this weekend i’m off to my college roommate’s wedding (yay!) and i could not be more excited! i have recently entered my late twenties and wedding season is surely upon me. therefore, i’m going to be channeling my true weekend warrior quite a few times in the coming years. many miles of travel, plenty of packing and lots of dress shopping will ensue…and i’d just love to come out of it unscathed!

that is why lesson #1 has become: learn to pack light

with the rising cost of travel and the ridiculous nickel-and-diming of spirit airlines, i was motivated to pack for this weekend in just one SMALL over-the-shoulder bag.

spirit airlines proposed the challenge of packing in a 16 x 14 x 12 inch bag to avoid carry-on costs.

my decision: challenge accepted!

to me, packing light is like going to a restaurant with only a few options. when i find myself at a cafe with only four or five entrée options, it is much easier to choose what i’m going to eat as i’m bound to not like at least two or three of the dishes they are serving. however, when i’m at a restaurant with seemingly unlimited options, i can never decide. de-cluttering your life by limiting options is actually incredibly freeing.

therefore, my wedding weekend motto is now: pack ONLY what you need! (i’m hoping it will carry-over into all other travel as well, haha)

and what’s the best way of ensuring that? make a list! lists on lists on lists. lists are one of my all-time favorite things. in college i would not only check-off a completed task, but highlight it as well. can any of you deny how incredible it feels to check an activity off? check. done. completed. accomplished!

lists can make you feel great and really help you tackle a big activity by breaking it down to just the nuts and bolts.

for the wedding i’m attending this weekend, i broke down each day by activity and then by what i would need for said activity…

friday

flight to wedding destination

what to pack? neck pillow, socks (so my feetsies don’t get cold!), headphones, iPad

saturday

12:30pm – ceremony

what to pack? dress, flats (because we are walking there from the hotel), belt, underwear, jewelry, everyday purse 

7pm – party time!

what to pack? party dress, heels, party jewelry, purple clutch, specific undies for the dress (so there’s no wardrobe mishaps!), strap-less bra

sunday

12pm – brunch

what to pack? sun-dress, flats (same as Saturday), underwear, purse (same as Saturday)

flight home

what to pack? jeans, comfy shirt, socks

of course there’s always those other essentials that you throw on there as well: makeup, toiletries, sunglasses, medicines, etc. but breaking down each activity and every item that goes into making your look complete will not only help you pack only the essentials, but ensure you don’t forget that crucial strap-less bra too!

here’s my weekend bag & packing list, just to prove to you how well i did (and so can you!)…

xo, b