Picture this— you’re enjoying a relaxing and intimate wedding morning with your crew. Mimosas are flowing and laughs are flying as the wedding coordinator tells you, “Let’s get you dressed to meet your babe!” With excitement and anticipation, you start putting on the dream outfit you’ve envisioned the last year of wedding planning. As each piece comes together, everything starts to feel real. You reach for that final detail, that piece you just *had* to have to complete your wedding day look. The piece that, let’s be honest, was a good bit of a splurge to your wedding budget. 
You forgot to go through your wedding day packing list!
Reaching for that final detail and…wait, hold up. Where IS it?! Surely you packed it with your wedding day items. Surely you haven’t…wait yup. Remember it’s sitting there on the dresser where you spent one last night admiring it? Stories like this are standard, babe! There are so many last minute plans coming together for wedding week, that it’s become so common to forget something crucial (like those gorgeous Jimmy Choos that totally make your wedding day look, still sitting on the dresser. true story 
).
Excitement and nerves are high on wedding week, and it can be so easy to put off your wedding day packing until the night before. We recommend trying to pull all these items together earlier rather than later! This saves you from the dreaded panic-mode-over-packing. I do this every time I’m heading on vacation; I wait until the last possible moment, grab anything and everything in sight that I *might* need (because what if I have to change outfits five times a day?!), and end up WAY overpacking, while notoriously forgetting something crucial. Wedding packing should be much more strategic. The key here is to pack light and pack what you need (re: not *might* need.)
Anyone else feeling overwhelmed just thinking about it? Don’t worry babe, we got you! Today we’re breaking down the Wedding Day Packing List to make wedding week a breeze!
THE WEDDING DAY PACKING LIST
FOR THE BRIDE:
- Bride/Personalized Tote Bag
- Getting Ready Attire: Robe or Button Down Shirt and Slippers/Comfy Shoes. (Pro Tip! Try to make your getting ready attire something you can leave the house in. No need to pack a whole extra outfit just for transporting to the venue!)
- Small Clutch Purse
- Wallet
- Cell phone and Portable Battery
- Beauty: setting spray, hair spray, deodorant, lip touch-ups
- Wedding Dress
- Dress Undergarments
- Veil
- Jewelry: Earrings, Necklace, Bracelet
- Hair Accessories
- Shoes: Ceremony & Reception
- Getaway Bags/Luggage
- Any Medications you’ll need to take
- Spare Contacts, Solution, and Glasses
- Pro Tip – Keep the items from your wedding day packing list in the Bride/Personalized Tote for easy packing!
FLAT LAY + DETAILS:
- Specialty Hanger
- Engagement Ring and both Wedding Bands
- Specialty Ring Box
- Wedding shoes
- Momentos: handkerchiefs, loved ones’ photos, perfume, cologne, watch
- Full Invitation Suite with an Addressed Envelope
FOR THE GROOM:
- Backpack or Tote Bag
- Tux Pants
- Dress Shirt
- Tux Vest
- Tux Jacket
- Bow Tie or Tie
- Belt
- Dress Socks (this is a big one that gets forgotten often!)
- Dress Shoes
- Undergarments including undershirt (and a spare shirt!)
- Accessories: cufflinks, tie clip, handkerchief, watch, cologne
- Wallet
- Cell phone
- Portable Battery
- Getaway Bags/Luggage
- Any Medications you’ll need to take
- Spare Contacts, Solution, and Glasses
- Pro Tip – Keep everything in your tote bag for easy packing!
EXTRAS:
- Gifts and Letters to Each Other
- Gifts for Bridesmaids
- Gifts for Groomsmen
- Gifts and Letters to Parents
- Gifts for Ushers, Flower Girls, Ring Bearers, Attendants
- Tips
- Emergency Kit
- Snacks
- Drinks/Water
- A Copy of Your Wedding Day Timeline
CEREMONY DETAILS:
Pro Tip! Make wedding day easier by handing off all these details to your wedding planner!
- Marriage License
- Programs
- Vows
- Card Box/Holder
- Guest Book
- Gifts & Cards Sign
- Welcome Sign with Easel
- Unplugged Sign with Easel
- Flower Girl Basket
- Ring Bearer Pillow
- Ceremony Rituals: unity service, binding rope, wine box, etc)
RECEPTION DETAILS:
Pro Tip! Make wedding day easier by handing off all these details to your wedding planner!
- Seating Chart with Easel
- Place Cards
- Bar Signs
- Personalized Cocktail Napkins
- Table Numbers
- Guest Favors
- Framed Photos of the Newlyweds
- Memory Table Photos
- Toasting Flutes
- Cake Topper
FOR THE BRIDESMAIDS:
- Make things most convenient by coming dressed in your getting ready outfit! (Button up or zip up tops work best, so as not to mess up your freshly done hair and make-up)
- Bridesmaid’s Dress
- Bridesmaid’s Shoes
- Accessories
- Jewelry
- Undergarments
- Tote Bag or Backpack
- Cell phone & charger/battery pack
- Comfy shoes (for partying the night away!)
- Snacks
- Any medications you’ll need to take
- Wallet, ID, and spare cash
- Spare contacts and solution, and glasses
FOR THE GROOMSMEN:
- Backpack or Tote Bag
- Tux Pants
- Dress Shirt
- Tux Vest
- Tux Jacket
- Bow Tie or Tie
- Belt
- Dress Socks (this is a big one that gets forgotten often!)
- Dress Shoes
- Undergarments including undershirt (and a spare shirt!)
- Accessories
- Wallet
- Cell phone
- Portable Battery
- Any Medications you’ll need to take
- Spare Contacts, Solution, and Glasses
- Pro Tip – Keep everything in your tote bag for easy packing!
We’re not going to lie to you– Wedding days are long days! While it’s exciting planning everything you’re going to bring with you to the wedding, we also want to note that everything you bring into the venue must also leave the venue by the end of the night. Our pro tip? Pack light! Bring only the essentials and keep everything in your tote bag to make skedaddling at the end of the night a breeze! Another great trick is this – once your bridal party has tucked away for the ceremony, have your Maid of Honor and Best Man corral everyone to go ahead and pack away their getting ready items. You’ll walk down the aisle knowing not a single item was missed, and can party the night away not having to hard-stop just to clean up a messy bridal suite!
Our best tip though? Bring quality vendors to your team who can help simplify and streamline your wedding day packing list! Emergency kits come right in with your wedding planner. Signage and day-of scripting, your stationer will drop right off to the venue. Have more tips + tricks you want to share? Make sure to send us an email to info@wedkc.com to share all your insight with brides in need!
RACHAEL WHITEHEAD
COMPANY: Whatever is Lovely
Rachael is the Owner and Lead Planner of Whatever is Lovely Events. Whatever is Lovely is dedicated to educating couples in creating unique and memorable weddings for their clients.
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