37 Wedding Day Emergency Kit Items

A guest post by Victoria Napolitano about the top items to include in a Maid of Honor Wedding Day Emergency Kit.

On my wedding day, the hook on the waist strap inside my gown came loose. Luckily, the front desk of the hotel was able to send up a sewing kit, so that hiccup did not turn into a disaster.

I got married before all of my friends did. While being the bridal trailblazer was sometimes tough, I’m glad that it prepared me well to be a good bridesmaid to my loved ones down the road. I feel that as a bridesmaid, and especially when serving as matron of honor, that it’s my job to make sure the bride does not need to sweat the small stuff. She has just spent months handling all the logistics of a wedding, which is no small task, and by the time the wedding day arrives, I don’t want her to worry about a thing. If she can look back on her wedding day and say the only thing she worried about was not tripping on her way up the aisle, then I did my job.

For me, a big part of this is the Wedding Day Emergency Kit. I like to be prepared (maybe overly-so). I’ve compiled and updated this list over time based on lists I’ve found around the web and based on my own experience. I daresay this is the most comprehensive list you will find, and should help you solve most minor emergencies.

I like to group together like items (leaky items, things that must stay dry, etc.) for organization and to keep things in good condition. Last time I got all of the small items into a large travel jewelry roll, which made finding things a breeze. You can fit everything on my list into a medium-sized bag. I’m happy to say that I haven’t had to use all of the items in this kit, but I do want to highlight the ones that I think are must-haves in any Wedding Day Emergency Kit:

Pantyhose

Sure, it’s definitely a good idea to have an extra pair of pantyhose for the bride, if she is wearing them. Those suckers can rip at any time. But the most important reason to keep these around is that they are the perfect way to get deodorant off of clothing. This is a little-known trick that works like a charm. Throw a knee-high over your hand and rub the deodorant lightly, and it lifts away like magic. This came in handy at the last wedding I was at, where we were all wearing navy blue gowns!

Deodorant

Speaking of which, bring a travel-sized deodorant. Someone is either going to forget to put it on, or is going to need to reapply. One time it was the bride’s grandma!

Water bottle and a straw

Always make sure you have some water on hand in case the bride feels thirsty (or gets nervous dry mouth before the ceremony). And, make sure you have a straw on hand so she doesn’t spill on her dress or ruin her lipstick.

Tissues

You should tuck one in your hand with your bouquet, and if you’re the MOH, bring an extra for the bride. I don’t care if you think you are a true stoic. You’re about to watch one of the dearest people in your life experience one of the greatest joys of their lifetime, and you will cry. Better to be able to dab elegantly than sniffle loudly or wipe your nose and face with your hands.

Band-Aids

Someone is going to get a blister from those shoes. Last time, it was me.

Safety pins

And, someone is going to have a wardrobe malfunction that needs to be repaired quickly. You need these in case you aren’t lucky enough to be at a hotel that carries sewing kits, like I was! At the last wedding I was a part of, I used safety pins to make a groomsman’s too-loose rented pants fit better, loosen a too-tight rental necktie, and tighten a too-loose neck strap.

These items should cover the most common wedding day mishaps, and you can choose from the rest of the list to customize your Wedding Day Emergency Kit for your bride, bridal party, and venue. But, the most important thing you can bring to a wedding is a positive attitude! The combination of entering into marriage and throwing a logistically-complicated party for everyone she knows is bound to make any wedding day an emotional one for the bride. Having breath mints on hand is great, but what she needs more than anything is her most trustworthy friend to remind her that everything is going to turn out great!

The Full List (in alphabetical order)

1. Antihistamines

2. Band-aids

3. Breath Mints

4. Cash

5. Clear Nail Polish

6. Clothing Tape

7. Comb

8. Contact-Safe Eye Drops

9. Cotton Balls

10. Cough Drops

11. Deodorant

12. Earring Backs

13. Floss

14. Hair Pins

15. Hair Spray

16. Hand Sanitizer

17. Ibuprofin

18. Lint Roller

19. Mirror

20. Nail Clippers

21. Nail File

22. Pantyhose

23. Pen

24. Perfume

25. Ponytail Holder

26. Q-Tips

27. Safety Pins

28. Sewing Kit (with scissors)

29. Sharpie

30. Shout Wipes and/or Tide Pen

31. Snacks

32. Static Guard

33. Tampons

34. Tissues

35. Tums

36. Tweezers

37. Water Bottle and Straw

To download your free, printable copy of the checklist, fill out the form below.