a wedding day packing list

The things that go through your mind in those weeks leading up to your wedding date are endless! If you’re like me, you even experienced wedding related nightmares. Mine was that I went to put on my dress before walking down the aisle and I had somehow forgotten to get it altered. It was a sample dress and about 6 sizes too large when I bought it so it wouldn’t stay up on its own, was way too long and just not what I imagined my walk down the aisle would look like. Thankfully my dress was already in for alterations so I’m not sure why that particular dream ahem nightmare came to me but it did. I felt prepared yet they still came.

While I can’t help you remember ALL the details, unless of course you hire us for your Wedding Planning needs or take ALL the stress away, again unless you hire us for your wedding planning needs, what I can do is provide you with this helpful guide so you don’t forget anything on your wedding morning.

WEDDING DAY PACK LIST

For Brides

  • Getting Ready Attire (pajamas, leggings, robe, slippers, blouse, etc.)

  • Wedding Dress (It’s best if this is freshly steamed and packed inside your garment bag to be hung)

  • Veil or headpiece if you’re wearing one

  • Jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelet, rings, etc.

  • Wedding Bands (it’s best that one person have both rings the morning of the wedding for detail shots when the photographer arrives) Tip: have them cleaned before hand as well!

  • Engagement Ring

  • Undergarments

  • Perfume

  • Cosmetic Bag (deodorant, hair ties, bobby pins, toothbrush and toothpaste, touch up kit for makeup)

  • Purse/Clutch

  • Shoes

  • Garter

  • Mini Emergency Kit (tide to go, medicine, sewing kit, hairspray, safety pins, mints, etc.)

  • Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

For Grooms

  • Pants

  • Shirt

  • Vest

  • Jacket

  • Tie/Bowtie

  • Belt

  • Suspenders

  • Dress Socks

  • Shoes

  • Underwear

  • Tie Clip

  • Cuff Links

  • Accessories (watch, pocket square, etc.)

For Ceremony

  • Marriage License

  • Programs

  • Copy of Vows

  • Any Unity or Ritual Ceremony Items (wine box, unity candle, rope, sand ceremony, love notes, etc.)

  • Any DIY items

Detail Shots

these items are best to pack together and have nearby and ready for photographers arrival

  • Bridal Accessories & Attire

  • Invitation Suite

  • Freshly addressed envelope with stamps (not mailed)

  • All Rings

  • It’s great to ask your florist for extra blooms or greenery for styling these items as well

Reception Details

  • Cake Topper

  • Toasting Flutes

  • Escort Cards or Table Display

  • Table Numbers

  • Menu Cards

  • Guestbook (and any essentials for it, pens, markers, etc)

  • Card Box

  • Any Signage (welcome, gifts, cards, etc.)

  • Any Photos to be displayed

  • Memory Table details if applicable

  • Personalized Items (chair back signs, chooses, cocktail napkins, etc)

  • Any DIY Items

  • Favors

Gifts

  • Future Wife/Husband Gift and/or Love Letter

  • Gifts for Bridal Party (don’t forget flower girls, ushers, ring bearer)

  • Gifts for Parents

Vendor Tips

  • There are many resources for tipping etiquette. We send all of our clients a tipping guideline the week of their wedding for ease.

  • These are best done in clearly marked, sealed envelopes

Wedding Exit Items

  • Any necessary items (sparklers, lighters, sand, bubbles, flower petals, etc.) and be sure to check with your venue for policies and specifics!

Overnight Bag

If you’re leaving for your honeymoon right away, you may need to think to pack in advance for an easy getaway (including travel documents, reservations, passport, etc.) but even still … here are a few items you may not want to forget the night of your wedding

  • Extra change of clothes for following morning (I ended up wearing my husbands shoes the next morning and had a girlfriend wear her husbands pants down to breakfast the morning after their wedding) This is so easy to forget but unless you want to put your wedding dress back on the next day for brunch, pack an extra change of clothes!

  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash (basically your day to day toiletries bag)

  • Phone Charger