On the wedding day, any minor wardrobe malfunction seems monumental to a nervous and frazzled bride. An “emergency” kit can be assembled in advance to solve minor issues at a moment’s notice.
Here’s what you need:
Safety Pins and Scotch tape
Single-sided or double-sided, clear tape is a quick hem fix, and can be also be used to secure wedding decorations that refuse to stay in place.
Safety pins can also be used to fix a hem. They are handy when a boutonniere pin goes missing or a wrist corsage’s strap breaks, or when a bridesmaid’s bra strap keeps peeking out.
Hair Repair Kit
Although it seems like common sense, remember to bring both a comb and a brush to wherever you will be dressing. Common sense often goes out the window in the last-minute pursuit of wedding day perfection.
Bring several hair pins, as stray hairs will inevitably break free, and while wisps are beautiful on your wedding day, flyaway hair is just messy.
Add hair spray to the list and check for it twice, because hair spray does double duty — besides setting everyone’s coif in place, hairspray can halt a snag in your stockings.
Triage Supplies
Nothing says tacky like blood spots on your nylons…and well, shaving accidents happen, so be sure to pack a few clear or skin-toned adhesive bandages.
Another minor “medical emergency” that could occur is menstruation. It is, after all, a natural occurrence, and there will be many women who have been spending a lot of time together over the preceding months. It is better to be safe than sorry – bring tampons, and pantyliners.
All the stress of the day (or of starting one’s period) will cause a few headaches. It is best to keep a few aspirin on hand. Okay, maybe a lot of aspirin.
Keep those hands beautiful for pictures with the rings and wedding bouquet, and prevent pantyhose and gown snags in the first place, by making sure that everyone has an emery board.
Clothing Crises Stoppers
Stop stains and smears before they start with hand towelettes. Many a makeup mark crisis can be avoided by keeping towelettes (or even a box of baby wipes) at the ready.
Bring scissors and a needle, with thread that matches both bridal gown and bridesmaids dresses, for urgent repairs. The scissors may come in handy for removing tags from shoes or dresses, snipping loose threads on seams (without pulling!), or in cutting the tape to rig the wedding decorations.
Baby powder is a bride’s best friend. It is as useful for controlling sweat under nylons and heavy bras as it is for sprinkling over any rogue spots on a white wedding gown…instant cover-up.
Bring clear quick-drying nail polish or top coat. Not only will it usually stop a “run” in pantyhose, clear nail polish will temporarily stop a thread from unraveling on practically any garment, ribbon, etc.
Pack extra pantyhose! Seriously. Bring at least one, preferably two pair for each female member of the wedding party or female family members who will be involved in the wedding. They cease to make legs look glamorous once the bride’s beaded train has pulled a hole in the maid of honor’s nylons.
Other Stuff…
Tuck in a tiny container of super-glue or a small glue gun with sticks. Earrings break. Ribbons refuse to stay tied. Glue on hand is a blessing if tape does not do the trick. One small caveat – do NOT let the bride handle super-glue or a hot glue gun on the day of the wedding. She neither needs torn flesh nor a blister on her special day.
The dressing room should have an ample supply of tissues. The moment when the bride puts on her veil and looks in the mirror touches even seasoned photographers. There will be tears. Be prepared.
Keep mascara and lip gloss on hand for touch-ups – most other color makeup is unnecessary since the bride is blushing anyway.
Bring contact lens solution(s) and backup lenses if possible. Crying is drying (so are hairspray, powder, and many other things that will be swirling about in the air) and contact lens wearers will feel the itch and discomfort in short order if fresh solution or re-wetting drops are not available.
Serve up some bottled water. Bottled water with a cap that pops up and down offers the maids and moms and bride a chance to have something to drink without fear of staining gowns. Mouths will be dry from both lack of hydration and nerves, and water helps clear the mind and body. Being properly hydrated also helps ward off headaches. The last thing a bride needs to start the honeymoon is a headache!
Provide breath mints. Again, nerves are at their peak, for everyone, in the hours before the bride walks down the aisle to meet her groom. Dry mouths are smelly mouths. Peppermints also come in handy to pop in the mouth of the thrice-divorced aunt who refuses to stop talking about how much she hates men.
With just a few additions to this list, every maid of honor and bridesmaid will be prepared to handle any “getting-ready” snafus. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of wedding cake.
About Sarah Zammit
