Destination Weddings

Your wedding dress shop will be able provide you with a box large enough to hold your dress, and acid-free tissue paper to pack it with to prevent excessive wrinkling.  Check with the shop where you bought your dress to see if they offer packing services.  If they do not offer this service, than we suggest you line the box with the tissue paper and then fold the dress so that the bodice faces up when you are finished.  Be sure to layer tissue paper between each folded layer to further protect the fabric, then stuff the bodice, sleeves and any bows that are on the dress.  If you have any gaps between the dress and the box, be sure to stuff those with tissue as well so that your dress fits snugly in the box.  This will prevent it from shifting.  Your final step is to wrap the box in plastic to protect it from any liquid that could get spilled on it, and to help prevent the box from accidentally coming open and spilling the dress.  Several layers of a good quality plastic wrap will suffice. 

Transporting the Dress.  We recommend you ship your gown.  This may throw some of you into a panic, but it truly is the best way to get your dress to your wedding destination.  Take your plastic wrapped box to UPS or Fed-Ex as it's important that you choose a service that provides full insurance coverage and a tracking number with true dynamic (up-to-the-minute) tracking capabilities.  The shipper will place your dress box within a larger box and pad it with packing peanuts to provide even better protection. Be sure to purchase insurance to cover the cost and expense of renting or purchasing another dress at your destination, just in case the unthinkable happens.  You will need to let your wedding coordinator know you are shipping your dress, and then put his/her name on the shipping label.  Your package should arrive at your destination about two to three days before you do. Your wedding coordinator will be able to store your dress until you arrive.

If shipping is not an option, forego one piece of your carry-on luggage and take your dress package on board with you.  In this case, put the prepared dress box in a hard-shell suit-case. Be sure the dress box fits snuggly within the suitcase and stuff any spaces with white, acid-free paper. Don't check it in with your luggage, since one of the most likely places your package will be damaged or lost is in baggage handling.  If you are told you must check your dress package (generally this only happens if you are on a plane that is too small to accommodate a closet or large enough overhead storage), then you will be prepared to check it.  

Once you arrive at your destination, remove your dress from its package as soon as possible. Hang it in a clean, dry, dust-free, well-ventilated place where you have enough room to spread the skirt out over a white, cotton sheet covered floor. Stuff the sleeves and bodice with white acid-free paper to maintain the dress's shape.  If there are any noticeable wrinkles, don't send it away to the commercial cleaner used by the hotel or the resort.  Simply use an iron and press the wrinkles starting on low heat on the wrong side of the fabric.  If you use a portable steamer, wrap the head of the steamer in a towel to avoid spotting sensitive fabric.  As with any questions regarding your wedding day, don't hesitate to ask your on-site wedding coordinator for tips.

Tips provided by dessy.com, Elite Wedding Collections Magazine, and our staff