It was when I noticed multiple diamonds were missing from my eternity wedding band that I knew I had a major problem. Lesson number one: Don’t wear delicate jewelry while packing for your destination wedding. Lesson number two: Avoid overstuffing duffel bags to the point of them being mistaken for body bags. Lesson number three: Delegate checking all bridal party miscellanea to your maid of honor.
As a former Brides travel editor, I’m well-versed in all things destination weddings: planning, budgeting, logistics, etiquette–you name it. I even planned and executed my own three-day wedding at Hotel Esencia, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Oversize baggage and last-minute jewelry repairs notwithstanding, it was a dream come true—all of my nearest and dearest together in one place for multiple days of tequila-fueled fun to celebrate me and my high school sweetheart.
If I could do it all over again, however, I would have leaned more on my sister, the maid of honor, to assist in organizing and transporting the thousand-and-one things you need for a destination affair. Whether you’re getting married on a beach in the Caribbean or cliffside on the Amalfi Coast, it pays to stock your luggage with not only the requisite gifts and bridal accessories, but also the essentials you hope not to need but are surely grateful to have when you’re caught in a pinch. Read on for this expertly vetted maid of honor packing list, from the “emergency kit” basics to the keepsakes every MOH should carry in her suitcase.
Quality sleep during a jam-packed wedding weekend is basically a nonstarter. Though the bride will be running on adrenaline, her skin may not be able to keep up with the dehydration and lack of rest. Dr. Barbara Sturm Glow Drops are packed with ingredients to reduce inflammation and revive dull skin, while Patchology under-eye patches help combat puffy, tired-looking eyes. (Pro tip: Pop them in the hotel's mini-fridge for an added cooling effect.)
And since the bride will spend much of the wedding weekend in conversation, expect her to be constantly searching for moisturizing lip gloss. Revision Skincare YouthFull Lip Replenisher offers the perfect hint of shine and melts into lips for lasting hydration. Be sure to also bring rice paper blotting tissues, which absorb excess oil and eliminate unwanted shine in photographs. (The bride will thank you for keeping her makeup looking fresh into the wee hours of the night.)
