Pack your bag, bride-to-be! Here’s exactly what the bride needs to bring on the wedding day. Make sure you’re on the list for future helpful posts like this one, or you’ll miss out!

What does the bride need on her wedding day? Great question! It is just as helpful to know what to wear for your getting ready outfit as it is to know what to bring on your wedding day… even if you keep it in the bridal suite for most of the time. Bride-to-be Becka wrote to us with the latest Ask Emmaline question: what do brides need on their wedding day? She writes,

“Dear Emmaline Bride, my maid of honor says I should have a wedding day emergency kit and/or several things to bring on the morning of the wedding. I don’t want to forget anything so I was wondering what do I really need to bring on the wedding day? Any advice you have is appreciated, thanks so much!”

Hi Becka! A fantastic question: what does a bride need the day of her wedding? This is something I wish I knew before I got married, so I’m glad you asked. It reminded me of how I felt those last few weeks before the wedding day, worried about things the bride should bring, things not to forget, and most importantly, what to have “just in case”. You never know what could happen, so it is best to be prepared.

While many of the bridal emergency kits you find online or in-store are a good idea, many of them are chock-full of “fillers”: things they need to add to make them appear full, although you probably won’t ever really need to use them. You don’t want to carry around unnecessary things, and you don’t want to buy things you really won’t use, so THIS is the list I wish I had when I got married: the complete list of things the bride needs to bring on the wedding day. With this checklist, you don’t want to be left wishing you had remembered these essentials. And the best part is, they won’t cost you much money at all.

Let’s get started and I promise you won’t forget a single thing! :) I’m also explaining WHY you need each item so you’ll know why the heck they’re in your wedding bag… it is frustrating to buy things you need, without knowing exactly HOW they’ll help you on your wedding day.

Here is THE list of things a bride needs for her wedding day. If I were getting married today, I would feel confident that nothing can get in the way of the fun! All of these things are must-haves you may encounter from the morning of the wedding… all the way to the last dance. :)

Which of these items would YOU have forgotten to pack? Would you add anything to our list? Tell us in the comment box below after you read the article. Enjoy!

1. Makeup Remover Wipes, $5.97 ($0.30 each)

These are THE BEST makeup remover wipes and they come in a fantastic individually-wrapped size so they can go in your bridal clutch and take up very little space. Great for passing out to your bridesmaids, too, since there WILL BE a use for makeup wipes. I can’t tell you how many weddings we’ve planned/attended/stood up in where makeup mishaps happen behind the scenes whether while getting ready the morning of the wedding or during a touch-up session in the bathroom. From getting rid of mascara running to a lipstick that is one shade too dark and you really want to get rid of it (speaking from experience here, loves)… don’t doubt the power you behold in a makeup remover wipe on your wedding day. :) By Neutrogena.

2. Nail file, $2.99

This is a great nail file, which will come in handy if you get a split or chipped nail; use it to smooth and reshape your nail if needed. With a compact size and set of 10 of these bad boys for under $3, it’s a great deal. By Revlon.

3. Double-sided shoe tape, $12.95

Sweaty feet? Feet slip out of your wedding shoes too easily? Worried about tripping because your shoes won’t stay in place? THIS is the solution you’ll be so happy to have on your wedding day. It works great on heels OR flats. Don’t just use them yourself: the mother of the bride, mother of the groom, and bridesmaids will all be happy to have a pair of shoe adhesives to keep their shoes on with confidence. By StickyShoes.

4. Body + clothing tape, $9.90 ($0.20 each)

For 50 strips of the individual body and clothing tape strips, you’ll have confidence and peace of mind, avoiding common fashion flubs and mishaps like embarrassing slips, visible and unsightly straps, necklines that won’t stay put, and more. I can’t tell you how helpful the strips really are and the reviews speak for themselves. You can use them on your body or on clothing and they’re even washed off easily and won’t cause skin irritation.

Plus, unlike another tape you’ve seen for wayyyy more money, these are designed to move with you (and even hold up to dance floors, so that’s a serious bonus!) By Fearless Tape.

5. Rollable flats, $16

These flats are great for travel. Throw them in your wedding bag for when you want to change from your wedding shoes or heels to these amazing, pillowy-soft ballet flats. They even fold and fit inside their own cute wristlet clutch.

I have a pair of these rollable flats and, OMG, what a gamechanger. I’m no longer grimacing on the dance floor, trying to keep up my epic dance moves (okay, only kidding, I do what I can) while my feet hurt like heck. Andrew will tell you a million times how much HE loves these because I can dance the night away and my feet aren’t killing me at the wedding (and on the way home, and all the next day). Seriously, a pillowy cloud for your feet. And they’re cute, too, which is rare in a ROLLABLE flat. These are amazingly made and the team that makes them at Cinderollies is the sweetest! Buy them here or on Amazon here with FREE Prime shipping in 2 days! (Need a free Prime trial? You can get one from us here for 30 days, no charge. Enjoy!) P.S. These also make great favors for guests: flats!

6. The best waterproof mascara ever (that actually works), $4.99

Um, this amazing waterproof mascara is under $5… that alone will make you cry tears of joy. And then those tears of joy won’t even make your mascara run — now THAT’S what we call a perfect wedding day mascara! You don’t have to take our word for it… the over 3k reviews speak for itself! Toss this in your wedding bag, you’re gonna need it! By Essence. P.S. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.

