A Simple Guide to Honeymoon Packing

By Mary Martin Niepold
Copley News Service

A honeymoon, besides other obvious pleasures, offers the bride another bonus: She can pack with a light hand and a sure touch for pieces that will make her look as fabulous as she feels.

Let's say it's a summer wedding and she and her husband are heading for the tropics, as most American honeymooners do. What a season for the bride to look downright romantic, not to mention sexy!

Sibilla Patrizi, senior fashion editor of O magazine, puts it this way: "You don't actually need that much for a honeymoon, because hopefully you're naked in your room a lot of the time."

When you're not, says Patrizi, have fun with the current fashions, which are refreshingly feminine and romantic: "There are peasant shirts, off-the-shoulder everything, dresses (everything from knit stretches to very romantic chiffon), layered skirts and ruffled skirts."

The packing list for Patrizi, who has spent two decades traveling the world for photo shoots for magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Mirabella, Elle and Vanity Fair, adds up simply for fabulous possibilities: An off-the-shoulder short-sleeve top, one or two sundresses, one or two one-piece bathing suits that she can wear as a body suit, two pairs of draw-string pants, two or three T-shirts, the perfect white shirt, two pairs of sandals, two pairs of flip-flops, several sarongs, which you can buy at your honeymoon destination if you like.

"Something has to be white, something has to be black, and around that, add color," Patrizi says.

Her styling tips for making multiple looks: Wear the big shirt over the big pants, a tight top (or bathing suit) with the big pants; and you can wear the big shirt tied at the waist (with the skirt or pants) or worn open. (A major look right now, she says, is "the slouchy look," so pants should be wide-leg or a designer take on the cargo pant.) Wear the sarong with a bathing suit and flip-flops for lunch. In sandals, the colored suede flip-flops by Manolo Blahnik (around $400) are very hot and very pretty; fortunately, brides can find almost exact copies at Victoria's Secret for around $29. She recommends J. Crew for beach flip-flops. Another tip from Patrizi, "Go to Coach and buy a heeled mule. It's the shoe of the season and wear it at night."

Yolanda Crous is senior travel editor at Bride's and offers packing reminders grounded in honeymoon common sense. "Don't overpack because inevitably you'll bring back a ton more back than you came with. Remember to leave room in your suitcase for all your fun honeymoon purchases."

Like Patrizi, Crous says to keep shoes at a minimum; she also likes flip-flops and slides and recommends wearing your athletic shoes (the heaviest part of your packing) on the plane. For the groom, Crous says a button-down shirt and one nice pair of khakis or linen pants should do it, but to call ahead to find out if there is a dress code that requires a jacket.

When it's time to actually pack, Crous says to write it down first. "Plan it, put it on your bed, then try to see if there's anything you can take out. Remember, you can always buy at the destination and make do."

In addition to the fashion pieces that can go to more than one function, Crous says to remember to pack the basics: bathing suits, underwear and contraceptives. Another great reminder: "You can have your washing done at your resort. You'll have a sink, so bring a little Woolite." Crous says to throw in a sweater to wear at night and to keep expensive jewelry to a minimum.

"I think honeymoons kind of defy trends, especially tropical honeymoons," notes Crous. "You may buy clothes for the beach you'll never wear in the city. And if you've ever tried wearing a black outfit on the beach, you not only get very hot, but you look very foolish." Black devotees, she says, should get converted to lime, lilac, baby orange and pink before they leave — and it's a great season for just those colors.

Since only one carry-on bag per person is now allowed, many couples play it safe by packing one complete change of clothes in it. Crous points out that the increased diligence has prompted many to actually check in more luggage. That, however, does not mean over-doing — you do not need a complete change of head-to-toe outfit for every occasion! If you've ever had to make a mad dash to the airport, you'll want to keep luggage to a minimum.

At Coach, the nylon Transatlantic Collection (including wheel-alongs, travel satchels and gorgeous colors like red and purple) is as beautiful to see as it to pack. Reed Krakoff, Coach president and executive creative director, notes that beyond the aesthetics of luggage, "It is important that the luggage you choose is light-weight, water-resistant and maneuverable to stand up to the demands of rigorous travel. Many people," he notes, "are traveling with smaller pieces of luggage that can be tucked under a seat or placed overhead on a plane. It is key to have a travel satchel or tote that you can use for an overnight trip, weekend trip or day out on the town." Totes, especially, are great for going to the beach or strolling the streets wherever your honeymoon takes you.

Finally, Patrizi offers a tip she learned from all her years packing for fashions photographed all over the world.

"Lay everything flat, never fold. A duffel bag is perfect. You can also get them with wheels and the clothes don't shift. Just pack the shoes and pieces with volume on the sides. Think about it," she smiles, "when things arrive, they're even more pressed."