Packing for Your Honeymoon

So, you are going off to Europe for your summer honeymoon or to Miami for your winter honeymoon! Or maybe three days in Manhattan or a weekend in Las Vegas! Once you have booked your reservations, the big question is: what should you pack?

Packing Light
Regardless of where you are going, you will have a better trip if you pack light rather than bringing everything you own. There is no romance in lugging around heavy suitcases and chances are, you will only wear a fraction of what you bring along. Besides, packing light will leave room to go shopping and bring back that leather jacket from Italy or that hand-knitted Navaho sweater from New Mexico.

One of Everything
One of everything, just in case, is a good rule to consider – just one evening-dress, one bathing suit, one pair of good shoes that go with everything, etc. On a honeymoon to a traditionally warm locale in the winter, Miami for example, it is a really good idea to bring one warm outfit, just in case. The same goes for anywhere in Europe – take something really warm, just in case. Or you’re going to the mountains in the summer – take at least one outfit for really warm weather. There’s nothing like an extreme weather change to ruin your trip if you are unprepared.

The Essentials
No matter how civilized your destination, pack the personal and medical essentials in your life. You can never depend upon your destination to have them. If you are going to a foreign country, you can be certain that you will not be able to get them when you need them most.

But even domestic locales may not stock what you need or a source is too far away or unavailable. Here are some of the other essentials for a honeymoon—a camera with lots of film if it’s not digital, lots of sunscreen regardless of where you are going, chapstick, a fold up umbrella, your prescriptions filled and any other items you usually need from your local pharmacy including cold remedies, pain killers, and other personal hygiene items, whatever birth control method you are using well stocked, vitamins (especially vitamin C and E) and supplements for twice the time you will be gone in case you become ill and need to take more, enough money in travelers' checks to get you out of serious trouble, and for those times when you are actually alone and waiting on the world, a small packet of thank you notes, your address book and stamps, a really good book and a well-stocked IPod. Then, put those essentials in your carry-on bag.

Forget the…
You are on your honeymoon, so forget the laptop, which will annoy your spouse and carries the risk of being lost or stolen with all of your most precious information. Speaking of precious things, leave your expensive jewelry at home for the same reason.

Pack for fun, relaxation and the flexibility to change your plans at a moment’s notice.