We were on a southwest flight and a whole wedding party was on it…with their garb in tow. They had NO other carry on bags except each had a purse or a backpack…but no suitcases. They paid for A list boarding…and used full overhead bins for the dresses. Brides went on top.
And this raises another question – is it safe for an amateur to steam a wedding dress? Or is there a risk of ruining it?
We could certainly have a steamer waiting on the other end (I live on the other end). But we would be scared to use it.
Would we be better off having a professional available at the other end (booked in advance)? And if so, what kind of professional should it be? Cleaners? Tailor? Local bridal shop?
We’re still 3 months out from the wedding, so there’s time to make arrangements with a professional – or to buy a steamer if it’s safe to use one.
We have a local boutique in my small town. The owner was steaming a fancy dress for a customer, one that hadn’t been bought there.
I would contact a bridal store and make an appointment.
If anything unusual happened on the flight–a button needs thread, for example, they would know
what to do.
My GF is from Spain. When she married here her mother purchased a first class seat for the dress.
The mother sat in coach.
We’re done & I’m sitting in an airport terminal waiting for my plane to board – but the weather gods were very nice to us for the Seattle outdoor wedding, in the bride’s grandmothers back yard, which has a lovely view overlooking Portage Bay. Another highlight – two bald eagles circling the bay, visible in the background behind the bride & groom & officiant. My grandson was included in the ceremony as both ringbearer and participant (the bride made her own vows to him as his now official step-mom).
@calmom, that sounds lovely. I hope the photographer captured the eagles.
Smart people of CC: Thank you for the advice on flights and on taking care of the gown at the destination.
@calmom, how wonderful! So happy it went well and it sounds just beautiful.
Congratulations, @jym626! Welcome to the club! Back in the day I flew from NYC to Buffalo with my wedding gown and it flew in the cockpit with the crew! They had a hanging rack in there and were happy to help with my dress. Not sure if that would work today.
Thank you @runnersmom! While this is #2 for us, each is different and we start afresh with whatever they want. We have no idea what that is, though. Am anticipating this will be low key.
Congratulations, @jym626 … I have been out of town & missed all your news! @calmom , I was in Seattle for a wedding this past Saturday … what an amazing day it was!!
Congrats to all, those with newly engaged kids, the ones still planning, and those now seeing the ceremonies accomplished. It’s sweet that you all share.
D just graduated Medical school and we just returned from Boston.
She and FSIL have decided =D> to take the money and run.
Well, not exactly but they will have a 22 person wedding here on Sept. 9th (as fits into her residency
schedule) and on Sept. 16th a “PARTY” in Boston for 100 as their many friends are on the East coast.
FSIL is an architect and able to exchange services for both the food and the venue.
I am seriously relieved. I just could not imagine a wedding for 150 planned in 4 months on the opposite coast from where they live. They are convinced that they could have made it happen and great. :-B
For myself, I am thrilled. We are invited to the “PARTY” but are quickly convincing them we do not need to attend. We did get a chance to see the warehouse venue and even see a big party going on–
neat space and super noisy. H and I do not see the need for the parents at a “PARTY”…
as we will have been with them days before for the serious stuff.
It was an interesting process. If we had given D the amount of money we planned for her
wedding only for a wedding they would be having a 150 here. Once she did the math and
realized they could walk away with $$ from us and from his parent’s contribution she quickly
realized that she wanted to save.
Congrats, calmom! The weather gods were indeed very generous.
good advice in here: http://www.thekitchn.com/8-rules-for-giving-the-best-wedding-favors-ever-244741?
Argh! I was interested in throwing a small shower for my niece but now her mom wants me to have 40 people attend, much more than the 10-20 I had envisioned and is suggesting it be at a restaurant. It is getting MUCH bigger and pricier than I was interested in.
@HImom As you are the hostess, you have my permission to host the kind of shower YOU wish to give. Since when do others get to dictate the terms of generosity of others?!
I may bow out entirely. This is one reason I rarely do much of anything with dear sister. 
I love her but she is very challenging. I told her I’d be happy to cater all the food for the large group if she reserves the clubhouse at her gated community but she’s balking. She really wants me to hostess a huge event at a friend’s CClub for a ton of people I honestly don’t care about.
I’m thinking we aunts will just take niece out to a nice dessert with the aunties and female cousins or something. H is irritated too. I would be happy to host a modest shower for 10-20, like was held for niece’s older sisters.
As it is, we are paying for D to be at Vegas bachelorette and both our kids are flying to HI for the wedding (they both flew in for older nieces weddings too). D and all the bridesmaids also have to buy their own dresses and alterations. Sister doesn’t realize that the more we spend, the smaller the wedding gift will be.
Really? Thought showers were GIVEN by someone sort of as a nice gesture…not dictated by others.
And everyone doesn’t need to be invited to…or even WANT to be invited to multiple,showers. So…if there are people you don’t know @HImom maybe one of THEM could host another shower at the country club.
@HImom sounds like your sister is being a MOB-Zilla! When someone offers to throw your kid a shower, don’t dictate what it’s going to be.
HIMom, I think your sister has a lot of chutzpah assuming you’d be willing to pay for a restaurant event for 40! I’d hold firm with the offer you are comfortable making.