The Ultimate Bridesmaid Packing List

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Today's Bride

You’ve been planning for months now – the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, the rehearsal dinner, your hairstyle, the speech; the last thing you want to do is make a packing error while planning for the actual wedding day!

You don’t have to stress yourself out trying to find a resolution for every little problem that could occur, but by stashing these important pieces of the ultimate bridesmaid packing guide in your tote bag, you’ll eliminate any room for worry!

Attire

• The Dress – Ah, the absolute most important piece to take with you on the wedding day! We hope bridesmaids wouldn’t forget this key element, but make sure the dress is fitted, steamed, and covered before traveling.
• The Shoes – You should have your wedding day shoes in a tote, already broken in and ready to walk down the aisle! Pack a pair of flats or flip-flops for pre-ceremony and post-reception festivities.
• Heel Inserts & Band-Aids – If your bride has asked you to wear skyscraper stilettos or you happen to sustain a minor injury, you’ll be fully prepared with a foot-focused first-aid kit.
• Jewelry – If you’re wearing jewelry, make sure to properly stow it away so that it doesn’t break or become tangled.
• A Clutch – Be sure to bring a chic clutch to the reception; you probably won’t want to lug around this entire emergency kit in a large tote bag!
• Undergarments – Once your bridal party has found the perfect bridesmaid dresses, the last thing you want to do is ruin it with unsightly underwear lines or bra straps. Whether it’s a thong, strapless bra or stick-on covers, make sure you’ve packed these ahead of time!
• Double-Stick Tape – This will help with unruly hems or strapless gowns that refuse to stay put!
• A Small Sewing Kit – It’s always a good idea to have this on hand to snip any loose strands and sew up snags.
• An Instant Stain Remover – We sincerely hope a glass of wine or a makeup smudge doesn’t find its way to your dress, but if it does, you’ll be ready to wipe away any stains.
• A Loose Tank Top or Button Up Shirt – This will help keep your hair and makeup in pristine condition. No turtlenecks today!

Beauty and toiletries

• Makeup – If you’re doing your own makeup, make sure to bring your full makeup bag! You might opt to lighten the load by only packing a few key makeup tools, but you’ll end up wishing you had your entire kit. If you’re getting your makeup professionally done, bring mascara and liptouch-ups touch-ups throughout the day.
• Tissues & Makeup Remover Wipes – A travel pack of tissues and makeup remover wipes are crucial (especially after the father-daughter dance!)
• Contact Solution/Eye Drops – It’s always a good idea to have an extra contact case and solution, or eye drops on hand for such an emotional event!
• Deodorant – Bring a full stick and a travel stick.
• Mini Perfume Spray – A spritz of perfume will keep you feeling fresh and confident all day long.
• Photo of Desired Hairstyle/Hair Tools – If you know exactly what you want, bring a photo from Pinterest or a magazine to help the hair stylist. If you’re doing your own hair, bring a brush, teasing comb, curling iron, etc.
• Hairspray – A travel-sized hairspray bottle will work to keep curls tight and fly-aways tamed!
• Bobby Pins – These will secure your strands and can even be used to temporarily hold broken dress straps & tears together! Throw in a few ponytail holders and clothespins while you’re at it.
• Lint Roller – No stray dog hair on the day of “I do!”
• Nail Clippers & Emery Board – If a nail breaks, a simple clip will solve the problem.
• Compact Mirror – Make sure your pearly whites are free from appetizer shreds and lipstick smudges.
• Hand Sanitizer & Lotion – Just to keep your hors d’oeuvres-grabbing hand germ-free and moisturized.
• Breath Mints – Other than obvious reasons, mints can help calm a nervous stomach. No chewing gum, please!

in case of emergency

• Medicine – Ibuprofen, allergy medicine, stomach relievers: having these on hand will definitely be useful. Even if you don’t use them, someone within the bridal party will!
• Feminine Products – Going along with medicine, someone will need these at some point!
• Mini Water Bottles – It’s incredibly important to stay hydrated; you are standing all day for photos and dancing all night, after all! Having your own mini water bottle on hand will be useful as you won’t need to stand in line at the bar to re-hydrate.
• A Small Snack – If you know your day consists of little time for food, packing a small snack – like a granola bar or crackers – will save you from starvation without ruining your appetite for dinner and dessert!
• A Mini Umbrella – Protect your hair and makeup at all costs, regardless of what the weatherman says!

extras

• Your Wedding Gift or Card – It could be mailed previously, but if not, make sure your wedding gift is in tow!
• Printed Information – It’s a great idea to have contact information of vendors and the bridal party, as well as directions to the reception and ceremony locations, on hand in case of an emergency!
• A Copy of Your Speech – If you’re giving a toast, it’s always a good idea to have a tangible copy of it with you for practicing beforehand or reading off of it during the reception. Note cards will work, but holding one piece of paper might be easier and eliminate any card fumbling.
• Phone Charger – Incredibly important these days! Simply using social media pre-ceremony can wipe your phone battery, so bring an extra charger with you to ensure that you’re able to take pictures all night!

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A perfect, problem-free wedding is never promised, and sometimes minor issues make for better memories to look back on and laugh about. However, by stashing these items away in a travel bag, you’ll definitely help secure a stress-free ceremony and reception. If any issues do arise, you will be the go-to girl who saves the day! And as the saying goes, better to be safe than sorry!