Emergency kit must-haves

Most brides know the importance of having a wedding day emergency kit on hand, and a quick Google search can give you a list of the 100 most common items to include: deodorant, bobby pins, clear nail polish, safety pins, hand sanitizer, etc. In our line of work we see (and avert) many emergencies with just such a kit. And our experience has led us to include a few choice items that may not have surfaced on everyone's list. Here are a few handy carry-alongs we don't head to a wedding without:

1. Breath mints. Even if it is just a 1 1/2 calorie tic tac, everyone feels better walking down the aisle with a little something to freshen their breath and brighten their smile. Mints are something that the bride and/or groom will have likely thought about - being the ones to have "the kiss" and all - but most of the wedding party, and even an occasional officiant, are very pleasantly surprised when offered a mint just before the start of the ceremony.

2. White chalk. You pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for your dress, and then fork out even more to have a professional follow you around and take hundreds of pictures of you wearing it. The last thing you want is a grass stain or footprint in the middle of your train, but a simple box of white chalk can cover up many of the smudges and smears that accumulate on the skirt of your dress as you traverse your venue prior to the ceremony.

3. Place cards. General white and silver place cards can be found at any party supply store - we carry these everywhere. One little place card can go a long way when you need to make a last-minute name change or label a buffet item with an allergen alert.

4. Bug spray. One particular midsummer wedding boasted a perfect outdoor setting. A light breeze kept the guests cool...and kept extinguishing the citronella candles. When the sun went down, the bugs came out, and we were thankful that we were able to smother our bride with a scent-free bug repellent to keep her looking gorgeous and feeling comfortable throughout the evening - and send her off on her honeymoon bite-free.

5. Lighter. Most every venue has these, but a just-in-case extra is a must. Position it in a subtle location up front at the ceremony, and make sure someone in the wedding party knows it's there. Without this safety net in place, the unity candle segment has the potential to take an embarrassing turn...

6. Scissors. When you need them, you need them, and there is just no substitute. Our kit has a couple pairs.

7. Tape. So many varieties, and each fulfill specific purposes...the uses are endless!
duct: holds down electrical cords to avoid tripping hazards
packing: fixes hems, removes lint
floral: takes care of any bouquet and/or boutonniere issues that arise
double-sided: ensures would-be orphaned cards are securely attached to their respective wedding gifts, keeps bra straps in place, etc.

8. Cable ties. After pulling off one of our greatest events last fall, we will never go anywhere without our trusty cable ties. You never know when circumstances will require some item to be secured or tied down: bouquets on chairs, tablecloths on picnic tables, or pop-up tents to keep the rain at bay.

9. Dryer sheets. These offer a remedy for static cling, frizzy hair, etc.

10. Your OTC friends. Not that it's necessary to bring along the entire contents of one's medicine cabinet, but being prepared is better than remembering a wedding for the fact that a 911 call was made. Case in point: the groom at one outdoor wedding was paranoid of getting a bee sting - to which he was severely allergic. We kept some Benadryl stashed away for such an event...to ensure the worst-case scenario became a non-event.

11. Drinking straws. Offer one to the bride for any beverage she may be sipping: even drips from a water bottle can smudge a perfectly coiffed bride minutes before 'go time.'

These are just a few of our standbys - tried and true. Maybe they can help you avert disaster! We'd love to hear from our readers: any other miscellaneous items that have saved the wedding day?