Our Blog at Iowa Bridal Preservation

Destination Wedding Gown: Traveling with Your Wedding Gown: Tips and Tricks

Whether you are headed half way around the world or just to the next town, you want your wedding gown to look fresh and unwrinkled for the ceremony. Those of us at Iowa Bridal Preservation can help you pack your wedding gown for travel or press your wedding gown when you arrive at your destination.

If you do not have a bag, stuff the bodice (the upper part of your bridal gown) with as much tissue as possible and buffer the folds of your bridal gown's skirt with still more tissue. Use one large sheet (a fitted sheet works best) to cover the front of your wedding gown and another one to cover the back. Then pin the sheets together.

Hang your bridal gown so the bodice is facing the car door, and the bust form plus the tissue will protect the bodice from wrinkling. Lay the rest of the bridal gown on the car seat.

Or you could buy a plane ticket for your gown--and there are brides who do! Many brides to not let the gown out of their sight. This reduces the possiblity that it may be lost or delayed in its arrival.

Packing at Home

Line the box or suitcase you are using with tissue and lay your wedding gown--front side down--over the box so that about one-third of your wedding gown is over the box, one-third is at one end of the box and the other one-third at the other end of the box. Make sure you have your wedding gown centered in the box. The part that is front side down should be spread out flat so there are no creases or folds.

Beginning with the side seams, fold the skirt lengthwise over bunched tissue until the skirt is no wider than the box. Then add more tissue and fold the bottom of the skirt into the box.

Add still more tissue and fold the top of your wedding gown into the box. The top of the gown will now be facing up. Think of yourself doing the impossible: laying on your stomach with your legs folded over backwards while your head and shoulders are laying on top of your legs--facing up!

Use still more tissue to stuff the bodice and to cushion anything else such as bows or sleeves. If prongs are holding the crystals on your wedding gown in place, be sure to put tissue over the prongs so they do not cause snags.

When you are finished, the dress should not move or "dance," as the Spanish say, even if you shake the box. Save the dancing for your wedding day!

Professional Pressing

Of course, the surest solution to the wrinkle problem is having your wedding gown professionally pressed once you arrive at your destination. Click here to find the Specialist near you or call 800-501-5005. Many of our Certified Wedding Gown Specialists™ offer free pressing if you also use their services for cleaning and preservation after the wedding.