Research shows that increasing travel is a priority for 42% of U.S. residents, making destination weddings a no-brainer for couples looking to tie the knot in style. With beachside locations ranking among the top travel locations, you'll need to pack at least one swimsuit. While simply throwing your favorite white bikini into your suitcase is tempting, proper packing can keep your suit looking new for longer. To keep your bathing suits in top shape during travel, follow these tips.

Keep Pieces Together

There's nothing worse than digging through your suitcase to find the other half of your bikini. Instead of taking everything out of your luggage, keep your top and bottom together in a mesh bag. These are affordable and available in sets of three or more. Even better, you can use them for washing delicates, giving them even greater utility.

Dry Before Packing

Many people buy new swimsuits for destination weddings. If you decide to pack one you already own, avoid wearing it for at least a few days before you leave.

Even though bikinis are made for submersion, they can still develop mold and mildew if not dried properly. Getting rid of mold is no easy feat, especially when you're away from home, and there's a risk of health issues if you don't eliminate every speck:

• Irritated or itchy skin
• Trouble breathing
• Stuffy nose

Who wants to deal with all that on top of a wedding? To avoid this issue, always dry your bathing suit before you pack it.

Of course, people understandably want to take advantage of every spare moment of destination weddings, which can result in a damp bathing suit with only a few hours until departure. If you find yourself in this situation, try to dry your suit as thoroughly as possible.

Your best bet is to lay both pieces flat in a cool, dry place. Don't hang them, leave them in the sun or put them in the dryer, as these approaches can damage the fabric or stretch it out of shape. If the suit is still slightly damp, store it in a zip-up plastic case (a makeup case works well) to prevent your other clothes from mildewing.

Avoid Squishing Embellishments

Ruching, ruffled sleeves and skirted bottoms are all popular bikini trends, adding fun texture to the classic two-piece. Unfortunately, these embellishments can get squished during long flights to destination weddings.

Stacking a bikini top among your bras is a good way to maintain its shape, as the molded cups will support each other. You can also cushion more delicate embellishments between underwear and socks.

Pack Securely

Finally, choose a place for each item and pack it as securely as possible. Most suitcases come with interior straps to compress clothing. While you want to avoid using these straps with embellished swimsuits, they stop other items from moving around, which keeps delicate bathing suits safe. Use them for folded clothing such as shirts and pants.

Do you have everything on your destination wedding packing list? If not, PQ Swim is the place to find swimsuits and accessories, including cover-ups and loungewear. Check out the best bridal bikinis for destination weddings by visiting the PQ Swim website.

Sources:

• https://www.travelagentcentral.com/your-business/stats-85-americans-plan-travel-summer
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2023/04/05/most-popular-summer-destinations/11609075002/