The One and Only Wedding Day Essentials Checklist You’ll Ever Need

Your wedding is on the horizon. Even if it feels like you have ages to get everything together, planning a wedding is a lot of work. From finding the best wedding venue to picking the perfect cake, you have your work cut out for you.

But what about the wedding day itself? Sure, you know all about finding the venue and picking the outfits, but what wedding day essentials will you need on the big day that no one tells you about?

We want to talk about it so you can be prepared for your big day. Keep reading to learn all about what you’ll need on the day of your wedding reception.

Cosmetics

It might seem unnecessary, but packing extra cosmetics for your wedding day itself is crucial if you want everyone to look prim and proper for the duration of the ceremony and reception.

Often, makeup artists will offer touch-ups throughout the wedding. Even if they don’t, keep extra products on hand just in case you need them. After all, it’s normal for foundation and lipstick to wear away after a night of dancing, eating, and kissing.

Keep a small makeup bag in an area that’s reachable for all members of the wedding party. You won’t regret it.

Bonus tip: bring makeup blotters. If you sweat, you’re sure to get shiny. Makeup blotters will keep your skin looking fresh and matte so you don’t have sweaty photos.

Snacks

Yes, you’ve ordered catering for yourself and all of your guests, but we recommend bringing snacks along with you for your wedding day.

Weddings are exhausting. Your wedding day begins bright and early, and you might not have time for a fancy breakfast or a brunch out with friends. Yes, this is nice in theory, but who has the time?

Bring snacks that can keep you energized until it’s time for dinner and cake. We recommend granola bars, trail mix, protein bars, and protein drinks. You want food that’s easy to grab and eat without messing up your clothing or makeup.

Bonus: Keep water available somewhere throughout the event. You don’t want anyone getting dehydrated!

“Fixing” Items

You want your wedding to go off without a hitch, but accidents happen. It’s helpful to have a small collection of items that you can use to fix any small problems with your clothing or other wedding supplies so no one ever notices that anything went wrong.

Bring a needle and thread and be ready for potential wardrobe problems. You can easily fix small tears without leaving the reception.

If you have natural flowers, consider bringing a few extras to fill out the bouquet, and a pair of scissors, in the event that one wilts or breaks. This isn’t an issue if you choose wooden flowers.

Bring anything that you might need to make a quick repair throughout the day. Tape, glue, thread, and more.

A First-Aid Kit

Again, accidents happen. Having a first-aid kit on hand is common sense.

You don’t need anything serious in there. It’s common for people to get scraped knees (especially children), so a few bandages will help. If anyone in your wedding party takes medication, make sure to keep some in the first-aid kit so there are no emergencies.

It’s also helpful to bring antacids, over-the-counter painkillers, and allergy medications.

Outdoor Supplies

Are you having an outdoor wedding? You’ll need a few handy extras on your wedding day.

If it’s a hot day, you’re going to need to have an area that allows people to rest and cool down. In other words, you either need a tent or an available indoor space.

You should consider fans and, if possible, misters to make sure that everyone stays as comfortable as possible. Again, have extra water nearby.

Bring sunscreen, bug spray, and anything else that you might need to keep your skin safe. You don’t want to end your big day with sunburn and bug bites!

Cash

Who carries cash around these days? On your wedding day, you do.

Your vendors are working hard to make sure that your wedding day is perfect. It’s customary to tip these vendors to thank them for their effort.

Sure, many vendors will allow you to add a tip via their digital payment program, and you could Venmo tips to vendors if they allow it, but it’s always helpful to have cash on hand so you can tip them right away.

It’s also helpful to have cash in case of an emergency. You never know when you’re going to need it, and you don’t want to interrupt your special day with a visit to the nearest ATM.

Extra Shoes

You’ve chosen your perfect wedding day shoes. They’re beautiful, but are they functional?

In most cases (especially when it comes to the bride’s and bridesmaids’ shoes), the answer is no. We call these “standing shoes” and they’re not made for the dancefloor.

After the ceremony is over, you can ditch those uncomfortable shoes and change into something more comfortable. If you still want to have nicer shoes, we recommend buying a pair of flats or low heels that match your wedding shoes. If that doesn’t matter (after all, doesn’t your dress cover your feet anyway?) don your favorite pair of sneakers and hit the dancefloor.

Keep These Wedding Day Essentials In Mind

You have so much to think about on the day of your wedding. It might be the most exciting day of your life! Without these wedding day essentials, though, your day might not be as fun and festive as you’d like it to be.

Start gathering your essentials ahead of time and enjoy your special day!

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