Wedding Emergency Kits: What You Need In Yours
No bride wants to be Bridezilla.
But bride freak-out is a real possibility — even if you’re the most easy-going, relaxed woman you know.
The fact is that your wedding day is going to be absolute chaos — and it’s not about panicking that this is your “last day of singledom.”
It’s about the reality of the fact that there are going to be a multitude of guests, tricky family members, children running around, possibly pets, and photographers clamoring to get you and all these people in one frame, several times throughout the day.
Basically, it’s all going to be a blur. And if you’re not prepared, this blur could become a very real nightmare that sticks in your memory as a disastrous day for years to come. No one wants that!
Why Wedding Emergency Kits Can Save The Day
Wedding emergency kits are designed to respond to your worst nightmare. On your wedding day, this can be something as small as a ripped stocking and an oily complexion, to your ring-bearer dog eating the rings.
You’re not exactly planning for disaster or waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s more like planning ahead, considering the most common things that could go wrong, and having a back-up plan.
There’s another reason why a wedding survival kit works so well. They’re supposed to be compact and portable.
Consider these nifty pouches from retailers, aimed specifically at bridal parties that need to pack what they consider are their most pressing essentials.
That’s the whole point: You can’t pack the whole world in your bridal emergency kit.
Delegate the organization of this pack to one of your bridesmaids and allow her to call the shots on what she thinks are the most important items to include.
Whatever you do choose, however, know that you’ll be leaving something else out.
So how do you go about making the right choice when creating your bridal emergency kit?
How To Create Your Bridal Emergency Kit
Your bridal emergency kit works best if you tailor it to your event.
Not every kit needs to have the same type of “stuff” in it because the progression of the event will be different.
Outdoor weddings, for example, might need waterproof mascara (for a rainy afternoon), baby powder and sunscreen (for extremely hot days), and bug spray — especially if you’re planning a tropical destination wedding.
An indoor ceremony and reception won’t need these things — but there will be plenty of dancing, so extra hairspray is definitely in order. If the floors are slippery, have a pair of emergency flats on hand.
You could also include a table camera on every table, which would be a novelty, but double as emergency cameras for both guests and yourself.
See how that works?
It’s not a one-size-fits-all type of situation. With your wedding planner in tow, break your wedding down into smaller events — going from the wedding, to the vows, to the toasts, the reception, and maybe even the drive to these venues.
Now that you know how to create your bridal emergency kit, it’s time to use this guide to figure out the what of what to include in your personal survival kit.
What to Include In Your Wedding Day Survival Kit
Consider this bridal emergency kit guide, for example. Instead of planning based on the progression of the wedding, it breaks each category down by the kind of emergency you could face.
Upset stomach? Ruined makeup? Ripped seam? Less-than-savory breath? Your kit should solve for these unexpected situations. The items above are just a few of our favorite things.
For a full guide to what each emergency will call for, consult each of these sections.
For Health and Hygiene Emergencies
Health and hygiene emergency come in all shapes and sizes at a wedding. It’s mostly aimed at a bride but, the truth is, the bridal party is just as vulnerable to low blood sugar, fatigue, blisters, cuts and scrapes, and upset stomachs.
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of health-related items to pack in your wedding survival kit:
- Advil
- Allergy medication
- Antacids and Pepto Bismol
- Pads and/or tampons
- Bandaids and anti-septic
- Eyedrops
- Anti-blister spray
- Spare contacts and contact lens solution
What about hygiene? Add some of these items to your wedding survival pouch:
- Breath mints
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues
- Cotton balls and alcohol
- Energy or protein bar (or whichever snacks your party enjoys)
- Mini bottle of water
- Body spray, perfume, or deodorant
For Beauty and Makeup Snafus
These are some of the most common mishaps that occur because looking good on your wedding day is a top priority.
That’s another thing about weddings: It’s not only about the progress of the events, or the types of emergency you’re most likely to encounter. It’s also about what takes most precedence.
And, by the way, some of these items extend to the groomsmen and groom as well.
