With friends and family spread out across the country, not to mention the growing popularity of weddings abroad, many of us are now traveling ever further from our homes to the wedding destination.
And whilst the process of getting to a wedding can be an exciting part of the overall experience, it also presents something of a problem: how you’re going to keep your carefully-chosen outfit in mint condition ready for the big day. After all, long distances and carefully-pressed finery are not easy bed-fellows.
So in the hope of making your wedding experience go with a swing here are seven tips to help you look your best even when attending weddings abroad.
Don’t Travel To Weddings Abroad In Your Outfit
Unless it’s unavoidable try not to travel in your wedding outfit. Not only is travelling in casual clothes more enjoyable and more practical but wearing your wedding outfit also risks it getting damaged, dirty or creased. The heat of the human body together with the natural moisture from our skin while we’re curled up in a car, train or aero plane can be a recipe for disaster that even an experienced dry cleaner may need time to resolve.
Make a Checklist
At a certain point in your journey to a wedding, you’ll be too far from home to turn around and go back for anything that you forgot. Consequently, it’s wise to make a checklist that covers what you plan to wear at the wedding. This should include everything from your suit or dress down to the tiny finishing touches like cufflinks or earrings. By checking off items as you pack them for weddings abroad you can be certain you won’t get any nasty surprises when you unpack your luggage at your final destination.
Use a Garment Carrier
Suitcases have their place in modern travel but for a flowing gown or dinner jacket they’re likely to add enough creases to really take the edge off your appearance. For this reason a garment carrier can be a far more practical alternative and will help you to keep your outfit in perfect condition. A smart idea is to look for a carrier which folds in the middle to prevent you constantly tripping over it.
Roll Ties and Scarves
Ties, shawls and pashminas have a nasty habit of falling off coat hangers inside garment carriers and sitting crunched at the bottom of the bag. A better way to avoid unnecessary creasing is to gently roll these items up. This also enables them to be packed in a separate bag or suitcase rather than utilizing your garment carrier.
Arrive Early
No matter how carefully you transport your wedding outfit, extended traveling time can still lead to some gentle creasing. As a result it is a wise idea to arrive the day before the wedding wherever possible, thus giving you time to hang your garments up overnight where many creases will drop out naturally.
Remember The Iron
Whilst a suit or gown in a garment carrier will normally survive the journey in far better condition than those packed tightly into suitcases, garments made from thinner fabrics – such as shirts – may still suffer.
Therefore it’s wise to either check that your destination (hotel, friend’s house, etc.) will have an iron available if you need it. Alternatively, take along a small travel iron of your own. This is especially important for weddings abroad where your garments will be in transit for longer periods of time while facilities at your destination may be more tailored to casual tourists than wedding guests. Just be sure to check the voltage and bring along a compatible appliance for your destination.
Whichever option you go for, try to ensure that the iron in question has a steam function. The reason for this is that complicated ball gowns can be next to impossible to press without professional equipment. However in many situations stubborn creases can be removed by simply hanging the garment up while applying some high pressure steam.
Take Spares and Accessories
Even you’re lucky enough to have confidently picked out the dress or suit you plan to wear at the event there are still a range of ways to accessorize your outfit. From ties, waistcoats and cufflinks for gentlemen to a range of jewellery, shoes and scarves for ladies there are infinite ways to dress up an outfit. By taking a range of accessories with you, you’ll be in an ideal position to modify your outfit depending on the situation without adding significantly to your baggage.