Each client will have their own unique needs, and therefore, they’ll have their own particular problems to resolve. With an average of 10 to 15 vendors working on each wedding, these challenges increase tenfold. The wedding planner will be expected to solve any and all problems related to the event (within reason) to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch — except the hitching, of course!
An assortment of potential problems requires a variety of emergency kit supplies, tools and materials to ensure you are equipped to handle even the most MacGyver of situations. Beyond the typical menagerie of emergency kit items, there are a slew of unexpected pieces that can help a wedding planner solve an issue faster and more efficiently.
While there may be overlap in each kit, the proximity of the items to the emergency really makes a difference. Duplicating items in each kit will allow for a faster solution — and make it appear that the planner is always one step ahead.
60 Standard Emergency Kit Items
- Pain relievers or medication(s) like Advil, antacid (Tums), Dramamine, Rescue Pastilles, Tylenol (or acetaminophen — make sure to have this for pregnant guests), and stomach relief medication such as Pepto-Bismol
- First aid items like a complete First Aid Kit with Band-Aids,
- Hand Sanitizer (Purel)
- Insect repellant
- Beauty and fashion Items like such as bobby pins, Chap Stick, clear lip gloss, clear nail polish, hair bands, hair brush, hair spray, mouthwash, perfume, Kleenex, lint roller, safety pins, sewing kit, stain remover ( Tide Pen), tampons, tooth paste and brush (or Wisps), wine wipes
- Little extras such as breath mints, disposable camera, Wet Ones wipes
- Production items, including tape of all kinds: black duct tape or gaff tape, clear Scotch tape, double-sided tape, packing tape and masking tape; other adhesives including hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, superglue such as Krazy Glue, mounting putty; writing utensils including black and blue ball point pens, Sharpies, highlighters, and dry erase markers; floral extras including fishing line, floral wire, floral putty, and ivory ribbon (1 roll); and other live savers including batteries (9V, AA, AAA), cheesecloth or press cloth, Pledge wipes for quick dusting, power strips, extension cords, Post-It Notes, scissors, stapler, lighters, pliers, trash bags, wine bottle opener, sandwich bags, and umbrellas
14 Unexpected Emergency Kit Additions
- Backup wedding music CD – In case the ceremony musicians are no shows
- Bamboo skewers – In case a cake starts to lean or look unstable
- Blue ribbon – In case the Bride forgets her “something blue”
- Eyelash glue – In case a faux eyelash goes astray. It’s not just for makeup artists!
- Fashion tape – In case a bride or bridesmaid’s bra is showing
- Protein bars and snacks – In case a light-headed wedding party member needs a snack (go gluten-free and nut-free)
- Extra wedding band – In case the wedding band(s) are forgotten
- Clear 3M hooks – In case something hanging falls apart and a quick fix is needed without damage
- Goo Gone – In case stickers or labels were not removed from votive holders or other décor
- Stick-Um wax – In case candles are a bit droopy or leaning. Safety first — prevent a fire!
- Night lights – In case one needs to check to see if an outlet works quickly
- Floral clippers – In case a floral item needs to be trimmed or fixed
- Plastic gloves – In case of bodily fluid or dirty cleanups
- Cake cutting set – In case the client set is missing and catering does not have one
36 Items for a Ladies’ Emergency Kit
- Advil
- Allergy relief
- Antacid (Tums)
- Bobby pins
- Breath mints
- Camera
- Chap-Stick
- Clear nail polish
- Contact solution
- Crochet hook
- Deodorant
- Eye drops
- Fashion tape
- First Aid kit (with at least 5 Band-Aids)
- Foundation
- Hair bands
- Hair brush and comb
- Hair spray
- Hand sanitizer (Purel)
- Kleenex
- Lint roller
- Lip gloss
- Lotion
- Mouthwash
- Nail kit
- Panty liners
- Q-Tips
- Safety pins
- Scissors
- Sewing kit
- Stain remover (Tide Pen)
- Sunscreen
- Tampons
- Toothpaste and tooth brush
- Tylenol (or acetaminophen)
- Wet Ones wipes
28 Items for a Men’s Emergency Kit
- Advil
- Allergy relief
- Antacid (Tums)
- Bobby pins
- Breath mints
- Camera
- Chap-Stick
- Comb
- Contact solution
- Deodorant
- Eye drops
- First Aid kit (with at least 5 Band-Aids)
- Hand sanitizer (Purel)
- Kleenex
- Lint roller
- Lotion
- Mouthwash
- Q-Tips
- Razors
- Safety pins
- Scissors
- Sewing kit
- Shaving cream
- Stain remover (Tide Pen)
- Sunscreen
- Toothpaste and tooth brush
- Tylenol (or acetaminophen)
- Wet Ones wipes
With each new problem, a new and unique use of these tools may surface, as creative problem solving is always the goal.
Bonus: Want to become a professional wedding and event planner? Enroll in the New York Institute of Art and Design's Wedding Planning Course today!
