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Britt
Devoted November 2016

Traveling with a wedding dress

Britt, on September 26, 2016 at 6:14 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 22

Has anybody here flown with their wedding dress? I'm getting married in another state, and I've called both airlines - United and American Air - and they were extremely unhelpful. United said it would need to fit into a carry-on bag, and American Airlines said the garment bag needed to be soft-sided and less than 51 inches in length (which it's obviously not). Both airline representatives on the phone were not really sure what I would need to do or how I would go about the situation. I'm trying to avoid having to put my dress in a suitcase/folding it if I don't have to.

So I guess what I'm getting at is this: Does anybody have any experience flying with a wedding dress? Would it be easier if I just took my dress with me and spoke to the gate agents at the airport?

22 Comments

Latest activity by D.R. Bride, on September 28, 2016 at 5:24 PM
  • Van Pear
    VIP January 2017
    Van Pear ·
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    Following!

    I'm traveling with my dress too, and thought I'd just have the garment bag. But I'd like to know what other brides did!

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  • SarahL2T
    VIP April 2017
    SarahL2T ·
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    I brought my best friend's dress to her wedding in Cancun a few years ago, and I flew Delta. They allowed me to store it in the first class closet. It was just in the garment bag, and we folded the bottom half up so it would fit.

    Embarrassing story: I was very, very, very single when I went to her wedding (where, I should say, I met FH!), but when I walked onto the plane with her gown, people CLAPPED. I was MORTIFIED and had to explain to an entire plane full of people about how I was just the MOH doing the bride a favor!

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  • Britt
    Devoted November 2016
    Britt ·
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    @Sarah that's good to know. Both airlines told me there's no guarantee I can put it in the closet/if the planes will have a closet. These are pretty popular flights so I'm hoping I'll be lucky and they'll have a place for me to store it or at least be understanding and make an exception for me.

    OMG your story seriously sounds mortifying!!! That would be the last thing I need haha, flying is stressful enough!

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  • Sandra M.
    Super October 2016
    Sandra M. ·
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    @Britt - I'm also getting married in a different state from where I live so I'll be shipping my dress in advance.

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  • Britt
    Devoted November 2016
    Britt ·
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    @Sandra I have that option for me as well - I would overnight it though so there is minimal time it has to stay in a box and it would be at my destination when I get there. It's my last resort choice if it's something I reaaaally have to do.

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  • Michelle
    Devoted August 2016
    Michelle ·
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    The closet thing really worried me, plus it would have been too long and be bunched or folded at the bottom. I had the seamstress at my bridal salon pack it into a carryon bag for me and then I put it in the overhead compartment. I still needed to get it steamed before the wedding, but it made it safely and in one piece! My dress is quite sleek though so I don't know if you have a pouffy dress if it would work the same, but I wouldn't leave it to chance.

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  • Britt
    Devoted November 2016
    Britt ·
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    @Michelle my dress is poofy at the bottom and has a long train, but with the way it hangs the garment bag is fairly slim. Glad to know your way worked out well for you!

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  • Future Mrs. L
    VIP June 2017
    Future Mrs. L ·
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    Can you buy the dress a seat? I am wanting to say that I know someone who did this but I can't remember. Super expensive, I know, but that might be an option then you could keep it next to you if you can't get any help.

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  • FutMcFarland
    Super January 2017
    FutMcFarland ·
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    I will shipping my dress in advance.

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  • Diane
    VIP October 2016
    Diane ·
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    What about putting your dress in a garment bag but then folding garment bag and put it in a full size suitcase? It's double protected and would be folded in box the shortest amount of time.

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  • Dana
    Savvy November 2016
    Dana ·
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    The thought of shipping the dress is terrifying to me. I traveled with it back from Arizona to Virginia to get it altered and will be flying back to Arizona with it in November. The flight attendants on both of my flights to VA were very helpful and allowed me to put it in the first class closet. I already spoke to a bridal salon in AZ, and will be taking it there once I land to get steamed so that it is perfect for the big day after flying.

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  • Sara
    Master April 2017
    Sara ·
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    FH's cousin bought an extra plane ticket for the dress to have its own seat. That what the airline said she had to do but then when they got on the plane they hung it in the closet for her...she was soo pissed!

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  • FutureMrsSuge
    Expert June 2017
    FutureMrsSuge ·
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    When my friend got married in Hawaii a few months ago she just took it on as a carry on . She was trying to put it under seat as it didn't fit all the way. So the steward put it in the closet .

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  • Amber
    Dedicated December 2016
    Amber ·
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    I agree with shipping it. see if you can send it to a alterations or bridal shop so they can press it when it gets out of the box. flying with it you risk it getting damaged.

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  • FutureMrsD
    VIP June 2017
    FutureMrsD ·
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    I had mine shipped. I didnt want to have to worry about this kind of thing.

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  • DestinationBride
    Super December 2016
    DestinationBride ·
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    I'm not letting it out of my sight! Everything we need to wear for the wedding will be packed in this suitcase I just bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002B0CR0S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    My shoes, dress, shapewear, jewelry, and his suit and shoes. I'm not even going to risk lost luggage/misplaced shipments. Even if our luggage is lost, we get to get married! Smiley laugh I bought a portable steamer to steam my own dress at the hotel.

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  • Britt
    Devoted November 2016
    Britt ·
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    So many different solutions!!! I don't mind shipping to back home after the wedding so I don't have to take it with me on the cruise ship and everything for the honeymoon, but shipping it before the wedding makes me so nervous! I have some time to figure out a plan haha. Thanks everybody!

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  • TheUncommonBride
    Expert October 2017
    TheUncommonBride ·
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    I think I would just carry it on, usually if it's too large they will offer to store it else where. I'm sure they will be able to accommodate. I traveled with a long suit once. I carried it on and no one said anything to me. We asked to switch to a different seat after take off and I placed it hanging over an empty row before us.

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  • Nancy
    VIP January 2017
    Nancy ·
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    I'm going to ship mine to a friend to keep. I'm going to send it overnight and try to minimize wrinkleage.

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  • Kara
    Super May 2017
    Kara ·
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    Look up the Wally bag! There is a large one, about 100 dollars on amazon. I'm putting my dress in one of those and based on the hundreds of 5 star reviews it should keep it from coming out wrinkled! I am using it as my carry on luggage and checking a bag also. I'm really confident that even though the garment bag will be folded up, the dress will arrive safety and in great condition!

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