Honeymoon: Dressed for success

By Kristin Bates, Up North Bride

After the emotional wedding ceremony and reception, most couples are off to start their lives together on their honeymoon.

With all the planning involved in pulling off the perfect wedding, it is easy to leave packing details until the last minute. This can result in time lost replacing forgotten items once arriving at the destination.

A good idea to avoid this mess is creating a packing list. Whether you create one list, a list for his and hers, or incorporate an ours list, by making a copy and keeping it with your carry-on luggage, honeymooners are prepared if their luggage is lost or stolen.

“I would suggest checking a 10-day weather forecast for your destination. This way, you know what to expect. Why take a bunch of stuff you aren’t going to need,” said Jeff Pagel, owner of The Clothes Post in Petoskey.

Here are some suggestions for packing for a successful honeymoon trip, according to the website www.theknot.com.

For the bride, make sure to include a pair of jeans or khakis and a lightweight jacket. Also, a sundress, little black dress and a cardigan are good attire for late night dinners.

Those headed for a warmer destination should pack two swimsuits and a cover-up. For everyday wear, include four play shirts, which are short-sleeve button downs, tank tops and T-shirts, along with two pair of shorts. It is a good idea to pack a pair of walking shoes or sandals as well as a pair of evening shoes. Along with lingerie, add some accessories such as jewelry and scarves which will help stretch the wardrobe throughout the trip.

“For the groom, it is a good idea to include a sports coat or suit coat. Along with a nice pair of pants and a couple of shirts, a sports coat will add some versatility to their wardrobe,” said Pagel.

Other important items for the groom to consider are a lightweight jacket, a swimsuit, a pair of jeans or khakis, and four shirts. For recreation, it is recommended to pack a pair of walking shoes and tennis shoes.

“An easy way to incorporate color and switch up an evening’s attire is to use a pocket square or hanky, which is folded into the top left pocket of a sports coat. This is something that is a forgotten accessory and has recently become more popular, especially for men who feel a tie is too constraining,“ said Pagel.

For toiletries, which can be expensive at different destinations or hard to find, make sure to include deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, razors, shaving cream, cosmetics and lotion, as well as two travel size toothbrushes and toothpaste.

After all, who wants to waste time shopping when there is a honeymoon to enjoy?

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