Traveling far for your epic destination elopement? I know you probably feel a bit overwhelmed, especially since your wedding attire is involved! Lost bags and cancelled flights are every couple’s nightmare. As a destination elopement photographer who also traveled internationally for my own elopement, I’ve created this guide on how to fly with a wedding dress or suit so you can fly confidently and arrive stress-free.

Looking for a photographer who can help you not only get beautiful photos of your elopement, but also plan it? Learn more about my destination elopement photography services.

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Tips for Booking Your Flights

Choose a Dependable Airline 

When it comes to getting to your elopement destination, you don’t want to be inconvenienced by flight cancellations and delays. Some airlines are more dependable than others, so make sure you are choosing a trusted airline that has multiple flights out of your city and into your destination per day.

Look for airlines that:

• Fly multiple times per day on your route
• Have strong on-time and cancellation performance
• Offer flexible rebooking options

Choose an Airline Based on Their Cabin Baggage Policy

Some airlines are more equipped to handle your wedding attire than others. Here’s a breakdown of some of the airlines’ policies, but make sure you call ahead with the airline you are choosing to make sure you have the most up-to-date information and advice. 

• United & Delta: Will allow a soft-sided garment bag that meets the carry-on dimensions to be in the overhead bin (9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches). Sometimes they will be able to accommodate the item in the on-board closet as well (if the plane has one!). If your dress is larger, you may be able to purchase an extra seat as well to store it there.
• Alaska: Will allow a soft-sided garment bag that meets the carry-on dimensions to be in the overhead bin (9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches). Sometimes they will be able to accommodate the item in the on-board closet as well (if the plane has one!).
• American: Will allow a soft-sided garment bag that does not exceed 51 inches / 130 cm. Sometimes they will be able to accommodate the item in the on-board closet as well (if the plane has one!). 
• Southwest: As long as the dress fits in a bag with standard carry-on dimensions (24x16x10 inches), they allow it. Their planes do not have onboard closets.
• Spirit: As long as the dress fits in a bag with standard carry-on dimensions they allow it (22×18×10 inches). Their planes do not have onboard closets.
• Frontier: Allowed as a carry-on bag as long as it fits in the overhead bin. Recommend limiting it to the standard size of their carry-ons (24x16x10), but their official policy says it can exceed that as long as it fits. 

Pay for Priority Boarding for Peace of Mind

Often for smaller planes, the overhead space fills quickly and anyone outside of the first couple of boarding groups will need to gate check their carry on item. This could mean your bag is placed in cargo and brought back out to you at the next destination, or it could mean you don’t see your bag again until baggage claim at your final destination. If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to risk a precious item being delayed or not making it to your final destination. If you pay for priority boarding, you are much more likely to find room for your items in the overhead storage.

Tips for What and How to Pack

What Goes in Your Personal Item vs. Carry-On vs. Checked Bags?

DO NOT CHECK YOUR WEDDING ATTIRE. Ever.

Wedding attire goes in your carry-on or personal item ONLY. Airlines lose or delay baggage all the time, and this is not the time to take risks. 

My recommendations:

1. Try to fit as many of your wedding items/attire into your personal item first. 
2. Anything that doesn’t fit there goes into your carry-on item. (Keep in mind this could be gate checked if the plane runs out of overhead storage).
3. Only non-essential items that can be re-purchased at your destination go in your checked bag. 

How to Pack Your Dress/Suit

Want tips from a pro? Here is an Alaska Airlines article on how to pack your wedding dress and another on how to pack a suit. 

Another tip is to make sure you are separating any beading and lace with tissue paper or a thin cloth to prevent snagging. 

If you’re not feeling confident DIYing it, you can also likely ask your bridal/suit shop to assist you!

Bring a Portable Steamer

Things get wrinkly in transit, it’s inevitable. Make sure you bring a travel steamer with you so you can make sure your attire is looking as good as new for your elopement. Traveling internationally? There are a few dual voltage steamers available online!

Tips for the Day of Travel

What to Expect Through Security

If you are bringing an oversized garment bag through security, it may not fit through the traditional screening machines. They’ll likely ask to review your item separately and open up the bag to look at it. If it’s important to you to keep it a secret, usually they are super accommodating about having your future spouse go elsewhere during their review – just let them know it’s wedding attire.

What to Expect on the Plane

When boarding, make sure you let the flight attendants know you have wedding attire so they can help you find space for it on the plane (whether that’s in a closet, in an extra seat you paid for, or in the overhead bins). Most will be more than happy to assist you!

If you are putting your attire in the overhead bins, make sure nothing gets placed on top of it. You may also be able to lay it across the top of your other luggage.

Try not to Stress

I know this all feels crazy stressful, but try not to worry too much. Thousands of couples have had destination elopements and weddings, so this is nothing new for airline and airport staff. You’ll find most people are excited for you and willing to help along the way. Just make sure to prepare in advance (you’re already miles ahead just by reading this!) and have a plan for getting your elopement attire to your destination in one piece.