You probably know where your wedding outfit is. Your shoes too, hopefully. But where’s the phone charger? Who has the comfortable shoes? And is your overnight bag coming with you, or is it still sitting in the hallway?
Packing for a wedding gets much easier when you stop thinking of it as one enormous list. I’d split it into three: what you need during the day, what you need that night, and what someone else is looking after.
Your day bag: the things you’ll actually want nearby
This is the small, useful bag. The one you can get to without sending someone back to your hotel room.
- Your phone and a charging cable or power bank.
- Any personal essentials you normally carry.
- Tissues, and a small touch-up kit if you use one.
- Water and an easy snack.
- Comfortable shoes or an extra layer, if you’ll want them.
- Your day plan and important contact details.
You don’t need to pack for every possible event in the history of weddings. Think about what you use on a normal long day, then add the things your particular wedding calls for.
Your night bag: make tomorrow morning easier
If you’re staying away, pack the usual overnight things separately. Nightwear, toiletries, underwear, next-morning clothes and a charger are a good starting point. Add anything you’ll need for breakfast or plans the following day.
Check when you can get into the room and how the bag will get there. If you’re staying in different places before and after the wedding, it’s particularly worth writing this down. The bag needs a plan too.
Heading home instead? You might only need to decide what travels back with you and who has your keys.
“The wedding party have it” needs a name
It’s absolutely fine to hand things over. In fact, please do. You don’t need to carry your entire wedding around with you.
But make the handover clear. Who has the rings? Who is taking the overnight bag? Where will the emergency kit be? Ask the person, check they’re happy to help and tell anyone else who needs to know.
A label on a bag can do a lot of work. So can a short message saying where it needs to end up.
Add the things that belong to your day
An outdoor ceremony might call for an umbrella or warmer layer. Children may need familiar snacks, spare clothes or something comforting. An outfit change needs somewhere for the first outfit to go afterwards.
If you’re leaving for a honeymoon straight away, keep travel documents and luggage arrangements separate from the small things you’ll need during the wedding. You shouldn’t have to open a suitcase to find a tissue.
Do one last check, then put it down
Pack as much as you can in advance. Leave a short note for anything that has to go in at the last minute, and do a quick check with the people taking bags for you.
Then let yourself stop packing. There will always be one more “just in case” item you could add. The aim is to feel prepared, with the important things easy to find.
The free Packing Essentials checklist has columns for your day bag, night bag and the things your wedding party have. The Personalised Wedding Toolkit brings a checklist shaped around your answers together with your contacts and plans for £1.99.