The bridesmaid’s emergency kit

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 little emergencies in the bud.

Here’s what I’ll be carrying when one of my best friends ties the knot in December:

1. A little sewing kit with needle and white and black thread is a must! I love this cute little one from Etsy.
2. 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.
3. Safety pins. Arguably the most important item, they can fix a number of problems, so make sure you have lots of them.
4. Hair bands – someone always needs one!
5. Hair pins – to fix any bridal hair mishaps once the stylist has left.
6. Earring backs – such a simple thing, but when you need one, you really need one.
7. Plasters/band-aids. Nobody wants blood on their wedding dress!
8. Mini medical kit – headache pills, diarrhoea pills and allergy pills.
9. Hairspray – again, this 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.
10. Drinking straws, to prevent that glass of champers or water from removing your lipstick.
11. Toothbrush and toothpaste.
12. Baby powder. Great for sorting out any little spillages on a wedding dress.
13. Chewing gum – because sometimes there’s no time for a toothbrush.
14. Comb
15. White blackboard chalk – gives a temporary fix for wedding dress stains.
16. Masking tape – a great little secret for fixing hemlines.
17. Tissues
18. Nail file – again, someone always needs one!
19. Heartburn relief – there’s a lot of rich food and wine at weddings, and you want to be able to enjoy it.
20. Cellphone charger – a universal one if you have it.
21. Deodorant
22. Eye drops (and contact lens solution if any of the wedding party wear them).
23. Tampons
24. Water – especially during the photo session, you’ll be a lifesaver having this on hand for the bride and groom. Consider also having some biscuits or other snack to hand at this point as well.
25. Slip slops – 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!
26. Hairdryer

Other things to include are makeup (although you’ll probably have this with you) and insect repellant (if relevant).

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 good to go!