Packing for a trip is a enormous feat for men & women alike, but it’s more often women who tend to pack almost all of their belongings into multiple suitcases with the idea :idea: that they will decide what to wear when they reach their destination. Having so many clothes to select from only adds to confusion & indecision when it’s time to dress for a meeting or a night out on the town. It’s even more important to avoid stress on your honeymoon. This situation can be avoided, how ever, by following a few simple rules.

First things first ? Check the weather & the itinerary at your destination, so you can plan your outfits ahead of time. Chances are that you already know most of your honeymoon plans, so take advantage of it, & save yourself some stress at the same time! When choosing your outfits attempt to mix & match as much as possible. You’ll be completely amazed at how easy it’s to get dressed when you have it all planned out ahead of time!

The easiest pieces to mix & match with are ‘neutral’ bottoms. A neutral color can be any of the following ? black, tan, white, khaki, navy, gray, & denim. Whether it be in the form of accessories, shoes, or a top, adding color to neutrals will make you honeymoon ready. Choose a neutral color or two & pack many different bottoms in those neutrals, such as a skirt, shorts, & pants, & throw in some colorful tops, jackets, accessories, & shoes & you’re set! You’ll be easily able to mix & match to create a new outfit every day from only a few basic pieces.

After you have checked your itinerary & have decided what you’ll pack to wear, it is time to make certain all your laundry is done. Start laundering your clothing the week before you’ll be leaving so everything will be clean & ready for packing. Do you follow? This theory also applies to anything that needs to be dry cleaned. Go ahead & get all dry cleaning completed before starting the packing process.

There is a little trick to packing without wrinkling your clothing ? it is called ‘rolling.’ Folding causes creases in your clothing, but rolling does not. The trick to getting the perfect ‘roll’ is to start with a smooth, wrinkle-free garment. If you roll up a wrinkled shirt, it will, of course, remain wrinkled, thus defeating the whole purpose. Another advantage of rolling is that it saves more space than folding does. You’ll be easily able to fit more into your suitcase by rolling. Do not actually be afraid to tightly pack rolled clothing.

Here are a few more packing tips to follow:

Pack your suitcase with the heavier items on the bottom.

Avoid taking clothing that you have not yet worn. You may not like the outfit as much as you thought you would

If you plan on doing some shopping while on your honeymoon, pack an extra carry on bag or leave a little extra room in your suitcase.

Stuff your underwear & socks into shoes & other empty spaces.

Wrap any belts you’re bringing around the perimeter of the suitcase.

Find travel size items of your most used (and bulky) items, such as shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, shaving cream, & deodorant.

Tuck some safety pins & stain remover pads or pen into your bag for unexpected emergencies.

Take a small travel candle or room spray (or both) to make stuffy rooms more palatable & to keep the bathroom ‘fresh.’ Do not let odors ruin a romantic mood. Incidentally, a small cologne spray in a fragrance that you’re not wearing can be a great room freshener. Just use it sparingly!

If possible, take only one pair of shoes for cocktails or dinner & coordinate outfits around the shoes.

Do the same for beach shoes & comfortable shoes for shopping or sightseeing trips. Footwear can take up too much space in the suitcase, so taking a pair for every possible outfit is unwise.

If plans include snow-skiing, consider shipping the bulky gear & clothing to the hotel or condo ahead of time & taking only essentials in easy- to -carry luggage when flying. Of course, you would need to call your place of lodging & make arrangements with the concierge before you ship. Doing so will increase the chances that your belongings will remain secure until your arrival.

Having a successful trip really depends on how well you PLAN before you pack!!

Erin Sharplin Love is a Certified Fashion & Image Consultant & a Certified Wedding Coordinator. If you had like to learn more about Erin or her services go straight to http://www.panachebyerin.com