11 Things I didn’t know about flying with a wedding dress
There’s probably a thousand things I don’t know about flying with a wedding dress, but these feel absolutely essential to share. Lovely Michelle from Elegante by Michelle J has kindly allowed me to share these tips with you. Michelle’s a destination wedding planning expert specialising in Italian weddings, and a sought after luxury UK wedding planner. She’s also – and I’m so proud to say this – a member of English Wedding.
Booking your flight with a wedding dress
1. Choosing a non-budget airline gives you more chance of storage space for your dress
Budget airlines are really limited on space. Overhead lockers will fill quickly, and… that’s it. You could pay extra for Fast Track at the airport, but it won’t guarantee you space for your wedding dress.
2. Flying premium economy, business or club class gives you more luggage allowance and storage space
“Even if you just fly from the UK to Italy with British Airways, for example, choosing to fly in the Club World section means you have an extra ‘seat’ space in the middle of a row – which is often where your wedding dress can sit!” ~ Michelle Jacobs, Elegante by Michelle J.
Planning your trip
3. Plan your accommodation carefully. Where will you store your dress (hidden away?)
Of course you’ll want a luxurious place to stay – but might you need another room for your wedding dress? Picture the scene: you’re staying with your partner when you arrive. You need to hang your dress, but you don’t want them to see it before the wedding. Where’ the empty wardrobe with space to hang / store your dress (secretly)? Perhaps book an apartment with an extra room, or a five star hotel with plenty of wardrobe space (check before you book!)
4. Also make sure there’s space to dress in your room – and for MUA and bridal party etc.
It’s not just your wedding dress that you’ll need extra space for in your room, suite or accommodation. If your bridesmaids/men or family will be spending the morning getting ready with you, will there be space enough for everyone? Always choose a large enough room for your hair and makeup artists (and their kit, which can take up a surprising amount of room) – and for getting changed into your wedding dress.
Choosing and packing your wedding dress
5. Some wedding dresses travel better than others!
Choosing the perfect dress for a destination wedding is all about:
- finding a wedding dress you will look and feel amazing, confident and comfortable in
- being aware of the likely temperature on your wedding day, and choosing a dress for the heat / humidity of your destination
- selecting a dress which will travel relatively easily (sleek and streamlined dress shapes are smaller to pack; some materials crush more than others. Ask your bridal boutique!)
6. You can ask your seamstress or boutique to help pack your dress
I wouldn’t have thought of this, but there’s an art to folding a dress to prevent – as much as possible – creasing and crushing while it’s in storage and in transit. What I do know is that seamstresses and boutique owners are the loveliest of people. Ask them right from the beginning of your dress journey if this is something they can help you with.
Taking your wedding dress on the plane
7. There’s no way to guarantee or reserve space for a wedding dress on a flight
Your dress will travel with you, and just like your other carry-on bags, it will most likely end up in overhead storage. You can’t pre-book space up there, but there are things you can do to give your dress the best chance of a safe flight to your wedding destination!
8. You can’t book a plan seat just for your wedding dress (despite this being a bit of an urban myth)
I’m not sure where this idea came from – but don’t rely on it, because it is not true! Airlines won’t let you book a seat for a dress. Seats have to be occupied by people; at check-in if there is a seat available and no one has physically checked in to claim it, they’ll give it to someone else. (Buying a ticket for the seat next to yours gets you nothing other than some bloke sitting on your dress. Not worth the risk!)
9. Experts advise very strongly against checking in your wedding dress as hold luggage
This is pretty clear cut: you can’t risk your dress going missing / on another flight / getting lobbed around the underbelly of an airport like a football. It travels with you: you don’t take your eyes off it until you’re at your hotel!
Michelle says this is, “less of a myth and more of a MUST…don’t be tempted to check your wedding dress in as hold luggage. I advise you don’t let it out of your sight, and so need to be prepared to carry it onto the plane with you.”
When you arrive at your wedding accommodation
10. Hang up your dress when you arrive!
This is super important and gives your dress the best chance of being crease-free on your wedding day. If you’ve chosen the right fabric for your destination wedding dress, and followed Michelle’s advice about having it professionally packed for the journey, your dress might just need to be hung up for the creases to fall out.
See tip 3 above though: make sure there will be space in your accommodation!
11. If your dress needs to be steamed, have it done professionally.
This is another question to ask your dress designer, boutique or seamstress in advance. Will your dress need to be steamed to get rid of any creases from the journey?
There is a risk to doing this yourself: it might not be easy to get the creases out and worst case scenario: you damage your dress. You could try contacting a boutique (even better: a stockist of the same designer) near to your wedding venue in advance, and if they’re willing, book for them to prepare your dress before the big day.
There’s lots more essential advice for travelling with a wedding dress on Michelle’s blog – do head over there and read her tips!
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