7. Wedding day hairspray, $3.49

Your wedding hair needs plenty of hairspray during the day, so you might as well bring with you the most powerful stuff — that really works — so you can spray it and forget about flyaways! I know 48 hour hold sounds pretty dramatic, but on your wedding day there isn’t really room for mistakes, so I’d take the most powerful spray I can find. And here’s the funny thing: most brides assume, hey, my hairstylist will have plenty of hairspray. That’s true, but she’ll take her supplies with her when she leaves. And what are you going to do after dinner when you get a few stray strands that just won’t stay put? Use this stuff, that’s what. :) By L’Oreal Paris.

8. Metatarsal pads for your shoes, $9.57 / 2 pairs

Back to feet: please do not wear your wedding shoes without a pair of these pads for your metatarsals — the balls of your feet. Most wedding shoes aren’t properly worn in yet (among other wedding shoe mistakes) and you put so much pressure on that part of your feet when walking down the aisle, greeting guests table-to-table at the reception, and yes, dancing! You’ll be so, so happy to have these in your shoes so you can walk in total comfort. By Walkize.

9. Breath mints, $3.99 for 24 pack

You need breath mints. Everyone at weddings needs breath mints, but you really don’t want to be the bride who forgets to freshen her breath on her wedding day. The food you eat, the drinks you consume, stress, and even talking so much (can lead to dry mouth, which can cause bad breath) can contribute to a stinky situation. Plus, you’re going to be close-talking to LOTS of people, especially when you’re trying to hear them over the loud music. Just pop these fresh strips in your mouth and it feels JUST LIKE rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, without the sink and all the mess. A serious must-have. These things are amazing; I’ve used them myself. By Listerine.

10. Bobby pins, $2.19-$6.99, depending on how many you need

Ah, bobby pins. You can probably gather up a couple in your drawer or at the bottom of your makeup bag (that’s where mine always end up!), so this might be FREE if you already have them. But make sure you bring at least 10 bobby pins. That sounds excessive, but it will be helpful if your hairstyle falls out of place during the wedding — and you’ll have a few extras just in case any of your bridesmaids face a similar situation. :) By GOODY.

11. Mini sewing kit, $4.76

You can’t beat the price of this sewing kit, which includes everything you could possibly need for a last-minute sewing fix. It even includes safety pins, which are very helpful when bustling your gown. By Singer.

12. Handkerchief, price varies

This is a helpful reminder to keep it together! ;) By HookAndHoop.

13. Medicine, travel-sized, $14

Headache? Heartburn? Pain? Cramps? Indigestion? You’re covered! This is something many brides forget to bring on their wedding day and you don’t want it to be you! Uncomfort, fixed. Wedding day saved! Get this helpful multi-pack here.

14. Travel anti-perspirant wipes, $19.99 for 50 count

Stinky armpits? Don’t sweat it! Use one of these wipes and, boom, problem solved. Fantastic for weddings, parties, travel, etc. By La Fresh.

15. Lip balm that truly works

This lip balm is the bee’s knees. If you have chapped lips, chapped skin, need to soothe sensitive skin or lips, you need this. I’ve tried many lip balms in the past, but once I tried this kind with the beeswax (it sort of tingles in a nice way, making your lips feel instant relief) I’ll never go back to anything else. This is the balm I buy. By Burt’s Bees.

16. Flossers, $2.97

Cheap, effective, and you’ll be reaching it for when you need it! By Plackers.

16. Stain remover wipes, price varies

If you spill something on your wedding dress, you’ll be so happy to have these textured wipes. They work great! By Shout.

17. Back-of-heel pads for shoes, $4.79

These back-of-heel pads will protect you from blisters! You need these. By Foot Petalz.

18. Hair remover, $6 and up

Hair happens! Remove it in a flash with these travel hair removers, which are perfect for your wedding day bag. Great on sensitive skin, too, and works great on eyebrows, lip area, chin, etc. By Schick.

Peskier hairs? There’s a pair of tweezers for that! Now, do you really need a pair of hot pink tweezers? Maybe not, since you probably already have a favorite pair of tweezers. But now that you’ve seen these hot pink ones, they’re way cute for your wedding bag, am I right? Regardless of which pair you use, make sure a pair of slanted tweezers is in your wedding bag for any stray hairs. By Tweezerman.

ALSO HELPFUL TO HAVE: a tampon or maxi-pad. You’ll have a favorite brand / type / style, so go with whatever you use but make sure you have one in your wedding bag.

Put everything you need inside a makeup bag, like one of these (we spotted them at SEmbroideredBoutique) for a cute keepsake bag you’ll use again + again! They’re great for travel, so consider it another great addition to your honeymoon bag. Plus, you can give these as bridesmaid gifts, too!

And there you have it: the answer to the age-old question of what does a bride need the day of her wedding but optimized + modernized for 2020 and beyond.

We hope this helps and thanks so much to Becka for writing!

Happy Planning (+ Wedding Day Bag Prepping!)

xo
Emma

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Filed under: wedding day checklist for bride, wedding packing list for bride, what to pack for a wedding, wedding day emergency kit, how to pack bridal bag, things a bride needs on her wedding day.

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