I’m a prepared for anything kind of girl. Weddings can be cray cray with so many details coming together that something unexpected is bound to happen. And I like to be prepared wit my emergency wedding kit!

In my Think Tank I always have these items:

• Dr. Scholl’s Rub Relief Strips – Perfect for when shoes rub in unexpected ways and are easier hide to on a bride’s foot then bandaids.
• Flashlight – Great for trying to get a camera to focus at night or for when you’re packing up at the end of the night in a dark reception.
• Tide Pen- Because you never know when a bird might poop on you… true story.
• Lint Roller – Groomsmen always have something on their tuxes. This Flint lint roller from The Container Store actually rolls into itself so it doesn’t stick to everything in your bag. Genius!
• Miniemergency Kit from Pinch Provisions – I have the “hot mess” kit. You can order them online or buy them at places like Paper Source, Franchesca’s, Anthropologie and Sephora.

In my Shootsac that holds all my lenses I keep these items:

• Tissues – Someone is bound to cry that day and it means a lot to them when you have a tissue ready for them.
• Pen – I always use this to mark off all the shots that the bride and groom wants. I’ve even had to bring it for wedding licenses to be signed too!
• My Own Emergency Wedding Kit – While I have the Miniemergency Kit, I like having my own kit on hand because it’s stuff that I’ve found I need in addition.

My own emergency wedding kit is always changing, but they’re all items that I’ve used on a wedding day. This is what’s in it for now:

• Hair Bands & Bobby Pins – I’ve fixed so many updo’s with these items
• Bandaids
• Lotion
• 3m Hook & Tape – Just incase I can’t find a hook or nail when I find the perfect spot to hang the wedding dress. I also keep a pretty wooden hanger in my car incase the dress is on a plastic hanger.
• Safety Pins – I’ve used these to keep dresses together, bustle wedding dresses and even put on boutonnieres when the florist didn’t give us any straight pins.
• Floss
• Blotting Paper – No one wants to be shinny on their wedding day.
• Lens Wipes – Not only to clean my lens, but they also work to clean off shoes, shine rings and use to clean your hands in a desperate situation.
• Cough Drops – I talk a lot on wedding days and sometimes even have to raise my voice to get everyone’s attention during bridal party and family portraits, I usually need one of these during the reception.
• Extra Contacts – I keep my glasses in my Think Tank as well because I’m useless if I can’t see.
• Mini Scissors – Great for taking off tags, cutting open pockets and any stray threads.
• Dental Wax – This is a photographer hack: dental wax is great for styling wedding rings. Sometimes you can get the rings to stand on their own, but sometimes not.
• Matches – I use these to light candles, especially when I’m shooting details of the reception and the candles on the table haven’t been lit. I’ve thought about keeping a little lighter in my bag since it’s easier/quicker, but I’m too afraid of it breaking and the fluid getting in my gear.
• Chapstick
• Medication – My little Aleeve case is so beat up, but I love that it’s travel sized and is almost the same size as my chapstick.
• Tampons
• Gum – My pet peeve is bad breath, meaning I don’t want to ever have it.

These aren’t pictured, but I also always have granola bars, plenty of water and hand sanitizer with me. I’m thinking of adding a little sewing kit (I actually had to sew a veil back together this past year), fashion tape, super glue and a crochet hook (for those tiny buttons on wedding dresses) to my emergency wedding kit this year.

I’d love to hear from any other photographers out there what you find useful to have on wedding days? Are there any crazy situations where you were so glad that you happened to have a certain item on you? I’d love to hear!