it as my carry on, i wouldn't risk checking it

I'm not sure which airlines it was but my mom took her dress on her flight to Hawaii for her wedding and she said she took it on as a carry on and they hung it in a closet for her. That was over 20 years ago of course but people have destination weddings all the time. Call ahead and ask the airline if they can do anything for you

Try taking it as a carry on, as @KarieK said

Best advice I've heard is to put the dress in a heavy garment bag, then loosely roll it up to fit in a standard carry on suitcase. Make arrangements to have your dress streamed at the destination in case it gets wrinkled in transit.

I definitely wouldn't risk shipping it to the resort or checking it.

I've seen several brides make it their carry on, and it was hung inside the closet as soon as you board the plane.

Thank y'all for the advise! I'll definitely check out the carry on idea!

Take it as a carry on. I wouldn't risk shipping it or checking it. If it's able to be closed or rolled to fit into a carryon size suitcase, that's probably your best option. Otherwise, I've heard people say they asked the flight attendant to hang it in a closet. If they're not able to, it goes in the overhead bin.

I took it on as my carry on. Once I was on the plane I asked if there was a closet I can hang it in. With David's Bridal written all over the bag they knew it was a wedding dress and were happy to hang it in the captains closet. I flew International with United.

ETA: Useful tip - I hung my veil and my wedding dress in the restroom of our hotel room a few days before the wedding and our hot showers took all the wrinkles out. I had every intention of getting it steamed at the hotel, but this worked just the same and for FREE!

Call the airline ahead of time and check if there's a closet on board where they will hang it for you. The planes typically do have a closet where the attendants will hang things like suits/wedding dresses for travelers so you can bring it directly on board with you and don't have to fold it!

Just saw this on the Knot yesterday.

Take it as a carry on. Plan to store it overhead in a dress bag, but maybe you will get lucky and the staff will hang it in a closet for you.

Thank y'all!

Great question! & great advice everyone! Definitely something I have been wondering as we are getting married in Puerto Rico

If you decide to take it please take it as carry on and keep a watchful eye. I hate hate hate american airlines!! I had the worst experience 3 times! Twice our luggage went on the wrong plane and ended up god knows where and we had to wait at least 3 days. Mind you we flew nyc to fla which is local!! Since my last encounter with this airline i have not flown with them I pretty much only trust Delta or better Jetblue. Maybe they got better but I wouldn't risk it.

I've seen flight attendants hang wedding gowns in first class. Now here's hoping you don't get bumped off while your dress stays on the plane.

Just don't fly United and I think you'll be fine

I flew American Airlines with mine. Call the airline and ask if the plane you'll be on has a closet that is available for patrons (some of them do, but others are now used for essential storage). I called ahead and my first plane had a closet, but it was being used for essential storage, and the second flight was too small to have a closet. If your flight(s) have a closet, inquire about having it hung. If not, I echo the others. Heavy garment bag, roll it. If you have a lot of embellishment you could even lay something with the dress so it doesn't roll onto itself, rather will roll on the other object (something smooth). Take it to be steamed at your destination. I thought it would be impossible, but I fit my ballgown in my carry on lol. Don't forget to also bring other wedding apparel in carry on luggage such as undergarments, shoes, veil, jewelry, etc. just in case your checked bag were to get lost!