Getting the wedding dress to the wedidng

[Kelliex13]

I have a question for those who have done an out of state wedding. My dress is in NY, I live in OH, and will be getting married at DW. I wanted to ask everyone what they thought was the best way to get the dress to Disney World. I am kind of nervous shipping it, but I think that is to be expected. My DF is a pilot, so I thought flying would be easier but he said it would be just as hard on the dress. I guess either way I have to get it pressed in Orlando before I get married. What do you guys think? Thanks for the help!

 

[Pezalicious]

You can ship it to Carolyn Allens and she can store it and steam it for you for a fee.

 

[caryndisneydiva]

i went round and round with this one...i was going to take it on the plane with me, but there was NO WAY i was going to check it and there isn't anywhere for it to go in the cabin because it's HUGE. so i'm going to ship mine to carolyn allen's and have her store it for me. i'm going to pay a fortune to fed-ex it overnight, that way i have 24 hours max of stress before i know that it has arrived safely...

 

[Janet2k]

I have a question for those who have done an out of state wedding. My dress is in NY, I live in OH, and will be getting married at DW. I wanted to ask everyone what they thought was the best way to get the dress to Disney World.

Kelliex13, I have read of brides who have purchased an airline seat for their wedding dress. The airlines had specific rules for how the garment had to travel, so if this option appeals to you, check with your carrier to see if it's possible.

Also, some first-class cabins have large "coat closets" that can be used for bridal gown storage. Check with your carrier to see if your flight has such a cabin.

Most brides package their wedding gown inside a large box and then ship it to their hotel/resort. The dress must be packed carefully in tissue paper in order to help it hold its shape. Upon arrival, the gown usually should be pressed at a local dry cleaners or dress shop.

For my FTW event, I actually kept my dress in its garment bag. I then rolled that garment bag and placed it inside a carry-on bag. I took that carry-on bag with me as I flew from the West Coat to the East Coast. Believe me, I feared that my dress would get damaged if it was placed in the cargo hold of the plane, and thus I wanted it placed inside the overhead compartment above my seat.

Imagine my horror when one of the legs of my journey was unexpectedly on a small plane that did not have an overhead compartment. YIKES! At the gate, I had to hand over my carry-on bag to an airline employee who then put it into the cargo hold of the plane. I plastered my face to the plane's window as I watched my carry-on bag being loaded below me. And when I arrived at my next stop, I anxiously awaited delivery of that carry-on bag so that I could take it with me on the next leg of my journey. Thankfully, my wedding gown and I both arrived safely in Orlando. Phew!

Since I was going to be resort-hopping during the week and a half leading up to my vow renewal, my wedding dress still had quite a journey ahead of itself: All Star -Sports, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, back to Old Key West again, then over to the BoardWalk Villas, and finally to the Grand Floridian for the days surrounding my vow renewal. But after my vow renewal, my dress's journey wasn't over quite yet. It went back to the BoardWalk Villas with me where it remained until it was time to head back to the West Coast.

As you can imagine, it had been quite a nerve-wracking journey for me and that dang wedding gown! But the most amazing thing is that my gown did not need pressing prior to my event. I couldn't believe it (but it was a very simple dress).

Here are a couple photos to show you what my dress went through...

Carry-on bag that my dress was crammed into (it also contained
a camcorder, various cameras, and a set of 3-D dolls):

Dress hanging from doorjamb in All-Star Sports:

Dress hanging from connecting door in Old Key West:

Another view of dress hanging from connecting door:

Dress at vow renewal ceremony (look -- no wrinkles!):

Believe me, if my dress could survive such a convoluted journey, anyone's dress should be able to make it to Orlando just fine.

Kelliex13, no matter how you choose to get your dress to Florida, I hope it arrives safely. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

 

[orangetiggs]

We are flying over from the UK and I'm going to try and get it in a bag so that I can carry it on! there is no way i'm checking it in!! I do not want to ship it either as it would cost loads from here to the states.

There are websites in the uk that make boxes for wedding dresses that comply with overhead bin measurements so you can take them on board. maybe there is something like that over there if not i can give you the website and they may ship it

 

[Swmhc]

My bridal shop was in another state than which I lived. After several trips to the shop for alterations, etc...I didn't want to have to drive back down and pick it up just to ship it to FL. The shop owner shipped it directly to Carolyn Allens for me. Then after the ceremony, I left it at bell services with the tuxes for Carolyn Allens to have it clean and shipped back to my home in Iowa. Totally stress free !! And I didn't have to lug it around with me in airports, airplanes or through resort hopping. It was GREAT !

 

[Whoopdedoo]

I thought I'd let you know as I feel so relieved.... I'm flying from the UK and have been so worried about checking in my wedding dress in to the holdal. I had someone in work get married in Venice and on the way home her wedding dress got lost and they never found it.. she was having a reception at home and wanted to wear it to it.

Our airline has one of the smallest baggage size allowance for hand luggage I thought that I would have no choice... but I've found a bag that I can use and went down to my dress shop today. It's even smaller than what the airline allow so I know they can't refuse it at check in.

We spent 15 mins cramming it in to the bag and it fit!!!!!!!! We are using the bags that you can vacuum seal and I really didn't think that it would work. My dress is massive and full of netting but these bags are amazing! You'd never of thought that I'd get it in to such a small space and I did!

I recommend trying one before you fork out a fortune to ship it over. I've even got enough room for my hoop skirt veil and tiara....

Hope it helps.

 

[JonetteA]

I shipped via FedEx to Carolyn Allen's. Everything got shipped in one box. The dress, the hoop skirt, etc. It was a great deal! She had it and I didn't have the travel with it and fight it in the airport. I did insure it!!! I did take it via plane one other time and it was just a huge hassle. I should have shipped it!

 

[D&R love Disney]

I carried mine on in it's dress bag. I checked with Delta before the flight and found out that that type of plane had a coat closet. When we got to the gate I spoke with the gate attendant and she let us board early and the flight attendant took care of putting the dress in the closet and the only other things in their were their own personal belongings. I did have the dress steamed before the wedding but it actually flew very well.