Uh-huh Honey(moon) | Chlo & Tell

Back in the fall, I did a shoot for A Lowcountry Wedding‘s very first print magazine, and I’m so excited to finally share it with y’all! Erin of ALW (not to be confused with 3LW) asked me to style four different looks for a honeymoon-inspired shoot: exploring, relaxing, a night on the town, and hanging at the beach. I loved Erin’s idea for this so much and was incredibly flattered that she let me take full reign with the looks I styled. More than that, I especially loved working with her both before and on the day of the shoot. She’s so talented and way too much fun – a combination that makes for absolutely stellar shoots!

I also had the pleasure of working with sweet Taylor of Taylor Rae Photography, whom I instantly adored, and we were able to shoot all four looks in about an hour. She’s a rockstar. I had such a blast shooting with Erin and Taylor that the photos turned out so natural and fun – making it look like I really was just relaxing on my honeymoon with my (non-existent) “new husband.” Without further ado, take a peek at some of my favorites from the shoot!

Exploring

When you’re exploring the town on your honeymoon, the goal is to be comfortable but still effortlessly adorable. No need to reach straight for the workout clothes and running shoes – you can still wear something loose and breezy without looking like you just came from SoulCycle. Opt for shoes that you have worn before and know are comfortable. If you have sandals that you could run a marathon in and not get blisters, do it. If you have any hesitations, just go with your trusty white Chucks – you want to enjoy your day exploring, not hobble around asking where you can find Band-Aids.

For my exploring outfit, I went with a black Piko tank, red pom-pom shorts with a fun geometric detail, and shockingly comfortable sandals with a low wedge. To accessorize, I chose a Panama hat, wayfarer sunnies, a crossbody bag to keep my hands free for touristy shopping, and minimal jewelry. Move over, Indiana Jones. (He had pom-pom shorts too, right?)

Relaxing

For a day relaxing around the resort, go for for an easy, colorful, no-fuss dress. I chose this Kelly Kapowski-esque number (borrowed from my blogger bestie Southern Meets Chic) that you can just throw on and go. Hello, low maintenance wifey! I topped it off with blue mirrored aviators, a simple clutch and Tory Burch sandals, some beachy shark tooth studs, and fun B&B bangles. Fun little frocks like this one are so perfect for honeymoon attire – as always, bonus points for neon hues to show off your newly sun-kissed skin!

Out on the Town

For a night out, you can never go wrong with a good maxi. I love the colorful tribal print, subtle sequins, and flowy white chiffon of the one above – it’s ideal for a night of margs, dinner, and dancing. I accessorized with sassy black wedges, even sassier gold hoops, a gold cuff bracelet, and went matchy-matchy with an orchid-colored clutch and pout. More tequila, please!

Beaching It

Easily my favorite look of the shoot: the poolside/beach ensemble. Keep in mind this was shot in October, so the water and weather weren’t exactly tropical. However, this sweet summery look made it look like the warmest day on Sullivan’s Island. I went with a black scalloped suit from Marysia Swim, a floral + fringe Zara kimono, a straw sun hat, metallic Zara slides. For my beachy accessories, I chose retro round sunnies, a gold body chain, and my starfish cuff that makes me feel like a mermaid. Duh. Lastly, Frampton’s Flowers provided a precious little flower anklet that smelled heavenly (you should see the outtakes of me sniffing it) and topped off the beach babe look wonderfully.

Deciding what to wear on your honeymoon is fun; fitting all of it in your suitcase, however, not so much. For the ALW spread, Erin also asked me to compile a list of tips on how to pack for your romantic getaway so you can worry less about luggage weight requirements and more about where the nearest airport bar is.

Tips on Packing for your Honeymoon:

Maxi dresses go a long way, so stock up on some casual and dressy ones. Better yet, pack some versatile ones (hi, black) that can transition from throwing it on over your suit to a night out.
Get a good feel for how the weather will be – check the forecast but don’t rely too heavily on it! Mainly just pay attention to the temp, not the 40% chance of thunderstorms that one day. And even though we don’t want to think about it, do pack some (cute!) rain gear, just in case.
Don’t weigh your suitcase down with 17 pairs of shoes. I know we think we’ll need them all (“But what if we go to, like, 80s night at the hotel club?”) – but really all you need is a couple pairs of sandals and some neutral wedges. And I guess, like, sneakers if you’re into working out on your honeymoon (ew).
Pack a few good pairs of sunglasses and a sun hat or two. You’ll protect yourself from wrinkles while looking effortlessly chic.
Don’t pack your giant, everyday purse. You can use it as a carry-on, fine, but stick to clutches and crossbody bags on your adventures. Also, depending on where you’re going, pickpocketing can definitely be a thing, so use a crossbody bag in that case (and keep it close)!
Flash Tattoos are one of my favorite summer trends, especially for your honeymoon. The temporary tats last about 10 days and will save you from having to pack tons of jewelry. They look impossibly cool at the beach and/or poolside, and feel so fun and bohemian!
Be practical! If you’re going somewhere beachy, think about what you’ll really need. You’ll most likely be spending the majority of your time on the beach or at the pool, so pack several swimsuits, coverups, etc. There’s no need to pack your cutest, trendiest, #ootd’s if you’ll be spending the majority of your time sunbathing with your sweetie. No one wants to start their trip off worrying about luggage restrictions and paying crazy fees, and let’s be real, you know you don’t need that backup hair straightener or your Essie collection.

What did I do to celebrate wrapping up one of the most fun and exciting shoots to date, you may ask? After drying off, slipping on my old Ugg boots and oversized sweater (chic), and de-thawing in my car with heat on full blast after the shoot, I marched right into Home Team BBQ and rewarded myself with the world’s most delicious barbecue wrap. That’s a wrap! See what I did there? #behindthescenes #foodieproblems

If you love this shoot as much as I do, there’s more where that came from – every single page of A Lowcountry Wedding is seriously swoon-worthy. It’s not your grandmama’s wedding magazine, either; it’s so unique, fun, and not so stuffy like all those wedding mags you’re used to leafing through. To purchase your very own copy, click here.