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    How a Minimalist Fashion Editor Packs for a Destination Wedding Weekend With Only One Carry-On

    From the perfect little black dress to the cutest accessories.

    Julia Marzovilla's avatar
    By Julia Marzovilla
    Published 5 June 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    woman wearing a black dress
    (Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)
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    I'm in my thirties and live in New York, which is to say that everyone in my life is getting married. Slowly but surely, my calendar is filling up with engagement parties, bachelorette nights out, and several summer weddings, many of which don't take place in any of the five boroughs. I have a three-day affair coming up in Maryland at the end of June, and as a minimalist, I have my wedding-guest packing list down to a science.

    I don't subscribe to the notion that you need to buy a new dress for every welcome party or reception you're invited to. Instead, it all comes down to knowing what you have in your closet—and how to style those pieces in new, fresh ways. A little black dress can be styled with a pair of trendy summer shoes or a new, extrovert-coded necklace, and you have what feels like an entirely new piece. Similarly, swapping a dress for a cute matching set adds a fashion-girl-approved twist to the wedding-guest wardrobe. Add in a chic travel outfit for the trip home, and you've got a weekend trip capsule wardrobe worth copying over and over again.

    Ahead, I rounded up everything I'm bringing in my suitcase. Think of this as an editor-approved cheat code to earning your best-guest-dressed title.

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    A fun bag adds flair to my otherwise simple wardrobe. Plus, it can be worn for both the welcome party and the reception.

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    These linen trousers can easily be styled at the office once you get back from your trip.

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    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Julia Marzovilla
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    Former Fashion E-Commerce Editor

    Julia Marzovilla is the former Fashion E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she reviewed the latest launches from fashion and beauty brands, finds the best on-sale items around the internet, and interviews experts to find the best products in any category to share with her readers. She also created shopping guides that span every vertical on the site as an expert in everything from the best laptop bags to the best laser hair removal devices.

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