What to Pack for Your First Blogging Conference

You don’t see business travel packing lists around here often, which makes me extra excited to share this one from my recent weekend at a blogging conference in Seneca, South Carolina.

Except… this isn’t your typical business trip packing list. It’s more busin-ish (which sounded better in my head than it looks on the screen, but I hope you’ll stick with me anyway).

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The conference had a come as you are dress code, and I won’t lie—I was relieved not to have to dig my circa-2019 professional wardrobe out of storage. But I still wanted to look polished, so I pulled together a casual wardrobe with a creative professional spin. Nothing too attention-grabbing (I didn’t want my outfits to be the focus!), but a mix of pieces that felt fun, put-together, and most importantly, like me.

Here’s everything I packed for my blogging conference getaway:

MY CONFERENCE PACKING LIST FOR SENECA, SOUTH CAROLINA

A collage of everything the author packed for a weekend in Seneca, South Carolina, to attend a blogging conference — Knit Vest* | White Tee | Cable Sweater | Cashmere Sweater | Khaki Pants | Light Denim | Dark Denim | Trench* | Jumpsuit | Leather Jacket | Flats | Sneakers | Crossbody Bag | Round Sunglasses | Cat-Eye Sunglasses | Camera

WHY I PACKED THESE ITEMS

Alyssa wears a white tee with a gingham trench and sneakers in the hotel room

Tops + Knitwear

With temperatures swinging from near freezing to the mid-70s over the course of the weekend, I packed a mix of tees and knits to cover all bases. My knit vest* struck that perfect balance between polished and casual when worn on its own, while a pair of soft sweaters—one cashmere, one mohair—kept me cozy when the temps dropped. And, of course, where would I be without a classic white tee??

Pants + Jeans

Denim is non-negotiable for me these days, so I packed both a light-wash and a dark-wash pair for versatility. But the real star? A fun pair of khakis that perfectly complemented my white tee and managed to stay nearly rumple-free all day long.

Outerwear

A jeans-and-blazer combo is a creative professional classic, but at the last minute, I swapped my blazer for a trench* and a cool leather jacket. Zero regrets.

Shoes + Accessories

Even though I was driving (and could technically bring my entire shoe collection if I wanted to), I kept it practical with two tried-and-true pairs: colorful flats and lightweight sneakers. A Goldilocks-sized crossbody bag was essential for carrying my notebook and daytime must-haves, while my favorite round sunglasses earned a spot for their comfort and packability. As a bonus, I rediscovered my cat-eye sunglasses in my car’s center console and threw those in, too. And naturally, my camera felt like an honorary part of every outfit.

Other Helpful Items

I arrived slightly over-prepared, but I had no regrets about packing a few extra essentials: my travel coffee maker for reliably strong morning brews, a portable charger to keep my phone powered up, and a packable tote for conference swag and destination marketing materials.

WHAT I WORE TO MY BLOGGING CONFERENCE

Friday Morning

A sweater, denim, backpack, sneakers, and suitcase in a collage — Cashmere Sweater | Backpack | Dark Denim | Sneakers | Suitcase

Brr… it was cold leaving Charlotte on Friday morning, but thankfully, my car heater was up to the challenge. This outfit was comfy and cozy for the drive, but by the time I arrived in Seneca mid-day, I was definitely starting to overheat. A good reminder: layering is key!

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Friday Night

Alyssa wears a vest with jeans and flats

A grey vest, blue jeans, red shoes, and tan bag in a graphic — Knit Vest* | Light Denim | Round Sunglasses | Crossbody Bag | Flats |

I hadn’t planned on changing in the evening, but the unexpected warmth—and my already pooling anxiety sweat—convinced me otherwise. A quick swap into flats and a sleeveless tank made all the difference (as did a fresh swipe of antiperspirant).

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Saturday Morning

Alyssa wears a white tee with khaki pants and a gingham trench

A collage with a white tee, trench, and khaki pants — Trench* | Crossbody Bag | Cat-Eye Sunglasses | Bandana* | White Tee | Khaki Pants | Sneakers |

The brief for Saturday? Pack light—only bring what you can carry all day. I pushed my crossbody bag’s seams to their absolute limits, and in hindsight, I really should have packed my Le Pliage tote for extra space. Still, I made it work and enjoyed the day in an outfit that gave off slight summer camp vibes.

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Saturday Evening

A collage with a jumpsuit, denim jacket, and sneakers — Jumpsuit | Leather Jacket | Crossbody Bag | Sneakers |

Saturday night called for dinner at the nicest spot in town… followed by a hoedown. My plan was to wear flats to dinner, but with no chance to change shoes before dancing, I went with sneakers instead. It slightly shifted the vibe of my outfit, but I’m glad I made the switch.

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Sunday

A group of bloggers at the conference. Alyssa is wearing a blue sweater with dark jeans

A collage with a blue sweater, jeans, trench, and flats — Cable Sweater | Dark Denim | Trench* | Flats | Crossbody Bag | Round Sunglasses

The final day of the conference was bittersweet—I wasn’t quite ready to leave, but I was excited to get home to Michael and Meow. The day’s agenda included an educational session, brunch, the destination marketplace, and a round of headshots. I opted for a soft blue sweater and super-stretchy jeans for the drive back. I wasn’t entirely sure about the combination of texture, fabric, and pattern, but my detour through Clemson settled that when three students complimented my outfit. I’ll take it!

*the original item is no longer available, and a similar option is linked

FINAL THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR SENECA + BLOGGING CONFERENCES

Alyssa wears a tee, trench, and khaki pants

With a schedule that involved plenty of sitting, eating, and exploring, this packing list served me well throughout the weekend. That said, if my itinerary had included some of the region’s other big draws—like hiking or spending time on the lake—my packing choices would have looked a bit different.

Either way, this experience has left me feeling much more prepared for my next conference, wherever it may be. (Though I wouldn’t mind if it were as close as this one—what a luxury to travel by car!)

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Questions for you

Have you ever attended a blogging or creative industry conference? What was your go-to outfit?

When packing for a mix of business and casual events, do you lean more polished or comfortable?

What’s one item you always bring to conferences that you couldn’t go without?

Where to next? You may enjoy one of these related posts:

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Traveling Light: A Carry-On Packing List for a Weekend in Seneca, South Carolina