If there is one thing I wished I would have taken the time to look up before I got married it would be what NOT to forget. You know all those little things that end up being essential. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the day that you forget silly things you wouldn’t normally. In my case, I totally forgot to pack the bra I specifically had purchased to wear with my dress. I never even thought to check for it because why would I forget it?! There was also a MAJOR miscommunication with the reception venue and they ended up double-booking our reception room. Thankfully it was all sorted out in the end.

So as a result of my own wedding day blunders, the numerous wedding’s I’ve been a part of, and the dozen’s I’ve photographed I’ve realized there are a whole plethora of things you might not even think to pack! So here is a list of wedding day essentials I have created to help your day go as smoothly as possible.

Wedding Day Essentials

• Water! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. This is especially true on those hot summer days and if you and your wedding party plan on drinking.
• Blister band-aids.  Nobody wants to spend all day hobbling around because of a blister.
• While we’re at it a First Aid kit isn’t a bad idea either. This includes any medication you think you or people in your wedding party might need. Antacid, Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.
• Sewing kit. You never know who might bust a seam or pop a button.
• Bobby pins.
• Safety pins.
• Extra pens.
• Don’t forget the tissues!
• Hairspray. Especially if you are having an outdoor wedding.
• Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Nobody want’s to get a wicked burn on their wedding day and it doesn’t look good in photographs either.
• Snacks! I recommend granola bars or something else that will keep you full, aren’t terribly messy and can ease a nervous stomach. But really anything YOU want to eat on your wedding day is perfect. Just make sure you eat.
• If the shoes you plan to wear for the ceremony aren’t comfortable consider bringing a pair of dancing shoes for the reception!
• Baby powder to help prevent chafing.
• lipstick, lip gloss, or chapstick! Nobody wants to deal with dry chapped lips or flaky lipstick on their wedding day.
• Don’t forget your ID! Especially if you plan to go bar hopping. Consider putting someone in charge of that and your cellphone for the day.
• Don’t forget your phone!
• Make sure you have all the contact information for vendors, important guests, the wedding party, and anyone else you might need to contact the day of.
• Have a timeline and give it to everyone. I promise the timeline is not going to go exactly as laid out. BUT it will make the day go much smoother and keep everyone on the same page.

Other Little Pieces of Advice

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Nothing is ever going to go perfectly. So if you can let the little things go I promise you will enjoy your day so much more!

Put someone else in charge. You don’t have to be the one making all of the decisions on the day of the wedding. Hiring a wedding coordinator (bonus some venues come with these) that can take care of all of the last-minute details that are bound to come up can really be essential! They’ve done this far more than anyone else has so why not let them deal with it? If a coordinator isn’t in your budget have a personal attendant there. A Personal attendant should be someone you trust to get things done! Do you and your aunt see eye-to-eye? Maybe your sister who is also your best friend knows how to take care of business! Or perhaps your old college roommate just lives for these types of things. Put them in charge! You won’t regret it.

Leave the drama at the door. There is always going to be someone that wants to make your day all about them. It might be a parent, sibling, another family member, or even a friend. Seriously, don’t even engage. Don’t let them ruin your big day! This day is about you and the love of your life. There is always time for drama the next day.

But most importantly, just remember to have fun and enjoy this time with your new spouse, friends, and family!

If you have any wedding day essentials that you think need to be added to the list please leave a comment!