In my years of experience photographing weddings, I’ve started to notice a pattern in the urgent, “Hey, does anyone have a _____?” This wedding day survival kit list is by no means comprehensive, but does include some of the items that are most requested on wedding days. These are all small items and will easily fit into an empty makeup bag.

1. Travel sewing kit – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to sew on a wedding day! Which is why I am repeatedly very glad my mother was seamstress and taught me at least the basics. I’ve stitched bridesmaids gowns, sewn buttons on, and fixed fallen beads on a wedding gown. The only thread colors you really need are white (or ivory), black, and the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses, but if you have a travel kit, you’ll most likely have a sample of colors to choose from. Check it beforehand to make sure your wedding colors are represented.
2. Tide To Go (pen or wipes)- It rarely happens, but every once in a while, someone will step in mud or spill soda on their dress or ketchup on a white dress shirt. You hope you won’t need it, but this little pen will ease any worry of an accident.
3. Lint roller – The two biggest uses for a lint roller are for the bridesmaids gowns (there’s just so much hair everywhere in the bridal suite!) and the men’s suits. Lint or dirt shows up so so so quickly against those dark suits!
4. Safety pins – Safety pins are such a genius invention! They fix everything! These can be used for everything from a bustle to a tablecloth. Want to be the queen of prepared? Have several different sizes in your kit.
5. Band-aids – Most of the time, the shoes you wear on your wedding day are new. New shoes means blisters. And when you’re walking and standing most of the day in new shoes on a warm day, it means extra blisters. Have enough of your kit for both of your feet (heels, big toes) and maybe your maids’ feet too. Most of the time, you won’t even realize your feet are tired until right after the ceremony when you’re breathing a big happy sigh and then it’ll hit you, wham, take off all the shoes!
6. Bobby pins – You’ll probably have a lot leftover from your hair stylist, but somehow there are still times that I’ve taken bobby pins straight out of my hair and used them for the bride. (This is why if my hair is up, I purposely put some extra bobbies in my hair.) You never know how a stray hair might behave in a slight breeze.
7. Floss – At some point in the day, you need to eat. Typically, this falls right after hair/makeup, but right before getting into your dress. It’s a good idea to do a quick floss after you eat to make sure you don’t have anything stuck in your teeth right before photos. Although, if I see it, I will be helpful enough to let you know.
8. Q-Tips – These are great to have on hand for more than just eyeliner smudges. Q-tips come in handy for so many little things. If you don’t have them, chances are you’ll wish you did.
9. Tissues – Blot don’t wipe. While I’m normally a huge fan of the oil absorbing sheets, tissues can do the job in a pinch and it’s one less thing to carry since tissues have many times the function. Nose runs, teary eyes, oily shine, too-much-lipstick, you name it, a small pack of these is pretty necessary.
10. Vaseline – Rather than applying and reapplying sticky lip gloss, the grooms like this little tip: apply a beautiful lip stain with a lipstick over the top. Top that with vaseline and then just keep applying vaseline as needed throughout the day. It keeps that glossy shine (the color has already been locked in with the stain), but isn’t sticky or smeary for the kissing photos.
11. Evian facial spray – This stuff is a lifesaver for summer weddings! I keep a can in my camera bag and it’s the most refreshing feeling ever for those high temp/high humidity days. It’s a fine mist so it won’t ruin fabric or even smear makeup! It’s the next best thing to a glass of ice water. (I’ve also heard great things about Frogg Toggs and had a bride provide one for her groom. I haven’t put this to use yet, but I think the concept is awesome!)
12. Eyelash glue – Even if your makeup is professionally done and those falsies aren’t going anywhere, they still do sometimes. It may be the tears, it may be the extra blinking (if you’re not used to those long, thick lashes on your lids), it may be the weather! It’s better to be prepared than to have to pull both sets off just because one is causing trouble. (Q-tips are also helpful in the application of this on the go.)
13. Crochet hook – Not because you’ll be sitting around making a hat. If your dress has any kind of buttons on the back, a crochet hook will save you so much time both in getting your dress on and later in the night being able to get back out of it.
14. Pain reliever – Pick your favorite headache reducer. Sometimes it’s the alcohol, sometimes the heat, sometimes the reality of the big-big-very-big-day, but your body has a way of trying to slow you down. Help keep your aches at bay.
15. Small scissors – I can count on one hand the amount of times I haven’t needed a scissors as the ladies are getting dressed. The gowns are all brand new and still in their garment bags…which means all the tags are still attached. Many ladies also prefer to cut off the hanger straps since they have a tendency to want to come out as the day goes on. Please don’t rip the tags or the straps with your teeth. I’ve seen a few chiffon dresses not take a liking to that.

Are there any items not on this list that you think are essential parts of a bride’s survival kit? Let me know in the comments!