Getting married abroad is a dream for many people, as it enables you to create completely unique memories with your family and friends. Also, it almost guarantees you sunshine in most cases! Europe offers stunning backdrops for weddings, from the white washed walls and blue seas of Santorini to the endless views of vineyards in Tuscany. The stunning and unique locations that Europe has to offer are going to make your day phenomenal.
One of the most stressful things about getting married abroad is the packing. You’re bound to have plenty of sleepless nights trying to remember everything you need to pack, but fear not, as we have done the hard work for you! This ultimate packing list is especially for European destination weddings, so you can enjoy the run up to the wedding without the stress of forgetting anything.
Of course, your list will differ slightly depending on the style of your wedding, however we have got the essentials covered!
The Essentials
A good place to start with your packing list is the absolute essentials. These are things that you can’t get on the plane or married without, so are pretty important! Whilst it might be stressful to forget other things, you can get married on the day as long as you have all of these.
Passports and Travel Documents
Passports are definitely up there at the top of your essentials list. It’s obvious to say that without your passports and boarding passes, you will struggle to get very far. Check around 9 months before the wedding that your passports are in date, and also send a message out to your guests reminding them to check too. This will prevent any last minute disasters. Also, check whether you need any additional documents, such as visas, for the country you are travelling to. For instance, in some cases you may need to obtain a Schengen visa.
Birth Certificates
In some places, you need to provide a birth certificate in order to get married. Whilst this won’t always be the case, again it is best to double or triple check ahead of time to avoid any issues on the big day. If for any reason you don’t have a birth certificate, this is a good time to find out any alternatives that would be accepted.
Outfits For The Big Day
Your next priority should be remembering your outfits for the big day. Make sure that you check multiple times that you have the dresse, veil, shoes, tux and wedding rings ready to go. We all know that it is quite common for luggage to go missing, so it is best to organise with your airline in advance to take your essential items, i.e. the dress and tux, on board with you rather than into the hold.
Also, make sure that you don’t pack any expensive sentimental jewellery or the wedding rings into the hold!
Credit Cards, Cash or Travellers Cheques
You will also need to make sure you have the appropriate credit cards, cash or travellers cheques to take abroad with you. Using debit cards abroad can be dangerous, as you can often incur very substantial charges. So, you are better using credit cards, cash from home (as opposed to withdrawing it) or travellers cheques.
If you have any outstanding balances that need to be paid when you arrive at the destination, then make sure you know exactly how much and plan in advance how you will pay.
Vital Paperwork
When you go abroad, it is important you have certain documents, yet this is even more important when you are getting married.
Firstly, you will need a copy of every supplier you are using for your wedding, including the venue, caterers, hair and makeup team, photographer, florist and bands etc. Have a list of their contact details and proof of any payments you have already made.
Next, make sure that you have taken out wedding and holiday insurance and you have copies of all your insurance policies. Another thing to check is whether you need any vaccinations before travelling, and if you do, take proof that you’ve had them. You shouldn’t need any vaccinations when travelling to Europe, however it is always best to double check.
It is also a good idea to know where the closest embassy for your country is located. This is extremely useful in emergency situations and hopefully it won’t be needed, however it is good to have on hand.
Wedding Day Packing
Now we can move onto the rest of the wedding day packing! The day can definitely go ahead if you forget these things, however they will be important to make your day really special.
For the bride:
- Wedding night lingerie
- Jewellery
- Garter
- Hair accessories
- Makeup
- Something old, new, borrowed and blue
- Perfume
- Deodorant
For the day itself:
- Vows
- Cake topper
- Guest book
- Confetti
- Decorations
- Table numbers
- Bridesmaids gifts
For the groom:
- Sunglasses
- Deodorant
- Comb
- Hair gel
- Shaving cream
- Razor
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Groomsmen gifts
For The Rest Of The Trip
Now that you have all your essentials and everything that you need for the big day, you can start thinking about the rest of the trip. Now this is the area where things are going to differ slightly, as some of you might be going away for 2 days whilst others are away for 2 weeks.
So, just make sure that you have plenty of comfy clothes for travelling. You can’t go wrong with a few comfy tracksuits, my favourites are the stunning coords from Modaminx.com. After your big day you are likely to want to have some downtime, but also look glam, so these tracksuits are the perfect option.
Pack enough swimwear, evening outfits, daytime outfits, underwear, shoes and toiletries for the duration of your trip, including a couple of really special outfits if you are carrying on to your honeymoon straight from the destination wedding.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! We have covered all the essentials that you need to take away to your European destination wedding, as well as everything you need for the big day. This is going to be one of the most special days of your life, so to make the run up less stressful, try to start collecting the things you need months in advance and the process will be much easier.
Getting married abroad can result in added stress, however often the benefits far outweigh the stress. Check all your essential documents way in advance and make sure you have your outfits for the day and everything else will work itself out! Aim to get to your destination at least a few days before the wedding so that if anything is left behind, you have time to sort it out.
Finally, enjoy your big day!