Deciding What To Pack For Your Honeymoon

This entry is from our Expert Guest series where wedding and honeymoon professionals share their best tips on creating memories that last a lifetime.

Deciding what to pack for your honeymoon. You don’t want to over-pack and end up with overweight baggage fees, and you don’t want to under-pack and end up having to purchase things you need. While some of the specific items we mention below may vary according to where you are going, this list will give you the basic for warmer honeymoon destinations, along with some tips for packing.

Carry-On

You want to put in your carry-on everything that is necessary for your vacation/wedding. Include in here a bathing suit, cover up, and one outfit for dinner, too. This way, if your luggage gets lost, you won’t have a problem enjoying your vacation and you’ll still have everything you need for your wedding.

• Passport and other IDs
• Airplane Tickets/Boarding Passes
• Hotel Reservation Confirmation
• Shuttle/Transportation Confirmation
• Copy of Travel Insurance
• Credit cards, wallet, cash (for tipping)
• Medicine (in original bottle)
• Jewelry
• Contact info for closest US Embassy and closest/best hospital in the area
• Contact Info for Dr, house/pet sitter, etc.
• One swimsuit and cover up, plus one light outfit
• Camera
• Cell Phones (fully charged)
• Head Phones
• Sleeping Mask, Neck Pillow
• Books, Magazines, E-Reader/Tablet

Check-In Bag, Hers

• Swimsuits and Cover-ups (I recommend 2)
• Sundresses (at least one nice one for the evenings)
• Tanks, tees, and tops (2 total)
• Shorts, skirts, pants, and bottoms (2 total)
• Flip flops for the pool/beach
• Shoes for dinner/going out (1 pair heels)
• A wrap/sweater, in the event you’re somewhere chilly
• Workout clothing (sports bra, top, bottom, sneakers, socks)
• Sunglasses
• Extra batteries, memory cards, etc. for camera
• Hat/cap for the sun
• Strapless bra
• Underwear, Socks, Bras, etc.
• Sleepwear
• Accessories
• Evening purse/clutch
• Phone/Tablet chargers
• Adapter

Check-In Bag, His

• Jeans or khakis
• 1 pair nice slacks
• Shorts (2)
• Light jacket/pullover
• Casual shirts (T-shirts or tanks)
• Button-down and/or Polos (1 of each)
• 1 sports jacket
• Swimming trunks (2)
• 1 pair sneakers
• 1 pair sandals/flip flops
• Extra socks and underwear
• Undershirts
• Hat/cap for the sun
• Small backpack for excursions

Check-In Bag, Toiletries

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, whitening strips, mouth wash (travel size)
• Hair styling products
• Curling/Straightening Iron, Hair Dryer
• Deodorant
• Makeup and Makeup remover
• Cotton ball/swabs
• Q-tips
• Comb/Brush
• Razor and Shaving Cream
• After-Shave
• Feminine Hygiene products
• Contraceptives
• Contact lenses, case and solution
• Bug Spray
• Immodium
• Aloe Vera
• SPF 50 or above
• Shampoo/Conditioner (resort probably provides)
• Soap/Shower Gel
• Body Lotion (resort probably provides)
• Chapstick with SPF
• Tweezers
• Small scissors
• Perfume/Cologne
• Advil/Tylenol/Aleve
• Band-Aids

Extras To Pack For Your Honeymoon

Something I missed? Make sure to add it to your own printed packing list!

To Do Before Leaving:

• Make copies of the following and leave with someone at home:
  •  Passport
  •  Birth Certificates
  •  All travel itinerary
• Call your cell phone provider to inquire about adding an international package to your plan while you are abroad; some might be able to add this for free or for a small prorated fee if traveling to Mexico and the Caribbean. Otherwise, turn off the data on your phone and download WhatsApp, Viber, or another messaging app so that you can communicate with people via WiFi.
• Purchase Tourist Card/Visa, if necessary
• Have your mail held through USPS
• Call your credit card companies and notify them of your travel plans
• Let USPS know that you’re traveling and ask them to hold your mail
• Pay any bills that will become due while you’re away
• Clean out perishables from fridge. Ask someone staying behind to get some groceries for you the day you’re to arrive, so your fridge won’t be empty when you come home
• Turn off appliances/electronics. Set thermostat.

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Author Bio: Sharon Kopp is a destination wedding bride turned destination wedding and travel specialist. Through Barefoot Bridal, she helps brides and their guests book their travel and accommodations to various locations, focusing mostly on the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii, and helps brides plan their weddings.