The Ultimate Honeymoon Packing List

Wondering what to pack for your honeymoon? Weddings are exciting, but they are also extremely stressful to plan. If you’re in the process of planning one right now, you know better than anyone how high tensions are when planning such important life events.

To make things a little easier and allow you to focus on the wedding planning itself, I put together a honeymoon packing list which contains all the essential items for a delightful honeymoon. From toiletries, through necessary clothing, to smart items you should take with you, this packing list will come in handy for you or your honeymoon organiser.

Honeymoon packing list (and why it’s important)

Let’s fast forward just a little bit past the wedding itself and focus on the one trip that everyone places so much importance on. The one trip that marks you and your significant other as partners for life; a trip that is meant to be the most extraordinary, romantic journey you will ever take. And naturally, you need to ensure you have the right honeymoon checklist in sight, so your holiday is stress and worries free.

By now you probably know exactly where you would like to go, but are perhaps scratching your head at all the things you will need to organise before embarking on your journey. Well, worry not, in this handy honeymoon packing list I have collected all the important things you need to take with you to have a worry-free honeymoon.

Do you know why honeymoons have become the must-do thing after you get married? Well, in Western culture the honeymoon began in the early 19th Century in Great Britain. At the time it was also known as a Bridal Tour, a trip designed primarily for the newlyweds upper class (and occasionally accompanied by friends and relatives), that aimed to visit all those poor souls that couldn’t go to the wedding itself for whatever early 19th century reasons.

Nowadays, a honeymoon destination could be just about anywhere depending on your preference of holiday, especially with the accessibility of long-haul flights that can take you from one end of the world to another. Generally speaking, however, the current trend suggests that couples tend to choose destinations that are deemed more exotic and romantic. Where will you go?

Wherever you decide you want to take this special holiday, spending some time fine-tuning the preparations for your honeymoon will keep you feeling at ease that everything is taken care of. Creating a plan of all the things you and your significant other will need to arrange and pack before you jet off allows you one less thing to stress about in the run-up to the big day.

Important things to pack for your honeymoon

Here we take a look at all the items that you will need for your honeymoon, which quite frankly if you were to go without them you would not be able to get to your honeymoon.

• Airline/transport tickets – you have decided where you want to go for your honeymoon, now to actually get there you need to figure out what method of transport you will be taking and in turn book your tickets. It is always advisable to print your tickets, as well as having them on your phone or email, for added safety.
• Visa – does your destination require you to have a visa to enter the country? You need to look into this early on into the process of choosing your honeymoon destination, as some countries have notoriously long visa application processes.
• Passport & ID
• Travel Insurance – it’s always a good idea to be covered for any unforeseen events
• Confirmation of accommodation reservation – it is usually best to have these details printed out so that you can access them easily and not have to worry about what will happen if your phone dies throughout the journey. In addition, the border force in most countries outside of Europe may ask for the address details of where you will be staying throughout the duration of your stay.
• Wallet/purse – make sure you have local currency and ensure that you have contacted your bank to let them know which cards you will be travelling with.
• Confirmation of reservations for potential rental car, restaurants, and events that you may be attending during your honeymoon. If you are feeling particularly organised, you may want to consider creating a proper itinerary for your holiday, especially if you want to visit multiple events, sights and locations during your travels.
• Hardcopy of important phone numbers – for example, the number of your pet sitter (if you have a pet), or the numbers your family or friends who you’ve bestowed the responsibility of keeping an eye on your house or apartment while you galavant across the globe. With this, you should also keep a hard copy of the numbers of any emergency services at your holiday destination, as well as the numbers of your embassy and hotel.
• Prescription medications – ensure that you have a hard copy of your prescription when travelling and that all medications are in the original box. Countries across the globe have varying laws on prescribed medicines, and there is always the possibility that something that is prescribed in your home country without the blink of an eye, is completely illegal in another country. Check before you travel.
• Contraception – unless of course, you are extending your new family
• ID tags for your luggage – in the unfortunate event that your suitcases go on a detour, an id tag can help locate them again.
• Camera – whilst smartphones nowadays have excellent camera facilities, there is nothing more magical than playing around with a new roll of film and waiting excitedly for the photographs to develop when you get back home. Or alternatively, a digital camera works too. Either way, your honeymoon is a time of memory making, and you will hopefully be creating many photo albums in the future.
• Chargers – a portable charger and relevant cables

Honeymoon Clothing

What you opt to bring with you in terms of clothing largely depends on where you are going for your honeymoon. What will the weather be like? How long will you be travelling for? What activities will you be doing? Are there any local customs about what is and isn’t appropriate to wear that you should be aware of? These are all things that you will need to take into consideration in order to ensure that you have packed for all possible occasions.

