The ultimate bridal emergency kit
ABIA talk to wedding experts and list the wedding day essentials every bride should pack
Every wedding day brings its own mix of beauty, excitement and unpredictability and countless small details can go sideways without warning. Which is why a well-prepared bridal survival kit is essential. It’s your behind-the-scenes safety net — helping to ensure you stay comfortable, polished and stress-free no matter what the weather, location or rest of day throws your way. So, ABIA share the basic necessities, and optional extras, you’ll want to consider popping in a case, pouch or carry bag to keep nearby on your wedding day.
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Why a wedding emergency kit matters
Australian weddings often involve long travel distances, extreme climatic conditions and outdoor ceremonies. Heat, humidity, cold, wind and unexpected weather changes are common, and small wardrobe or beauty mishaps can happen even with the best planning.
A well-stocked kit allows you, your bridal party or wedding planner to solve issues instantly, keeping the day running smoothly and ensuring you feel confident from morning prep to the final dance. Think of it as your wedding day survival kit — packed with solutions to fix the unexpected.
Most common wedding day emergencies
“I once sewed a bridesmaid into her gown after the entire zip broke down her back,” says wedding planner and stylist Trudy Croad of Lovebird Weddings on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Fortunately, she says most wedding day mishaps are not quite so dramatic, but she highlights the following as the most common wedding day issues she encounters.
- Dress malfunctions — think zippers, buttons, tears or unravelling stitching
- Blisters — from new shoes that have not been ‘worn in’ yet
- Dehydration
- Marks on dresses and other clothing
- Shoe breakages
Missing pieces — like belts, accessories and once even trousers, according to Trudy — can make for last-minute mayhem too. These can be prevented with a thorough day-before checklist, but a well-prepared wedding day emergency kit should be on hand to deal with anything unexpected.
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What to include in a wedding day emergency kit
As a professional wedding planner Trudy’s kit contains everything from a garment steamer to a bottle opener, spare run-sheets for the wedding party and white umbrellas — in case of rain — but admits a bride’s emergency kit can be a little more pared-back.
Victorian makeup artist Jessica Crew, of Crew Faced Makeup Artistry, also suggests considering anything needed for a makeup refresh and lists her top three touch-up makeup products as, “blotting papers, touch-up powder and a lippie or gloss”.
We asked more of ABIA’s wedding experts for their advice and came up with this comprehensive bridal emergency kit check-list:
- Needle and thread in white, black, neutral and ‘wedding colour’ tones
- Safety pins
- Good quality blister plasters
- Good quality baby wipes or stain remover — for dress or fabric marks
- Water and electrolytes — to maintain hydration
- Mess-free snacks — if you’re likely to forget to eat with all the excitement
- Makeup touch ups — think blotting papers, lipstick and so forth
- Hair touch ups — bobby pins, hair ties, hairspray, a mini comb and the like
- Body wipes and spare deodorant — to refresh after sweaty moments
- Medical basics — like plasters, pain relief and antihistamines
- Sunscreen and insect repellent — for outdoor weddings or photo ops
- A phone charger or power bank — if you’ll be using your device
- Breath mints
- Tissues
- Lip balm
- Perfume
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Who should carry the bridal emergency kit?
Trudy says ideally your wedding planner should carry the bridal kit. If you’re not using a wedding planner though, the responsibility shouldn’t fall on the bride, assign the kit to your maid of honour, a bridesmaid or a trusted friend who will stay close throughout the wedding ceremony, photos and reception.
Final thoughts
Remember, packing a bridal emergency kit is all about being prepared, not stressed. Weather, travel and long days can all be part of the wedding experience, so having the right essentials on hand can help make the event feel effortless, and with ABIA’s expert insight and a few smart additions, your kit should help you glide through the day knowing that no matter what happens, you’re ready for it.
If you're looking for more tips, tricks and advice to help your wedding day, and wedding planning, run smoothly, you'll find all you need on the ABIA website. The trusted wedding planning platform brings together the latest wedding news, trends and information, together with more than 700,000 wedding reviews, submitted by recent newlyweds who rated their wedding vendors. You can search the ABIA Directory to find ratings and recommendations for wedding services and wedding vendors, including venues, celebrants, photographers, caterers, decorators, florists, planners and coordinators, transport providers, hair stylists, make-up artists, videographers, cake designers, live music and even dance teachers and photo booth hire. Plus, you'll find all manner of wedding inspiration and informative articles on topics from sustainable wedding suggestions to wedding flowers, choosing a wedding dress, destination wedding venues, multi-day wedding planning and the best minimoon and honeymoon destinations in Australia. There's even an online wedding registry that gives your guests the chance to contribute to a holiday or experience of your choosing.
