It's time to walk down the aisle! You've spent months planning every detail and inspecting your checklist to ensure your wedding day goes off without a hitch, from the flowers and décor to the perfectly placed escort cards. However, no matter how much you prepare, minor mishaps—especially of the fashion and beauty variety—are bound to happen. So, it's a good idea to have a stash of helpful items on hand in case you need them while you're getting ready or during the after-party festivities.
"An emergency kit gives you peace of mind just in case the tiniest thing goes awry," says expert wedding planner Cathleen Holloway. Her top three items to include in your kit are safety pins, mints, and stain remover to feel fresh and keep stains away from your gorgeous white gown until the festivities are over. You'll feel more at ease knowing you have the gear if something comes up—such as a broken button or a blister. We've researched and handpicked the must-have items for anything that could go wrong (just in case). We created our list of emergency kit essentials based on practicality, usefulness, size, cost, and overall quality.
Let’s be real here: Heels tend to hurt, especially once you’re on your feet for several hours. This mini 4-ounce spray is made with lidocaine to numb away nerve pain and keep any foot aches at bay. It’s nongreasy and fragrance-free, so you won’t go sliding around in your heels either. It’s also great if you get lower back pain and want to spray a bit before putting on your dress. This is a BRIDES' bestseller, so be sure to stock up.
Crafted with goat's milk and shea butter, Dionis’ lip balms are a soothing treat for the lips. The balm works well under any shade of lipstick (or even as a primer for your lips) and the berry scent isn’t overpowering, offering just a hint of flavor. The best part is, you won’t have to keep reapplying throughout the morning or day since it’s long-lasting.
Why go for boring old mints when you can style them up with a variety of chic tins from France? We love this variety pack since it’s a stylish addition to your bridesmaids' goodie bags and comes in six different flavors, including rose, violet, lemon, and mint. These little luxe candies will keep not only your breath in check, but the flavors will also complement any champagne you might have on your big day.
Rather than keeping a ton of disposable makeup wipes in your kit, just use one of these makeup erasers. They’re designed to be used over 3,000 times, so one will definitely last through your wedding day. Made with double-sided, premium polyester fabric, they’re great for cleaning up even the most waterproof mascara should your eye makeup smudge on your big day. Just wet your face with water and touch up your face as needed.
This silky scrunchie will hold back your hair while you’re getting your makeup done in the morning or when you’re ready to let loose on the dance floor later in the night. We love the long bow accent, which makes it stand out from other standard hair ties, and the fact that the material won’t snag your hair. Both the cookie butter and rose shades are neutral with a touch of sheen, so they also work well with most bridesmaid dresses (not to mention they don’t scream ‘80s).
You can throw this in your emergency kit without worrying about it spilling on your other products or fiddling around with a lid when your hands are dirty. The sleek spray bottle is super slim and offers just the right amount of sanitizer with each pump, so you won’t have a gooey mess left over on your hands. Plus, it’s hydrating since it’s made with aloe vera and comes in 13 different scents, from pure lavender to rainwater and blue sandalwood.
Stave off blisters and sore ankles with these discreet cushion pads designed especially for heels. They come in a set of four, so you can give them out to the ladies in your wedding party, and they are made in neutral shades to go with any shoe color. Simply peel off the back cover and stick it to the back of your heel for extra comfort. They’re also fairly wide, so the cushion will wrap around your entire heel for added protection.
If you’ve reached the part of the evening when it’s time for a quick updo, this gorgeous hair clip is bridal, chic, and perfect for a French knot. It comes in several colors and is made with biodegradable material, so it won’t live forever in a landfill one day. We love the compact size, which makes it a great emergency kit accessory.
Calling all hot girls! There’s nothing like having a hot flash when you’re getting your makeup done or feeling your face flush while standing around under the hot sun. Rather than panic about sweat dripping all over your dress, break out this portable, compact fan to keep you cool and breezy (and it’s small enough to fit inside a tiny purse). The best news is that you can use it long after the wedding day; it provides up to 15 hours of airflow with one charge.
Keep your underarms fresh all day with Sol de Janeiro’s mini deodorant made with the popular Brazilian Bum Bum Cream scent. The aluminum-free product contains natural citric acid ester to stave off odor and tapioca starch to keep your pits dry. It also has papaya enzymes to keep your skin tone clear and help fight ingrown hairs.
We like these unscented Tampax tampons since they’re super small and can fit inside just about any small purse or clutch. Of course, you want to go with the flow on your wedding day, but it’s best to prepare for unexpected flows, too. The pearl applicator is super smooth (although it is made with plastic), and it also comes in five different absorbencies, from lite to ultra.