Clothing checklist for her

• Comfortable clothes to travel in, particularly if you will be embarking on a long-haul flight – it may be a good idea to also include a change of clothes with you in your carry on just in case your suitcase gets lost.
• Coat/jacket – whether you bring this or not depends on where you are going on your holiday. If you are going somewhere where you will be basking in 30-degree Celsius (86F) heat then a coat is probably an unnecessary addition.
• Cardigan(s) – if you are going to a cold destination then this will be an additional layer to keep you warm. If, on the other hand, you are going to a warm destination, a cardigan will keep you from freezing in indoor locations where the air-conditioning can be both extraordinarily strong and cold.
• Everyday clothing – sundresses / shorts / shirts / t-shirts / trousers / jeans… the list can continue endlessly. In this category pack the clothes that you are happy to wear for all occasions. The main thing to consider here is that in some destinations it is frowned upon for a woman to be overexposed, so garments that are shorter than knee length and tops that expose too much of your shoulders or midriff may be inappropriate for you to wear. No matter your reason for travel being respectful of local customs is a must in order to ensure you stay out of trouble and that you have as an authentic experience as possible.
• Swimwear
• Underwear
• Lingerie
• Socks
• Comfortable shoes – flats / sandals / trainers / espadrilles that you can easily walk in and explore your destination of choice.
• Flip flops
• Formal clothes – dresses / suits / skirts / shirts… anything that you wear when you want to go out and feel dressed up. If you plan on going to some more formal events and restaurants during your holiday, it is likely that these places have a dress code. Make sure you check ahead whether any of your activities require a dress code and pack accordingly.
• Formal shoes – heels/wedges/ nice flats, again depending on where you are going heels may not be the most sensible option, however, having a nice pair of shoes is always advisable especially if you plan on going somewhere with a dress code.
• Everyday bag – something that you can match with everything and is secure.
• Evening bag – or a clutch bag
• Beach bag
• Kaftan(s) / sarong(s)
• Shawl/scarf – these double up as a blanket if you get cold on the aeroplane, but they are also the perfect garment to use in order to cover up your shoulders or your head if you plan on visiting local places of worship.
• Jewellery – only take with you the items you know you will wear, and depending on your destination leave your more valuable items at home. It is usually a good idea to pack your jewellery in your carry on, that way it is safer in the event that your suitcase gets lost along the way.
• Hat(s)
• Sunglasses
• Slippers

Clothing checklist for him

• Comfortable travelling clothes – especially if you are travelling for many hours. You may also want to consider taking a change of clothes with you in your carry on in the event that your suitcase gets lost along the way.
• Coat – useful if you are going to a cold destination, useless if you are going somewhere tropical and warm.
• Jacket – both a casual and a dinner jacket, that way you are prepared for all occasions.
• Everyday clothes – shorts/shirts (linen is an elegant and comfortable fabric when you are travelling to warmer destinations), t-shirts/trousers… all the items you are comfortable to be in all day whilst exploring a new place. Keep in mind that in some countries it is inappropriate to wear shorts that are shorter than knee length.
• Underwear
• Socks
• Smart clothes – a suit for a more formal occasion.
• Smart shoes – to match your suit that you will be wearing at a formal occasion.
• Everyday shoes – trainers, moccasins, espadrilles for every day comfortable use.
• Flip flops
• Swimwear
• Tie – for your suit, if the potential formal occasion you are going to be attending requires it.
• Sunglasses
• Hat(s)
• Belt(s)
• Cufflinks

Toiletries checklist for both him and her

The basic toiletry items that you will need are listed below, note that depending on where you will be staying at the hotel may offer a lot of these items, but it is usually best to bring the things that you are accustomed to using

• Toothbrush / toothpaste / floss
• Deodorant
• Perfume – cologne
• Makeup – makeup remover
• Nail clippers – scissors, nail file – ensure these are packed in your checked luggage.
• Razor – shaving gel
• Contact lenses – prescription glasses
• Hairbrush – hair products, hair clips, hair bands
• Moisturiser for your face
• Feminine care products

Toiletries that you may need to bring or your hotel may provide:

• Shampoo / conditioner
• Body lotion
• Body soap / gel
• Hairdryer
• Cotton pads
• Sewing kit

Miscellaneous items

Everyone travels differently and each individual has a different idea of what they may need when travelling to their destination. Some items that you may or may not choose to bring along include:

• Prescription medications
• Ziplock bag(s) – there are useful for packing away any wet swimming suits or protecting your technology from moisture.
• Earplugs – earplugs can help you sleep on the plane
• Sleeping mask – get a comfy sleeping mask to block out the light
• Tide pen – for those pesky stains that you didn’t expect to tarnish your clean clothes.
• Insect repellent – really important if you are going somewhere with loads of mosquitoes, the last thing you need is multiple itchy bite marks to deal with on your romantic getaway.
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen – for the occasional rogue headache.
• Umbrella – rain jacket – yes, a pessimistic addition, but you never know whether it will rain or not.
• Book(s)
• Beach towel – your hotel may also provide these
• Sun cream for your body and face
• Lip balm
• Diarrhoea medicines – yes, no one likes to talk about this but it can happen, especially if you are going somewhere where your body isn’t used to the cuisine. Pack them with the hope you will never have to use them and thank yourself for your foresight in the unfortunate event that you do have to use them.
• Antacids / indigestion tablets
• After sun cream – aloe vera gel is a lovely option for an aftersun, keeping your skin refreshed and moisturised after a day of basking in the sunlight.
• Journal, Sketchbook, pen and pencils

Your honeymoon is possibly the most important holiday you will be taking with your significant other. It is a period of time just after your wedding ritual that signifies the official beginning of your life together as an unbreakable partnership. As such, planning ahead is incredibly important in order to ensure that your journey together is as seamless and smooth as possible.

The most important take-home message from this honeymoon checklist? Make sure that whatever you plan on taking with you and wherever you plan on going, you first and foremost prioritise the new experiences that you will be taking in together.