What should be in a wedding day emergency kit?

Dress repair items (safety pins, fashion tape, sewing kit, stain pen), beauty touch-ups (lipstick, powder, bobby pins, hairspray), first aid (painkillers, plasters, blister plasters), comfort items (flats, snacks, water, mints) and paperwork such as the marriage licence, vendor list and tip envelopes.

Who should carry the wedding emergency kit?

The maid of honor or the day-of coordinator. Avoid giving it to the bride or anyone needed in every photograph.

How much does a wedding emergency kit cost?

Building it yourself from drugstore items typically costs $40–$80. Pre-made bridal emergency kits run $50–$120 and usually still need the bride's own makeup added.

When should you pack the emergency kit?

Two to three days before the wedding, so there is time to replace anything missing. Do a final check the morning of.

Do you need two emergency kits?

For weddings over roughly 100 guests or with separate ceremony and reception venues, yes — a full kit in the getting-ready suite and a small pouch that travels with the couple.

Planning

Wedding Day Emergency Kit: The Full Checklist

Exactly what to pack in a wedding day emergency kit — 60+ items grouped by category, who carries it, and the ten things that actually get used.

Updated August 30, 2026Reviewed by Joyce Smalling, Planning & Budget Editor

The ten items used at nearly every wedding

Safety pins (assorted sizes)
Double-sided fashion tape
Stain remover pen or wipes
Blister plasters
Clear deodorant
Bobby pins and hairspray
Painkillers and antacids
Tissues and blotting papers
Phone charger and power bank
Mini sewing kit with white and matching thread

Dress and suit repair

Sewing kit, safety pins, fashion tape
Fabric-covered hair elastics for bustle failures
Lint roller and small clothes brush
Stain pen, baby wipes, white chalk (hides small marks on white fabric)
Spare buttons, cufflinks and a shoe-horn
Static-cling spray
Small scissors and a seam ripper

Beauty and touch-ups

The bride's exact lipstick, powder and concealer
Bobby pins, clear elastics, flexible-hold hairspray
Oil-blotting sheets, cotton buds, makeup remover pads
Nail file, clear polish, nail glue
Hand cream, lip balm, eye drops
Mini mirror and a travel toothbrush kit

First aid and comfort

Painkillers, antihistamines, antacids, motion-sickness tablets
Plasters, blister plasters, antiseptic wipes
Insect repellent and sunscreen for outdoor weddings
Flat shoes or foldable slippers for the reception
Tampons and pads
Straws (protects lipstick), mints, snacks, bottled water

Paperwork and logistics

Marriage licence and officiant paperwork
Printed vendor contact list and timeline
Vow cards and printed speeches
Cash for tips in labelled envelopes
Rings, spare batteries, umbrellas

Keep the tipping envelopes with the person who will hand them out — see our guide on how much to tip wedding vendors.

Who carries the kit

The kit belongs with whoever is closest to the couple all day and is not in photographs constantly: the maid of honor, the day-of coordinator, or a designated parent. Build two kits for big weddings — one in the getting-ready suite and a smaller pouch that travels to the ceremony and reception.

How to pack it

Use a clear zip pouch per category inside one tote so nobody digs blindly. Label the pouches. Pack it two days out, not the night before, and check it against the list above when you pack the final-week planning tasks.

Frequently asked questions

What should be in a wedding day emergency kit?: Dress repair items (safety pins, fashion tape, sewing kit, stain pen), beauty touch-ups (lipstick, powder, bobby pins, hairspray), first aid (painkillers, plasters, blister plasters), comfort items (flats, snacks, water, mints) and paperwork such as the marriage licence, vendor list and tip envelopes.
Who should carry the wedding emergency kit?: The maid of honor or the day-of coordinator. Avoid giving it to the bride or anyone needed in every photograph.
How much does a wedding emergency kit cost?: Building it yourself from drugstore items typically costs $40–$80. Pre-made bridal emergency kits run $50–$120 and usually still need the bride's own makeup added.
When should you pack the emergency kit?: Two to three days before the wedding, so there is time to replace anything missing. Do a final check the morning of.
Do you need two emergency kits?: For weddings over roughly 100 guests or with separate ceremony and reception venues, yes — a full kit in the getting-ready suite and a small pouch that travels with the couple.

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