These are some beauty and makeup-related emergency items:
- Compact mirror (for retouching makeup)
- Mascara, lipstick, and eyeshadow (in shades of the bride’s original makeup look)
- Static-cling spray
- Face mist (to keep your makeup in place and you feeling fresh all day)
- Lint roller (especially useful for the groom and groomsmen’s suits
- Earring backs (these are notorious for getting lost)
- Extra stockings
- Mini straightener, curler, and/or hairdryer
- Hair ties and bobby pins (you can never have too many of these)
- Brush and comb
- Hand lotion
- Fake eyelash glue (yep, this is a thing)
- Nail polish and nail file
- Dab of pomade or hair gel
For Dress and Decor
Bet you didn’t think you’d have to pick up the slack on decor, did you? For the most part, the event or wedding planner will handle things but there are small little items that you can bring along — you know, just in case.
Likely, your outfits may require a touch-up, a fix-up, or some last-minute TLC. Consider packing:
- Hand steamer (skip the iron because most dresses are way too delicate for this anyway)
- Tweezers, scissors, and/or a sewing kit
- Extra stockings
- Crochet hooks
- Safety pins (in case of a real dress snag or emergency)
- Clear glue or nail polish — perfect for stopping runs in nylons and tights, and super glue is perfect for jewelry or other broken accessories
- Tissues
- Fake wedding ring
- Toupee or fashion tape (to hold up strapless dresses)
- Small hair comb (for the guys and their neat beards) and beard oil
Decorations are a hit and miss. If you’re concerned, try and have these on hand:
- Batteries
- A phone charger
- Small flashlight
- List of vendors and phone numbers
For Outdoor Weddings
Outdoor weddings come with their own set of challenges. Of course, your real emergency kit will depend on the forecast.
But all the same, consider some of these:
- Heel protectors if you’re walking in grass
- A wrap
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Hem tapes (in case of a snag outdoors)
- Baby powder
- Lighters (for fraying ribbons) or matches (for candles outdoors)
For Your Get-Away
Okay, you might not have considered the getaway car on your wedding day but there’s a chance you could run into an “emergency” here.
If your friends decide to spray on some silly string or do a cake smash during the reception, use your time in your getaway car to freshen up and clean these things off.
Include such items in your wedding day survival kit as:
- Stain remover pen — white chalk will also do in a hurry!
- A fresh shirt (unless you’re changing for the reception)
- Oil blotting papers
- Wet Ones/Baby wipes
- Rubber bands
- Straws (so you can take a quick swig of water or Gatorade without ruining your lipstick)
Conclusion
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Apparently, these things are so important, we have a rhyme for them.
But what about these emergency items? Granted, no rhyme could cover the sheer number of items here, but these small additions to your wedding emergency kit can save the day. They can mean the difference between an event doomed and an occasion saved.
There’s one last thing you may not have considered: Pens and a copy of your wedding vows.
Yes, looking great is a huge priority. But don’t forget that your wedding is also about actually about you and your future spouse. It’s about getting up there, in front of your family and friends, and declaring your own special kind of love.
So don’t go without what really matters. You get to decide what that is.
BACK TO ALL BLOGS
About Author
Sesha Smith
Owner & Photographer of Convey StudiosSesha has been photographing weddings since 1998. She has so many favorite things from photographing weddings that she can’t pick just one: the bride’s mom helping her daughter get her wedding dress on, the first time a groom sees the bride and he tries to hold back tears.
READ MORERecent Blog Posts
Wedding Emergency Kits: What You Need In Yours
No bride wants to be Bridezilla. But bride freak-out is a real possibility — even if you’re the most easy-going, relaxed woman you know. The fact is that your wedding day is going to be absolute chaos — and it’s not about panicking that this is your “last day of singledom.” It’s about the reality […]
READ MORE
How to Create a Stunning Wedding Website (and Hashtag!)
Go to almost any wedding these days – or browse any recently married friend’s Instagram – and you’ll see it: the cute, catchy, unique wedding hashtag. Almost every couple has one for their big day, now, and it’s easy to see why: pictures are organized across social media and easily searchable for the bride, the […]
READ MORE
Wedding Planning Advice – Hire Vendors You Connect With
When it’s wedding planning time, be prepared to feel overwhelmed for a moment by the fact you need a wedding vendor for EVERYTHING: a cake, a caterer, a wedding photographer… Yup, it’s a lot of people! And while you begin to thumb through your options, keep in mind one thing: that personal connection is gonna […]
READ MORE
The Tech Savvy Bride – How to Plan and Find Vendors Online
Welcome to 2019 – if you’re not planning the majority of your life online, you’re not only missing out on your best options, you’re also a pretty rare species. And when it comes to wedding planning, if you want to be sure you’re getting and researching the best vendors, the only way to go is […]
READ MORE
