The multi-day packing process

I spent a large portion of this past weekend packing, or at least organizing with the intent to pack, or at the very least gathering, with the intent to organize and then pack.

The idea behind my honeymoon packing list was that it would simplify packing because I was going to be soooo efficient and smart. Unfortunately, what I didn't realize was that I'm still packing a huge number of items--most are just very small and don't take up a lot of space. But they still have to be acquired or found and then organized with like items and then prioritized.

Priority is important because you have to travel with the idea that all of your checked luggage will be lost and you'll be stranded with only the items that you carried on. Although it seems like it would be glamorous and fabulous to be one of those women who carries on a single lunch-box-sized bag that probably holds only a compact and face spritzer, it's simply not a possibility in an era when stranding passengers on a runway for 8 hours (after an equally long flight) is accepted. You have to plan ahead--you need enough clothing to get you through a few days and enough food to keep your belly from growling until you're allowed to deplane.

I've packed my carry-on rollaboard, and it has exceeded the measly weight limit for a carry-on. The limit is something silly like 12 pounds, and let's face it, a lot of suitcases weigh that much, so you're not able to pack anything other than your suitcase and a pillow and maybe a sweater in case the plane is cold (and what plane isn't cold). Luckily, the weight limit for carry-ons usually isn't enforced.

I've mostly collected the rest of the items that I need to pack but haven't yet distributed them between the two suitcases that we will check--again, care must be taken because even if the worst-case scenario (both bags lost) doesn't occur, there's still a strong possibility that one will be lost, and what a catastrophe if all of your pants happened to be in the bag that is now en route to Madagascar.

Actually, I don't think our airline flies to Madagascar. That is something to comfort myself with.

A successful weekend

This weekend featured many wedding-related successes, including:

A dry run of my waterproof mascara.
I learned that I, too, can wear mascara like a big girl and not end up with raccoon eyes--until I had to take it off. Removing it was a multi-day task. Perhaps the French will not mind the smudged-eye look. Perhaps it will make me look more European. I will have to practice a haggard look and acquire some torn skinny jeans.

An blister-free evening with my wedding shoes.
I wore them for an evening out, and they did not wear my feet out. It is a match made in heaven. Too bad they are white, or I would take them with me to France. Perhaps it is acceptable to wear white shoes after Labor Day in France if they are accompanied by smudgy eyes and torn skinny jeans.

The assembly of our wedding programs.
We've spent more time on those darned wedding programs than anything else (except perhaps my tedious poring-over of the budget--a daily activity). Seven hours of final assembly and they're finished. If you notice any typos, don't tell me.

The completion of the seating chart and place cards.
We shuffled and juggled, and now everyone has a logical place to sit with people that they know or will enjoy meeting.

We said originally that we wanted a 100-person wedding. Our final guest count: 101. Oh yeah.