Wedding Planning - Packing For Your Honeymoon Getaway

The moment will soon come when the only pre-wedding task left to think about is packing for your honeymoon. With all the other hectic last-minute details that are usually lingering so close to the wedding, you may even forget that you still have to take care of this "minor" detail. Rest assured, packing for your honeymoon will likely be one of your simplest, and maybe even your most enjoyable, pre-wedding task to take care of. The very thought of preparing for a weeklong getaway-- for just the two of you-- should be enough motivation to get it done. But, before you and your soon-to-be hubby trek off on that long-awaited romantic vacation, you may want to read through the following helpful packing tips.

· The key to successful packing is keeping your luggage light and filled with mainly the essentials (with a few extras). Forget about lugging every outfit and pair of shoes you own. Pack sensibly and consider the destination you are heading for, as well as the activities you both plan on doing while there. If your honeymoon will involve sand, sun and water, then you can probably leave your heavy coat at home.

· Pack clothing that you can mix and match, and layer as well. Solid colors in black, white, navy, grays and khaki are best, and match well with almost every other color. Bring items of clothing that will be versatile (clothing that can be dressed up for the evening or dressed down for your casual daytime activities). Accessories-- such as scarves, a little evening bag and jewelry--are great for dressing up your outfits for an evening out.

· You won't want to drag your bulky iron with you on this trip, so consider this when you are choosing the clothing you will pack. Think wrinkle-free or wrinkle-resistant materials. Linen is one of your worst options, as it wrinkles very easily. You can also reduce wrinkles by keeping your outfits on their hangers, and pack them into your suitcase with one large fold. Keep those handy bags your clothes come in from the drycleaner and fold your outfits inside those. Lastly, hang your outfits up as soon as possible when you get to your hotel room, rather than leaving your clothing bunched up in your suitcases the whole trip.

· Leave your high heels at home and think about comfort. It would be wise to bring one good pair of walking shoes as well as another comfortable pair of casual shoes. A pair of dress shoes-- such as strappy sandals with a slight heel-- could be paired with some of your casual outfits as well as your dressier evening outfits.

· Always pack extra socks and underwear so you won't have to worry about the possibility of running out (or having to wash anything) while on your honeymoon. These items are pretty lightweight and take up only a minimal amount of space. You can stuff the extra pairs of socks into shoes, or place them in the small corners of your suitcase where nothing else will fit.

· Whenever possible, pack travel-sized toiletries. You may also want to call the hotel you will be staying at and ask them about what will be provided to you during your stay. If you still want to bring your own shampoo, conditioner, etc, remember again to buy them in the smaller travel-sized bottles.

· Your hotel room may also be equipped with a blow dryer and/or other items you won't have to worry about bringing. Call before packing and ask them what will be available to you. Leaving bulky items such as a blow dryer will free up a lot of room in your suitcase.

· Store any kind of liquids (such as shampoo, conditioner, gel, etc) in sealable plastic bags, or any waterproof bag. If any of those items should happen to leak or break, you won't have to worry about cleaning up a mess in your bag.

· If you will be heading to a sunny destination, don't forget to pack your sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, and of course-- your bathing suits! Consider bringing a hat as well to keep more of those hot rays off of your face.

· If traveling out of the country, remember to pack an electrical adapter/converter.

· Don't forget to pack the following essentials in your carry-on bags: toothbrush/small tube of toothpaste (or breath mints), small makeup bag, your hairbrush and a change of clothing for each of you. If you both get delayed somewhere for a long period of time-- or your luggage gets lost-- you'll be happy to have immediate access to these essentials for freshening up. Some other items you will probably want to keep in your carry-on could include: a beverage (for both of you), several snacks, and antacids/aspirin. Any prescription medicines (in their original bottles), motion sickness pills (if needed) and eyewear should be placed in your carry-on as well.

· It's a good idea to pack an extra foldable, lightweight tote or duffel bag for bringing your souvenirs and other shopping finds home in.

· Label all pieces of luggage (on the inside as well as the outside), and use a good lock on the luggage that will be checked in.

· Lastly, keep your airline/rail tickets, itinerary, visa/passport, driver's license, cash/travelers checks, credit cards and important phone numbers on you, or in your purse at all times. Keep all valuables-- such as jewelry, cameras, etc-- by your side in your carry-on as well.

Relax now, enjoy your upcoming trip and don't forget to bring some film for the camera, and stamps for sending out postcards!