During the wedding season, traveling is the first card on the deck. It becomes more noticeable for destination weddings going on all over the world. One of the first things an attendee to a wedding needs is a well packed suitcase, you’ll be far away from home and you don’t want to be doing last minute shopping miles when you are away from the venue or hotel, this would only take back prep and transportation time.
As a traveler, I’ve found myself few times in this situation, not pleasant at all. Reason why I’ve brought a few useful pieces of advice when we talk about packing for a destination wedding.
The following list can be modified as you like, depending on your relevance order and mostly on the type of wedding you’re attending to.
7. Bring a portable gift, or select a lightweight one
If the couple you’re shopping for has a registry, you should probably check that first.
If the couple has a registry, you should go through it before buying anything for them. You don’t want them having unintended doubles which will have to give away soon after they get them.
That bone china set would look gorgeous on their special dinners and that you wanted to give them as a gift so much will have to be postponed for another time. Bringing a lightweight gift is the best option when it comes to traveling with it inside your bag.
Another option is to send it right to their home or work, where they can receive it later -it will also have the wow factor because they won’t be expecting it at all.
Some ideas on lightweight gifts can be found right here.
6. One outfit or two?
My advice, taken from personal experiences, is that it’s a thousand times better to kill two birds with one stone. With this, it’s better to have two outfits, a base wear and one for the party.
A base outfit can work out on later days or on your trip back home. A new shirt can be the difference between more space in your suitcase for the swimwear or a few extra clothes to hang out in the city.
Now, a party outfit for the wedding with very different clothes from the ones you’ll use any other day will help a lot, and will stand out of any other outfit you have in your suitcase. Packing suits can be a thing, a very delicate one due to the stiff fabric in some parts of it and how wrinkly it is, picture that beautiful silky clothes being folded and put together with a bunch of things.
When it comes to dresses, the finesse of some of these can help a million times more when being packed, you can just roll it up, or fold it delicately.
You should consider packing the outfit or outfits for the event in a bag specifically for it, where there’s no risk of ruining it more than a few small tiny wrinkles.
5. Don’t forget about accessories and extras
Add all accessories you’ll be needing that day, an extra pair of socks, an extra tie that matches with the suit or any other shirt you have in your suitcase, this goes for the gentlemen.
Ladies, do not dare to forget about that necklace and those earrings that you chose 3 months ago, do not dare to be at the airport line, having a flashback how they were perfectly put next to your lamp in your night table and how much you regret not having them in your suitcase.
Packing extra clothes, accessories, undergarments, shirts, blouses, and any other item you know you’ll be needing later after can save you a lot of time and even an extra last minute rush.
4. Use compression bags, they’ll help with space
There’s nothing worse than a thick big beach towel. Here’s where compression bags will help you with all the humongous space they occupy. It’s incredible how much they can take when you fold them. In case you have any other thick item, there’s no better method to pack it.
3. Pack a laundry bag, you’ll need it
Okay, there’s a huge probability that the hotel or place you’re staying in has a laundry bag and even laundry service, but those clothes you’ll use during your last day or night there will fall right into the pile with the rest of washed clothes, and smells will mix. Let me assure you that right from experience.
To avoid this by all means, take a laundry bag with you. It won’t take much space in your luggage, at all. Try to carry one with you and a hermetic one, smells will be totally compressed inside till you open it again to wash your clothes at home.
Extra tip: These types of bags are a wonderful idea to keep toiletries and avoid spills of any kind, spills will ruin your socks from your nightwear and the first thing we want to do is skipping this horrible part of any trip.
2. Hang your clothes, All of them
Oooh, dear, dear wrinkles in your most appreciated dress, a nightmare when all irons seem to fade away around you. Nifty clothes are desired by anyone, even more after a long, long trip to any place in the world. It’s a real pain on the neck not having an iron to flatten those beautiful wrinkles messing up with your outfit.
A very practical item to get rid of these is an electric steam iron, compact and easy to carry around with you anywhere you need it.
1. Have a packing list
During my forgetful life -that means my whole existence- I’ve discovered that making a list can delete so many problems off your day, trip, shop, duties, et cetera. Having a list will bring pure organization and you won’t leave absolutely anything off your luggage.
Creating it a few days before will help a lot in case you have to wash your clothes or buy any tie or pair of shoes that go along with the outfit.
Here, you’ll find a plain list of items that must go yes or yes in your list assuming you’re making a weekend out of this out of town wedding.
The complete list for men:
Wear on Friday:
- Pants/shorts
- Shoes
- Shirt
- Light jacket, if needed
Pack:
- Shirt for Saturday morning
- Suit and jacket
- Dress shirt
- Tie
- Belt
- Shoes for suit
- Socks
- Shirt to travel home in
- Undergarments
- Toiletries
- Electronics
The complete list for women:
Wear on Friday:
- Pants/shorts
- Shoes
- Shirt
- Light jacket, if needed
Pack:
- Shirt for Saturday morning
- Dress for wedding
- Shoes to match the dress
- Accessories for wedding, including jewelry, undergarments, etc.
- Shirt to travel home in
- Undergarments
- Toiletries
- Electronics
