Photo: @raeganbuckleyphoto Gown: Casablanca #LE126 / Willa

The big day is almost here. Can you even believe it?!? Of course you can; it’s all you’ve been thinking about for months. In fact, you’ve already started packing. You’ve got all your toiletries, undergarments, shoes, etc. But what about your dress? You definitely can’t check it—that would be crazy, right? But there’s no way it’s going to fit in your carry-on—nor should it! So what’s a girl to do? We got you… Here's a step-by-step guide on how to pack your wedding dress for your destination wedding.

Your wedding gown should come in a garment bag, but if not, grab one of those—this is essential.

Make sure that the gown is hanging properly (on the ribbon hanger straps, not the delicate straps of the actual gown).
If your gown has a train, there will likely be a train loop. Hang up the train to minimize wrinkles.
Put hanging gown in a disposable clear plastic garment bag. This will help to minimize wrinkles and also protect it from any spills that a fabric garment bag may not.
If you have a veil, it’s a good idea to hang it too. If you are using a hanger with clips, make sure to put fabric or a white paper towel in between the clip and the veil material.
Put the gown [and veil] in the garment bag it arrived in and add a luggage tag with your Full Name, Phone Number, and e-mail address.
Pack a portable hand-held steamer with you in your checked bag (unless your planner has confirmed that there will be one for you and your team to use on-site)
Pack any of your wedding-day accessories, like undergarments, shoes, jewelry, etc., in your personal item if possible to minimize the chances of them getting lost. Your garment bag will likely count as your carry-on.

The Travel Day

To reduce stress, we recommend getting to the airport earlier than you usually do. It’s best to pre-purchase a carry-on if applicable. When you’re there, carry your dress by the hanger as much as possible to prevent wrinkles. Check-in with the attendant at the gate and explain the situation. If you are friendly (and they have space), they may let you store your gown in the captain's closet where it can hang instead of being folded up and shoved into an overhead bin

The Breakdown by Airline

As you’ve probably learned by now, airlines all have their own rules and regulations when it comes to luggage, so to make sure there are no surprises, we’ve rounded up the wedding gown rules for some of the most popular airlines. Not all airlines offer closet space, so if you can, we recommend booking your flight with one that does.

Click here to see the airline’s Wedding Dress / Garment Bag policies.

Gowns That Travel Well

Some fabrics travel better than others, so if you haven’t got your gown yet, it’s definitely something to keep in mind. Silk and any other natural fibers are stunning but are more prone to wrinkles than synthetic fibers that make up some equally beautiful fabrics, like lace and tulle. Our satin and crepe collection features carefully made synthetic blend fabrics-ideal for brides who are traveling and need gowns that move seamlessly from suitcase to ceremony.