A wedding day is a huge event and there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that guests rarely notice. Ladders in stockings, running mascara, heartburn and no-show suppliers.
The only thing standing between the wedding and total disaster is…the wedding emergency kit.
Also known as a wedding survival kit, this magical bag contains everything the bride, the bridal party and anyone else might need to stay calm, focused and happy on the big wedding day.
Who carries the wedding emergency kit?
Most importantly ‘€“ it’s not the bride.
The wedding emergency kit is usually carried by a member of the bridal party and most often by the Maid Of Honour.
For a full list of Maid Of Honour duties, check out the MOH Bible.
What to pack in your wedding emergency kit
Storage
- A large bag to hold everything in the kit
- One or more smaller zip pouches to hold the absolute essentials as you move around during the day (we recommend one zip bag for each phase of the day – getting ready, ceremony, photos, reception etc)
You’ll find heaps of bags and zip pouches on Etsy and other marketplaces.
Organisational items
- Printed wedding day itinerary
- Contact details for the bridal party, groomsmen and important guests
- Contact details for all suppliers/vendors
- Cash (for emergency situations or even tips – you never know)
Grooming
- Breath mints
- Toothbrush and paste
- Floss
- Tweezers
- Lip balm
- Nail file
- Wet wipes
- Deodorant
- Bobby pins or clips
- Hairbrush
- Mini talcum powder (for chafing)
- Razor
Beauty
- Small pocket mirror
- Makeup remover
- Cotton buds or Q tips
- Perfume
- Eyeliner (if using)
- Waterproof mascara (if using)
- Lipstick in colour of choice (if using)
- Blotting paper
- Concealer (for emergency spots)
- Nail polish (in the bride’s colour and in clear)
- Nail polish remover
- Hand lotion (for dehydration or even for flyaway hair)
Food
- Muesli bar or non-perishable snack
- Sachets of tea or coffee
- Small bottle of water
- Small bottle of her favourite alcohol
- A straw (so the bride doesn’t smudge the lippy)
Medicinal & hygiene
- Mini first aid kit
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Antihistamines
- Heartburn tablets
- Throat lozenges
- Eye drops
- Insect repellant
- Tissues (a few packs)
- Plasters
- Pads or tampons
- Glasses or contact lenses
Clothing & shoe-related
- Mini sewing kit (with threads in dress colours)
- Reception shoes for the bride
- Spare tights
- Lighter (for fraying fabric – be careful though!)
- White chalk (for dress stains)
- Double-sided tape (just in case)
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- Superglue
- Gel shoe inserts
- Crochet hook (for dresses with many buttons)
- Spare earring backs (someone always loses one)
- Portable clothes steamer (optional but very nice to have)
Weather-specific
- Sunscreen (for hot weather or outdoor weddings)
- Small umbrella or emergency poncho (for wet weather)
- Small hand fan (for very hot weather)
- Gloves (for cold weather)
- Shawl (for cold weather)
Technology
- Phone chargers
- Or portable battery cell
Emotional help
- A note from the groom or someone important to the bride
- A written copy of the bride’s favourite quote, lyrics, poem or prayer
- The bride’s favourite calming essential oil
Covid-related
We hope this won’t be relevant for too much longer but it’s worth considering the following items for weddings affected by coronavirus:
- Face masks (matching the dress or other)
- Hand sanitiser
- Sanitising wipes
Conclusion
We know this list might look like a huge wedding emergency kit and you might not be able to fit this all into one bag. The secret is to pick and choose from the items that are most relevant to the wedding you’re involved in.
Hot weather? Skip the gloves. Cold weather? Skip the sunscreen.
As we mentioned at the beginning, one way to handle a large kit is to break it up into smaller zip pouches, each for a different phase of the day or a different category of items. Whatever makes the most sense for you and will make sure you have the right items at your fingertips when you need them.
