How to Get Your Dress to Your Las Vegas Wedding

Most brides choose a Las Vegas wedding because they want to downsize some of the stress involved with getting married. But the stress creeps in little by little and many brides wake from a cold sweat with visions of their wedding gown lost in the forgotten land of airline checked luggage. If you're planning a Las Vegas wedding, here is the best way to get your wedding gown to the ceremony in one piece.

Airlines frequently have storage at the front of the plane where items can be gate checked, that is, given a checked baggage tag at the gate and then carried on the plane with you, hung up and stored in plain sight. While this would be the ideal option as the bride sees her dress both on and off the plane, there is limited storage and wheelchairs and strollers get first priority. If there is not room on your flight for your dress, you will have to surrender it to the cargo hold, the Bermuda Triangle of commercial jets where wedding gowns are frequently lost in time and space, or put on the wrong connecting flight. Instead of flying with your dress, consider having it shipped next day air directly to your hotel. It may cost more, but the relief of knowing your dress is safe is priceless.

When you purchase your dress, inform the boutique that you intend to have your dress shipped for a destination wedding and they will generally save the original box from the manufacturer. When you store your dress in the box, wrap your dress in acid free tissue paper making sure that all parts of the dress are covered to avoid any discolorations from the box. Your boutique may be able to provide the tissue for you, but double and triple check that the paper is truly acid free or the acid could cause stains and damage to the delicate fabrics. Sandwich your dress in the box between enough layers of bubble wrap to guarantee that any fragile decorations will arrive unharmed. Then put the dress box inside another box with even more bubble wrap for added levels of security. If you pack your shoes or veil in the same package, make sure to put them in separate boxes so the heels and clips can not inadvertently damage your wedding gown.

Before shipping, call your hotel ahead of time and become familiar with their policy on signing for packages. Make sure you know who to talk to and where to go once your dress has arrived. If your dress arrives before you do, some hotels will have it waiting your room for you when you check in. If the hotel is willing to hold your dress for a couple of days and can ensure its safety, you may want to send your dress to arrive a couple of days ahead of you in the event that it should get lost in the shipping process.

When choosing a shipping service for your dress, spare no expense. Choose a carrier that offers online package tracking, signature confirmation and some form of insurance. Follow your dress online every step of the way, and be sure to know which employee signed for the dress in case it is misplaced in the hotel.

Once your dress is with you in Las Vegas, chances are that it will be wrinkled from the shipping process. In most cases the wrinkles are minor and can be steamed out by hanging in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. But, in the event that your dress needs a full professional pressing, you will need to arrange a rush service at a dry cleaner before you get into town. Many hotels offer this service, and if you had your dress shipped in advance might be willing to handle this for you before you even get off the plane. If your hotel does not, find a local dry cleaner and call them to make sure that if you drop your dress off immediately after it arrives the job will be done in time for the wedding.

Las Vegas weddings are supposed to be stress free for the harried bride. Knowing your dress is in good hands, you can kick back by the pool, relax, and enjoy your trip.