Of everything you’ll pack for a destination wedding, the dress is the one you’ll think about most. It’s precious, it’s often big, and it can’t be replaced the night before.

With a little planning, it can travel with you and arrive ready to wear. Here’s what to know before you fly, whether you’re heading to Rarotonga, Queenstown or home from London.

Carry it on if you can

If you can, keep your dress with you in the cabin. Air New Zealand’s economy allowance is one carry-on bag up to 7kg, plus a small personal item, and the bag can be up to 55cm by 40cm by 23cm.

Premium Economy and Business Premier passengers on Air New Zealand get two carry-on bags with a combined weight of up to 14kg, and neither bag can be over 10kg. That extra allowance can make room for a garment bag alongside your other essentials.

Air New Zealand’s baggage pages don’t mention wedding dresses or garment bags. So call the airline before you fly, explain what you’re carrying and ask how they’d suggest you bring it.

Qantas does mention wedding dresses. Its carry-on page says a non-rigid garment bag, such as a wedding dress or suit bag, goes under the seat in front or in an overhead locker. It counts towards your carry-on allowance and can be up to 114cm by 60cm by 11cm.

On Qantas international flights, economy passengers get one overhead bag and one personal item, up to 7kg. Jetstar’s Starter fare includes two carry-on items with a combined weight of 7kg, and Jetstar has flagged changes to its carry-on rules, so check closer to your flight.

Board early if you can, so there’s still space in the overhead locker. A polite word with the cabin crew about what’s in the bag rarely goes astray.

Pack it with care

Ask your bridal boutique or dressmaker how best to fold and pack your gown. They know the fabric and the structure, and some will pack it for you.

A breathable garment bag keeps dust and marks off the dress. Tissue paper between the folds helps reduce creasing, and a separate bag for the veil keeps it from snagging.

Pack the small things in your carry-on, too. Shoes, jewellery, your veil and anything handmade are much harder to replace than a pair of jandals.

If your dress has to go in the hold, Air New Zealand lets each checked bag weigh up to 23kg before excess fees apply. A sturdy suitcase with the dress packed in the middle, surrounded by soft clothes, gives it the most protection.

Don’t forget the suits. A suit travels well in a garment bag too, and Qantas lists suit bags under the same carry-on rule as wedding dresses.

When you arrive

Unpack the dress as soon as you reach your accommodation and hang it somewhere high, away from sunlight. Hanging gives the creases a chance to drop out.

Book a steaming or pressing service near your venue before you leave, or ask your venue or planner who they’d recommend. Check with your dressmaker before anyone takes an iron to it.

A travel steamer can be handy for small touch-ups, but test it on a hidden spot first. Keep it well away from beading, lace and delicate fabrics unless your dressmaker says it’s safe.

If you’re marrying somewhere humid, keep the dress in its breathable bag until the morning of the wedding. It’ll stay fresher, and it’ll be one less thing to worry about while you get ready.

Airline rules change, so check your airline’s own baggage pages before you fly. Then you can stop worrying about the dress, and save that energy for the moment you put it on.