Key Takeaways
A wedding day emergency kit helps the bride stay calm and enjoy the day.
Knowing that small problems can be fixed quickly removes a lot of stress.The kit works best when it’s prepared in advance.
Making a checklist early and packing a few days before the wedding helps avoid forgetting important items.Small, well-organized essential items are more useful than a large kit.
Travel-size items for dress fixes, beauty touch-ups, and weather changes are enough for most situations.Someone else should be responsible for the kit.
A planner, maid of honour, or trusted family member can handle issues quietly so the bride doesn’t have to worry.
Imagine the makeup and hair being perfectly done, but the unexpected rain messes it up. The solution? The Wedding Day Emergency Kit for the Bride. Starting with creating a checklist, the kit will serve as a lifesaver in case something goes wrong at the wedding!
What Is a Wedding Day Emergency Kit for the Bride?
A wedding day emergency kit for a bride is a tote bag or a cosmetic travel-size bag that includes supplies for the bride in case of emergency. The goal is to ensure the bride stays calm and that every possible issue has a solution hidden in the kit. A wedding day emergency kit offers everything from a superglue for a broken heel, to a hair spray or hair wax to keep hair in place, and a safety pin for a broken zipper.
Why Every Bride Needs an Emergency Kit
Every bride needs an emergency kit, because there is already enough stress and pressure around the wedding. The emergency kit for a bride is a crucial item that can ease the anxiety of ‘What if something goes wrong..?’ thought popping up in every bride’s mind.
Wedding Day Emergency Kit Checklist for the Bride
So what exactly is in the wedding day emergency kit? The items are separated into several categories:
- Dress and Wardrobe Essentials
- Shoes and Accessories Backup Items
- Beauty and Makeup Touch-Up Items
- Skin Care and Shine Control Basics
- Hair Emergency Must-Haves
- Hair Accessories and Styling Tools
- Comfort and Personal Care Items
- Weather-Related Essentials
- Health and First Aid Basics
- Stress Relief and Calm Down Items
- Food and Energy Boosters
- Drinks and Hydration Items.
Every category contains several items absolutely crucial for any bride. Mostly, the items are mini versions of the backup supplies for the bride. Think ‘Everything needed for the comfort in a regular day’ and you will get the ultimate wedding day emergency kit checklist for the bride!
If you want to make your own list, you can check our bridal emergency kit checklist tool.
Dress and Wardrobe Essentials
The dress and wardrobe bridal emergency essentials are related to touch-ups and any possible flaws of the wedding dress, anytime from the ceremony to the reception. The items you need to consider are:
- a lint roller
- a mini sewing kit
- a fabric glue
- safety pins
- an instant stain remover pen
- small scissors
All these small items help with the sudden button falling off, a loose thread on a delicate lace, a hole in the veil, a broken zipper, or bustle. In the case of the worst-case scenario, make sure to bring an extra dress.
Shoes and Accessories Backup Items
Shoes and accessories are a very fragile category. Heels break, sandal straps get loose, and pearls, or any type of decor for that matter, fall off. Your checklist must include:
- shoe polish or cleaner
- extra lace
- safety pins
- superglue or fabric glue
- spare pair of heels
- flat shoes
The same goes for accessories such as earrings, bracelets, glasses, rings, watches, and necklaces – in case the repair isn’t possible, pack a backup of the must-have accessories to avoid panic!
