Bridesmaid Survival Kit | SouthBound Bride

Image: Vanilla Photography on SouthBound Bride

One of the best pieces of advice I picked up ahead of my first stint as a bridesmaid was to make sure I had an emergency kit with me to sort out any little problems that cropped up on the day. For the bride especially, of course, but often I’ve found that guests need to delve into the kit as much as anyone else! On a stressful day, it makes such a difference to have one person who is cool, calm and collected, and comes prepared to nip any minimergencies in the bud. Here’s what I’ll be carrying when one of my best friends ties the knot in December – put them together in a little case and you have your very own DIY bridesmaid survival kit! *Links in bold denote affiliate links – SBB may receive a commission on any sales made.

BRIDESMAID’S EMERGENCY KIT

Baby powder – great for sorting out any little spillages on a wedding dress
White chalk – a temporary fix for wedding dress stains
Hair pins – to fix any bridal hair mishaps once the stylist has left
Nail polish – both clear (to fix runs in pantyhose and stop buttons from falling off) and in the colour the bride and bridesmaids are wearing on fingers and toes
Nail file – someone always needs one!
Hairspray – can be used for a variety of emergencies. Hair, obviously. But it can also be used to keep dodgy zippers from unzipping, remove lint, polish shoes, keep makeup in place and preserve wilting flowers
Deodorant
Paper drinking straws, to prevent that glass of champers or water from removing your carefully-applied lipstick
Comb
Chewing gum – because sometimes there’s no time for a toothbrush
Small sewing kit with needle and white and black thread is a must
Safety pins – arguably the most important item, they can fix a number of problems, so make sure you have lots of them!
Plasters/band-aids – nobody wants blood on their wedding dress!
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Hair bands – again, someone always needs one!
Tampons
Masking tape – a great little secret for fixing hemlines
Earring backs – such a simple thing, but when you need one, you really need one!
Heartburn relief – there’s a lot of rich food and wine at weddings, and you want to be able to enjoy it!
Hairdryer
Tissues
Insect repellent – for summer and outdoor weddings
Bottled water & energy bars – especially during the photo session, you’ll be a lifesaver having this on hand for the bride and groom!
Eye drops (and contact lens solution if any of the wedding party wear them)
Flip flops – heels break and feet get sore and tired. What a relief to be able to kick off the stilettos and slip these on after the formalities are over!
Charger
Mini medical kit (headache, diarrhoea & antihistamines)

Just like my old Girl Guide days, the key for any good bridesmaid is to be prepared. Stock up on these items, pop them into a bag you can take to the venue with you, and you’re ready to celebrate, worry-free!