How to Transport Your Wedding Dress with Minimal Wrinkles

Transporting a wedding dress can feel nerve-wracking, especially when you’ve spent months finding the gown and invested in custom alterations to make it fit like a dream. Whether you’re driving across town, flying across the country, or packing for a destination wedding, every bride wonders the same thing: How do I travel with my wedding dress?

We’re sharing our best tips to ensure your dress arrives smooth, secure, and picture-perfect.

Choose the Right Garment Bag for Your Dress

Most bridal shops will provide a garment bag for your dress, so this should be easily checked off your list. However, if your dress didn’t come with a bag, make sure to choose a breathable fabric full-length garment bag that allows air circulation while protecting the gown. Plastic bags trap moisture, which can lead to wrinkles and mildew.

While Traveling with Your Dress

Some wrinkling is normal, but if you can avoid folding your dress, you can prevent most of it.

Car Travel with a Wedding Dress

If possible, lay the dress flat across the backseat. If hanging, use the garment hook and allow the gown to drape without bunching. Never put it in the trunk, and avoid direct sunlight and hot interiors, as heat can cause deeper wrinkling.

Plane Travel with a Wedding Dress

Most airlines allow wedding dresses as a carry-on item. Call the airline ahead of time to check. Once you’re on the plane, ask to hang it in the on-board closet; if the overhead is the only option, lay it across the top of luggage–not stuffed between bags.

Humidity and long travel times mean wrinkles are almost guaranteed. Make sure to plan to steam once you arrive; call your hotel ahead of time to see if they can provide you with a steamer. Consider packing a lint roller and a white towel to protect the delicate fabric.

How to Fold Your Wedding Dress for Travel Without Causing Wrinkles

If you have no choice but to fold your dress, here are a few tips to minimize wrinkling.

The Bodice-Stuffing Method

Use acid-free tissue paper to gently stuff the bodice. This helps the dress maintain its shape and prevents the fabric from distorting.

Folding by Silhouette

A-Line & Ball Gown: Fold the skirt under itself with tissue paper layered between folds.
Mermaid / Trumpet: Fold once at the knee line with minimal pressure.
Sheath / Crepe: These fabrics wrinkle easily, fold loosely and avoid stacking items on top.

What to Do If Your Dress Arrives Wrinkled

If your gown needs steaming once you arrive:

Use distilled water to avoid mineral spots
Cover the steamer head with a white T-shirt or towel to prevent drips
Steam from the inside of the dress
Work slowly and steadily
Focus on areas brides notice most: bodice, hem, train

For a deeper dive, visit our full guide: How to Properly Steam Your Wedding Dress. This resource offers step-by-step steaming instructions tailored to delicate bridal fabrics.

The Luxury Tailors Experience

We offer final steaming and finishing services to ensure your dress looks flawless. Your dress will always be wrinkle-free when you pick it from us.

Q: Will my wedding dress wrinkle during travel?

Some wrinkling is normal, but the right packing technique keeps it minimal and manageable.

Q: Can I pack my dress in a suitcase for a destination wedding?

We don’t recommend it, but it is possible—only if it’s folded with acid-free tissue paper, padded properly, and placed in a hard-shell suitcase.

Q: How early should I steam my dress before the wedding?

Ideally, steam it the day before or the morning of the wedding to ensure it stays smooth.