While it’s a bit of a splurge, this kit contains just about everything you’ll need to refresh, cleanse, prime, and prep your skin for the big day. Vegan and cruelty-free, the set comes with a jelly cleanser, vitamin C serum, sunscreen, AHA/BHA serum, and a peptide moisturizer for use in both the morning and evening. They’re also TSA-friendly if you’re looking to pack light for a destination wedding and are great for a wide range of skin types, including sensitive skin.
Hydration is key every day, but especially on one of the biggest days of your life—a day you're likely to be thinking of everything but how much water you're drinking. That's where Liquid I.V. packets come in to keep you feeling hydrated and balanced. This variety is free of sugar, tastes like rainbow sherbet, and is an easy way to flavor your water and add electrolytes.
If your hair happens to fall during the festivities, you'll be glad to have a set of hairpins on hand for a quick fix. These dainty gold pins are embossed with pearls for a look that's classically bridal and will add subtle glamour to your hair. This set includes five pins, so you're sure to have enough on hand for a variety of hairstyles.
Mess and spills can happen, even on the big day, but they won't be such a big deal if you carry a product like this stain-treater spray. It's designed to quickly remove stains from food, coffee, and other messes spilled on clothes and even other items like carpets. Spray on the stain, blot, and rinse to help it fade and disappear.
Apply, perfect, and touch up your wedding makeup anytime with this two-piece set from Beautyblender. Use the beloved egg-shaped sponge to get a flawless finish on your foundation, and follow up with the dual-sided Power Pocket Puff for highlighting, contouring, and setting, as well as re-blending anytime your look needs a little freshening up.
Whether you'll be wearing your hair down, up, or somewhere in between, hairspray comes to the rescue. This variety has an extra strong hold to keep every hair in place, and it's meant to boost shine and fight frizz too. A little goes a long way, so you'll likely be able to use it long after the wedding as well.
Preserve your makeup and make it look dewy and fresh all day and night with this setting and refreshing mist. The brand notes it's designed to lock in makeup for 12 hours. The hydrating formula contains actives like niacinamide and allantoin, making it a skin pick-me-up you'll enjoy spraying on.
Having safety pins on hand can help you avoid wardrobe malfunctions, whether it’s a broken strap or a failed zipper. They can also be used to address decor issues, such as a torn curtain or falling ribbons. Safety pins are compact, inexpensive, and truly essential!
What to Look for When Shopping for Emergency Wedding Kit Items
- Prevention: Having a wedding day emergency kit on hand is all about being prepared, so you can relax and fully enjoy your special day. Therefore, you'll want to look for useful items that can either prevent or fix any issues that might happen. For example, preventative measures you might add to your wedding day emergency kit include insoles to make your wedding shoes more comfortable and anti-blister kits to prevent blisters before walking down the aisle.
- Repair: On the other hand, considering wedding day emergency kit items that can help repair anything that has already gone wrong is also essential. Whether your bridesmaid gets a rip in her dress or your perfect updo falls loose on the dance floor, predicting any mishaps ahead of time will help you curate the ultimate wedding day emergency kit.
- Size: You will have enough stuff to carry and keep track of on your wedding day, so look for travel-size or compact items for your emergency kit. Not to mention, your wedding only lasts one day, so you won’t need multiple items (such as several bottles of stain remover). Keep your kit small and focused, with only these essential items.
FAQ
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In our opinion, YES! Despite preparing every little detail for your wedding, you never know what might happen on the actual day of the event. From blisters and sore feet to spilled drinks and flyaway hairs, a wedding day emergency kit will help you relax and bounce back from any situation that could arise. We recommend that your wedding day emergency kit include stain removers and hairspray to tame those flyaways.
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When packing up your wedding day essentials, opt for a bag or case that you can easily bring with you to every event throughout the day. It's also a good idea to delegate one of your bridesmaids with wedding day emergency kit duties, so you don't have to worry about keeping track of it on your big day.
Some great options for carrying your wedding day emergency kit are a tote bag, a train case, or a large travel pouch. Holloway even recommends using a Caboodle or a fishing tackle box to keep everything organized. You can also put smaller items like mints, hand sanitizer, and an extra pair of earrings in your bridal clutch.
Why Trust Brides
Kate Donovan is the former senior editor at BRIDES. She has over 15 years of experience as an expert in the world of home, food, and lifestyle. For this article, she researched a wide range of useful wedding day products and narrowed them down based on overall quality and usefulness. She also spoke with Cathleen Holloway, the founder and creative director of Holloway Events, for her best tips.
Additional reporting was provided by BRIDES contributor Amber C. Snider, a New York-based journalist and design expert who has been a bridesmaid at more weddings than she can count.