Beauty and Makeup Touch-Up Items
This category could be easily renamed to ‘wedding day must-have items for the bride’. Despite getting make-up and hair done by professionals, be prepared to face strong emotions, dirt falling into the eye, heat, rain, and strong wind – simply, be ready to beautify yourself on the go. It is a good idea to bring:
- a pocket mirror
- an extra pair of false lashes
- mini mascara
- lipstick or a lip gloss (mini version of the one used for the wedding)
- mini deodorant
- perfume in a sample size
- Q-tips
- pocket tissues
- floss
- makeup remover wipes
Skin Care and Shine Control Basics
Naturally, the makeup used for a wedding is waterproof, not only because of the tears but also because of the need to look flawless for 10+ hours. Since the makeup is done early in the morning, the stress, weather, and other unpredictable influences may affect the results. To look great in front of the guests, and also in the pictures, make sure to bring:
- matte powder
- blotting papers
- setting spray
Hair Emergency Must-Haves
After getting the hair done on the wedding day, it will be crucial to keep it put together, simply because of gravity, weather, and all the hugs received from the guests. The hair emergency must-haves are one of the most important bridal emergency essentials:
- hair spray
- wax stick
- brush
- comb
- bobby pins
Hair Accessories and Styling Tools
The most important wedding hair accessory is the veil, so you might want to keep extra clips with you to secure the fabric at the right spot. The veil is often pulled not just by the wind, but also by people when they give hugs. Apart from the clips, add these supplies to your kit:
- bobby pins
- a hair tie
- travel-size flat iron
- travel-size blow dryer
Comfort and Personal Care Items
The goal of a wedding, apart from getting married, is to enjoy yourself. To make things work for you, bring items that help ease headaches, sore feet, a skin cut, or dry eyes. The wedding day backup supplies for the bride must include:
- painkillers
- eye drops
- Plasters
- blister patches
- tampons or pads
For sore feet, pack flat shoes to dance the whole night!
Weather-Related Essentials
The weather can be really unpredictable, so the bridal emergency kit must contain protection for the dress, hair, and makeup. To battle strong sun, extreme heat, humidity, rain, and wind, bring:
- a hat
- a handheld fan
- an umbrella
- clear poncho
- the body tape
Health and First Aid Basics
As mentioned in the personal care category, the bride’s wedding day essentials must include products ready to deal with stress and discomfort. The first aid handy essentials are:
- plasters
- sanitiser
- small scissors
- pain killers
Stress Relief and Calm Down Items
Stress is a big part of the wedding day. Once the pressure hits, even a small thing like a chewing gum or mint can be a game-changer. Nausea relief tablets are a great relief for a nervous stomach. Also, cough drops help with a dry throat. Here is a list of the top 6 stress relief and calm down items:
- chewing gum
- mints
- nausea relief
- paper back
- essential oil
- cough drops
Food and Energy Boosters
The wedding emergency kit for the bride has a compulsory section: snacks. It may sound a bit off, since there is a reception, and eventually everyone ends up eating and drinking as much as they can. But after doing makeup, hair, getting into the dress, and doing a photoshoot before the ceremony, a little snack might help to get through the day:
- a chocolate bar
- nuts mix
- gummy bears
- salty pretzels
- energy drink
Drinks and Hydration Items
Water, water, water! It’s all about hydration. The wedding is an exhausting event. It’s a good idea to bring a water bottle, and perhaps a little more, such as a can of a favourite soda. Here is the full checklist of hydration items:
- a read-to-go coffee in a bottle
- a bottle of water
- an electrolyte drink (coconut water is a great option!)
- lemonade or iced tea
Items Brides Often Forget to Pack
Something old, something blue, and something borrowed, this is the general rule every bride follows. And yet, when the pressure is on, these are the 4 most commonly forgotten items at home:
- flat shoes – even though the wedding shoes with heels might look great, they will take a toll on comfort. Flat shoes relieve sore feet and are a great backup for any broken heel!
- an extra pair of underwear or tights – the wedding is a long-day type of event, so it is important to stay fresh.
- cash – despite everything being paid for before the wedding, it is a good idea to have some cash as a tip for a vendor (a live band).
- The wedding itinerary – it is difficult to keep track of everything when under stress. A printed wedding itinerary helps to avoid panic.
When Should the Bride Pack the Emergency Kit?
The worst idea is to pack the emergency kit the night before the wedding. The wedding day must-have items for the bride are carefully selected items and should be prepared according to the checklist. Therefore, a bridal survival kit checklist needs to be created first at least 2 weeks before the wedding, and then, the emergency kit should be packed at least 2-3 days before the wedding day.
Who Should Keep the Bridal Emergency Kit?
Well, not the bride! The wedding day survival kit is so important that only the most trusted people should handle it. The number one person who should be in charge of the emergency kit is the wedding planner. This person is already taking care of everything, so they are the most logical choice. Next on the list is the maid of honour or one of the bridesmaids, followed by the parents or the closest family member. A person keeping the kit must be available and responsible.
