There is SO much that goes into weddings that it can feel a little overwhelming when it comes time to pack for your day. Whether you’re having a small and intimate wedding or a large one where everyone you know will be there, there are some things that you just have to have there on the day. That’s what made me put this list together so that when your wedding day does come around you’ll be packed and prepared to bring everything you need the day of!

Make a Packing List

When packing for your wedding day your packing list will consist of 3 categories.  Your event packing list (everything that goes to the venue(s)), your personal packing list (everything you need to get ready for your wedding day and your overnight bag), and your emergency kit. It’s important to start packing and planning out everything you plan on bringing to your wedding day well ahead of time to keep things as low stress as possible. Be sure that when you do this you are storing these items in their respective groups as well as labeling the containers they are in so you don’t forget anything the day of!

Your General Packing List

First up we have the general packing list. These are things that almost every wedding day will include, although every wedding is different. First off you’ll want to make sure you pack your marriage license as well as a pen to sign said license, and both of your drivers licenses. You’ll also want to pack your cash tips for your wedding vendors and any final payments that are due for your vendors of your venue. If you already have your florals you’ll want to pack and bring those as well. And lastly, have easy access to all of your vendors’ contact info in case you or someone that’s helping you on your wedding day needs to get in touch with them.

Things to Hand Off to Someone Else

There is going to be A LOT going on during your wedding day, which is why it’s important to hand off things to people you can trust so that not everything falls on your plate. Whether you have a wedding planner/coordinator that is helping, or one of your friends/family is helping throughout the day, these are the things you’ll want to pass off to minimize your stress.

First, for anything that needs to go to the reception venue, you already have enough going on during your wedding day so have someone else transport the goods to where they need to go! Depending on where and who you’re staying with you can pass off your overnight bag to someone to either have it taken where you’re staying or placed out of the way of the festivities of the day. You’ll want to give a mini oh-shit-kit to one of your bridesmaids, (we’ll talk more about what goes into the kit later!) And lastly if you bring along your checkbook or credit cards, hand those off to someone you trust so you’re not constantly worrying about them.

Getting Ready

There’s a lot you’ll need to pack for getting ready for your wedding day. The special things for your wedding day should be easier to remember. Things like hair accessories, your veil, ties, your wedding attire, and any special jewelry should be at the forefront of your mind. That makes it easy to forget the simple day to day things though like deodorant, your perfume and cologne, and water which are just as important! The other important items you’ll want to pack for your getting ready space include a steamer, your getting ready outfits if you have them, undergarments, general accessories, florals, a crochet hook if your dress has a lot of buttons, and finally your wedding day details which you can check out this blog for what to pack in your details box!

Why Pack an Emergency Kit

I LOVE pampering and taking care of my clients, and that’s why I pack and carry an Oh-Shit-Kit on your wedding day for you!  Things happen and you only have one wedding day, so I do everything in my power to keep you looking and feeling great for your day!  If you think about your wedding day, in most cases you’re heading to a location you haven’t been to before, to get ready in a way that you haven’t gotten ready before, to do a bunch of activities you’ve never done before. All this unfamiliar territory leads to a lot of unexpected things popping up which is why an oh-shit-kit is SO important.

What Goes Into My Emergency Kit as a Chicago Wedding Photographer

For my emergency kit, or oh-shit-kit as I like to call it, I pack all the necessities for your wedding day. Everything from a sewing kit, safety pins, tissues, tide sticks, makeup wipes, crochet hooks, boutonniere pins, bobby pins, hairspray, spray deodorant, q-tips, mints, tweezers, scissors, fashion tape, and a well-stocked first aid kit with bandaids of all skin tones! I come packed and prepared for any and every situation that could come up on a wedding day. I ensure that you are covered, comfortable, and having the time of your life on your wedding day. As I mentioned above, having your own mini oh-shit-kit with a bridesmaid is always a great idea as well.

Along with the items listed above, when making your own emergency kit, I recommend also including the following items. Medications, Advil, tampons, pads, hairspray, thread that matches the color of your wedding dress, emergency snack like granola bars, and a couple of bottles of water. These items will not only be helpful in your oh-shit moments as a soon to be newly wed, but also can be super helpful for your wedding party, family members, or anyone else that might run into an emergency on your wedding

Tips to Ensure Your Day Runs Smoothly

Start Packing Early!

As mentioned above you’ll want to start packing for your wedding day early. This part is SO important to your day running smoothly and ensuring you don’t stress out which is why it’s worth mentioning again! Once you begin to gather items you’ll want to keep them together within the same place labeled for easy access and to ensure nothing is forgotten when it comes time for your wedding day. As mentioned above as well your wedding detail box is also crucial for your vendors so start packing for that early as well!

General Tips

Take note of how to get into your wedding gear (literally).  How to step into your wedding dress, how you want to tie your tie, how you want your kerchief folded, what side of your head you want your hairpins in and veil in, and how to put on a boutonniere.  Knowing these things will make accidents less likely as well as make the day of your wedding flow so much better!

Break in Your Shoes!

Last but certainly not least you HAVE to break in your shoes prior to your wedding day. No matter how much fun you’re having on your wedding day, if your feet are uncomfortable it’s going to bring down your vibe and the overall enjoyment of your wedding day. Once you have your wedding shoes start wearing them around the house and get the feel for them as well as break them in so you can enjoy yourself fully on your wedding day. Of course it goes without saying to also pack your wedding shoes after you’ve broke them in and your day comes around!

Your wedding day has so much going on and so much going into it it makes it hard to ensure you packed everything you need for the day! Hopefully this list will help guide you through everything you need for your day though so that nothing is forgotten and you’re able to have the wedding day of your dreams. And if you still need a photographer for your session, one that can help you double and triple check that you have everything you’ll need for your day, head to my contact page to send me an inquiry!