In the first stages of our planning I researched different options for traveling with a wedding dress. In some threads on the boards, brides were saying it would be of no harm if you just stuck the dress in a backpack as your carry on. Well that’s a really good option, but a couple of things came to mind:
Because the space (and weight) of the backpack was too precious, I decided to go a different way, and pictured this in my mind:
{ Image Source }
I’ve traveled with pillows before, and I’ve just carried them under my arm with no problems at all. So I thought that maybe I could just make a “wedding dress pillow”. So I went straight to my leftover fabrics and found the perfect one that I had leftover from a pajamas I made a few weeks ago. I grabbed my scissors and jumped into action!
{ I cut two rectangles of fabric and sewed a zipper to one side }
{ Then I started the slow an painful process of stuffing my wedding dress into the pillow. In the picture on the right, you can see I made two of them: one with just plain fabric and other one with a thicker inner layer. }
{ I folded the dress carefully so it wouldn’t get too wrinkled. I’m not so worried about that because I can always dry clean it once I’m in CA right? In the right pic, you can see my dress inside the two pillows. }
{ I tried to squeeze the dress down as much as I could. If you remember, my crinoline alone is pretty puffy – I want to be a marshmallow bride 
}
This is the perfect way to dream about our wedding, and spend 15 hours on a plane. 
I’m really happy with the way it ended up. It’s actually really small (considering how puffy the dress looks) So I’m hoping it helps me get my beauty rest right before I’m reunited with Mr. Poodle!!
Speaking of being reunited, I’m SOO excited!! I’ll be a really really busy bride these next few days with packing and finishing up my last projects before my trip, so I don’t think I’ll be able to blog again until I’m in beautiful California. But to make it up to you, I want to share another teaser from the dress I’m making with the fabric I showed you all in my last post.
{ I still have some work to do, that’s why I’m grabbing it on the front }
Maybe this was too much of a tease, but the next time you’ll see it will be in our engagement pictures. 
Now back to the subject at hand. Have any of you had to travel with your wedding dress? What was the best packing option for you?
You’re so smart Miss Poodle!! I never would have thought of that.
What a clever solution. I really want to bring my dress back with me from Texas, so I’ll have to think of the best way. And your dress is too cute.
I also have to travel with my wedding dress and this does sound like a good idea but the one thing I’m concerned with is with airport security. It might seem like you are hiding something in the pillow. If you put that in the xray machine at the airport security, won’t they see the zipper or beading and that might mean it gets red flagged to get hand searched. Just wondering.
I’m considering asking the airline if I can put my dress in the captain’s closet. It may or maynot work but I’ll make sure I do it ahead of time. If they don’t have it I might stuff it in my carryon or fed-ex home.
pillows! who would have told of that?? so practical!!
and your e-pic’s dress is completely amazing!! you’re awesome!!
That is such a wonderful idea and a great use of space. yrrett107 does bring up a good point…but sometimes pillows themselves have zippers on them so I don’t know if that would cause a red flag or not. Either way, it’s still a great idea!
@yrret107: Yeah I actually thought about that and because I still dont attach the top to the bottom I just stuffed the pillow with the bottom (that’s the biggest part) and it’s plain tulle, plus I already told the people from the airline the way I stuffed the pillow just to be safe 
You’re so smart, Miss Poodle!! What a great idea! 
Have you thought of putting plastic around the dress inside the pillow case too? Just in case some nasty person in the seat next to you spills their coke 
This is a great idea! I flew with my dress and they put it in a closet at the front. This might be another option for you, but the pillow idea is pretty fabulous!
@Mrs. Bear Cub: Si! I actually did that (should have write it on the post) the inner fabric of one of the cover is waterproof fabric, I chose to use that instead of plastic so I’m not loud each time I move my head LOL
oh also – I didn’t even really need to ask about the closet.. All I really got out was, ” I have my wedding dress and…” and they were like, oh yes the closet! So I think airlines are fairly prepared for our poofy dresses 
Miss Poodle, you are a freaking genius!! I would have never in a million years thought of doing that. So smart. And CUTE e-pic dress. Can’t wait to see it in action!!
That’s a great idea. I sent mine to our coordinator by FedEx. I didn’t want to put it in the overhead bin or the closets during the flights because I would probably want to keep checking it to make sure nothing happened to it and wouldn’t get any rest.
Oh my gosh your engagement dress looks awesome! You are such a great seamstress-your sewing skills are (once again!!) AMAZING!
the pillow is brilliant and the engagement shoot dress is adorable! I’m so excited for you Miss Poodle, and can’t wait to meet up when you get here!
Miss Poodle, can you design my entire wardrobe? The dress for your engagement shot is to die for.
That is the best idea I’ve ever heard for flying with a wedding dress! I have a friend who recently bought her dress it’s own plane ticket so it could sit on the seat next to her, what a waste of $ compared to a pillow case!
You are amazing!!! I never would have thought to put my dress into a pillow (!) to get it on the plane. Ingenious. And your e-pics dress is too cute!
Mrs. Poodle, Santiago, Chile/San Bernardino, CA Age and Occupation: 27, Industrial & Web Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Firefighter & Mountain Patrol Engagement Date: February 25, 2009 Wedding Date: January 2010 Venue: Mr. P's Grandparents’ Ranch About Me: I’m a Chilean girl who's crazy about nature and swimming. I enjoy carving, drawing, reading and sewing; I drool over computers, fabric, pretty paper, purple and patterns. To me, chocolate should be one of the seven wonders, right next to lemon pie. I never thought an exchange work experience program was going to change my life forever, but while working in California, I met Mr. Poodle, and ever since my days are better and brighter. We are two goofy souls that, after finding each other, couldn’t help but want to be together forever. It has being a long and sometimes hard road, since we have to deal with such a long distance between us, but we are now facing the last stage of our Fiancé Visa, and soon we will be together. You know the best part? We will be married! So I’ll be blogging from Chile until just a few months before our “green and purple” wedding.
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