Can the Emergency Kit Be Split into Smaller Bags
The simple answer is yes. The emergency kit can be split into smaller traveller-size bags, depending on the category. For example, the makeup, hair, and personal items could be in one bag, the snacks, water, and emergency painkillers could be in another, and so on. Generally, though, the emergency kit should be packed in one bag, so nothing gets lost.
Ready-Made vs DIY Bridal Emergency Kits
Ready-Made Kit – A ready-made bridal emergency kit will be crafted with brand-new emergency items and will contain only general basics such as Q-tips, makeup removal tissues, bobby pins, hair wax or hair spray, a nail file, a comb, super glue, a pocket mirror, tweezers, a scrunchie, and pocket tissues.
DIY Kit – The beauty in making your own emergency kit is that it is lower in cost, and everything that you want to include will be, most likely, already in your home. Also, items such as perfume or lipstick can be transferred into sample containers. The best part is that your own kit will be highly individual and ready as per your needs.
Comparison – The average cost of a ready-made kit is $40 CAD. This is not a significant expense compared to other wedding expenses. It will contain brand new products, which can be used after the wedding. However, in comparison with a home-made kit, the ready-made kit doesn’t provide all the necessary items. Often, there is a little bit of everything, and the bride ends up adding up her own products anyway. Additionally, a DIY kit offers comfort and assurance that the selected items will work, as they have been used previously at home.
How to Choose the Right Emergency Kit Bag
The right emergency kit bag needs to be easily portable and organised. If the kit bag is actually a tote bag, put an extra effort into organisation. Pack items by category into clear zip bags. This way, all the products will be easy to find, even in the most stressful situations. My personal recommendation is to use a travel-size cosmetic bag or two. Travel bags have a lot of extra pockets hidden inside, so storing items is easier. Also, they are made with a handle, therefore the carrying is easy!
How to Customize the Emergency Kit for Personal Needs
The customisation is done in two ways: it is a portrait of the bride’s needs, her style and personality, and the other half is dictated by the wedding venue, the length of the wedding ceremony, and the photoshoot. An outdoor wedding will require a larger wedding emergency kit for the bride, simply because the weather makes everything more complicated. An indoor wedding provides protection from any outdoor influence. Another thing to consider is how many locations are part of the wedding. If the wedding venue and reception are not at the same location, the kit will be super important.
FAQs
A bride’s emergency kit should include supplies for a quick apparel repair, first aid items, makeup and hair touch-ups, and comforting personal items. Think – the basics of makeup, fabric fixes, comfort offering products, and quick cleaning items. The must-have items in the kit are: plasters, blister patches, scissors, makeup powder, superglue, nail file, hair comb, hair spray, bobby pins or clips, safety pins, flat shoes, pocket tissues, and mints.
There should be only one emergency kit that serves primarily for the bride. However, the kit could serve as an emergency source for the bridal party as well. It might be a good idea to add a few more plasters, an extra makeup powder, an extra bottle of water, and hair spray.
Not necessarily, but essentially it is for emergencies, so it should be located quite closely. Often, the venue offers a room where the bag can be stored. The smallest items like mints, tampons, bobby pins, or stain remover pen, can be in the purses of the bridesmaids.
It is not granted, but can definitely be arranged. The wedding planner should become your best friend during the duration of the wedding. It would definitely add cost to the wedding budget, so be prepared to spend some cash on such a service.
Even though the bridal emergency kit is full of tiny items, all in all, it may become heavy. The supplies should fill a maximum of a tote bag or two travel-size cosmetic bags.
Yes, these are two different types of venues. The indoor venue is slightly easier to prepare for since it offers protection from the weather. The outdoor venue kit must include special weather protection for the hair, makeup, dress, and shoes.
Let’s say there are 50 guests. That is a lot of people to hug, so smudges are expected. If the wedding is even smaller and more intimate, the emergency kit can be very basic, with only a few items that fit into a purse.
A courthouse wedding is often the smallest and quickest wedding; therefore, the bridal emergency kit is not necessary. Obviously, every bride wants to look their best, so a little lipstick, mints, Q-tips, pocket tissues, and powder are recommended to keep in her purse.
