12 Must-Have Essentials Every Event Planner Should Pack Before an Event

We're letting the cat out of the bag, sort of speak and granting you a glimpse at what's in our emergency bag at every event. No gatekeeping here and you can thank us later.

Before we go any further, I thought everyone would enjoy this picture of a cat literally in a bag! This is Pepper and she's a brat. Okay, on to our topic today..

There is no rookie move quite like showing up to a bride's Big Day as a day-of coordinator and realizing that she, her bridal party, or maybe Aunt Patty might need a spritz of hairspray, or a tampon, or a breath mint, and that you've arrived ill-equipped. Yikes on bikes! Friends, we've all been there and hopefully after having read this article, you too will pack an emergency bag like it's no one's business at your next event.

I always pack - maybe overpack - this adorable mini Trader Joe's tote with so many essentials, and I want to share what that bag looks like with all of you. Quick pause to mention how highly-sought after these Trader Joe's tote bags apparently are! If I didn't have an "in" with a Trader Joe's employee, I never would have scored a purple spring-edition bag so shout out to the plug!

So here it goes, the "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" top 12 list of what I always pack in my bag.

Note that this list is in no particular order of importance.

1. Bobby Pins - There is ALWAYS a guest or member of the bridal party who needs just one more bobby pin to finish a polished look. I went ahead and purchased a giant pack of them, in three colors and I'm sure it'll be the last pack of bobby pins I ever buy again!

   
   

2. Safety Pins - Kind of like with bobby pins, I feel like I've been to many events (both working and as guests) where someone's dress got torn, or a button not holding up.. something that warranted the need for a safety pin.

   
   

3. Tide To Go Pen - While I realize not everyone is like myself in that I could benefit from wearing a bib while eating, surely there's enough of us out there and spills happen.
   

4. Hairspray - Because we can always use just one more spritz, amirite? Whether due to humidity, wind, travel, whatever - Having a can of hairspray handy will never go unused.
   

5. Tampons/Pads - For the ladies in the blog, this one goes without saying. Sometimes, Aunt Flow shows up unannounced, and it's especially rude that she does so at a wedding so I'm always prepared.
   

6. Kleenex - A multipurpose necessity! I've pulled Kleenex out of my emergency bag for everything from blotting lipstick, wiping away tears of joy, dabbing sweat and most recently - a bloody nose.
   

7. Listerine Strips/Mints - We are eating and drinking and socializing a lot at events, and it's always a drag to feel insecure like, "I should have picked those onions out of the garden salad!" I like to have an assortment of both strips and traditional mints.
   

8. Sanitizing Wipes/Bum Wipes - Sidebar: When my now 18-year old daughter was little, she called baby wipes "bum wipes" and that is what I forever refer to them as. I usually stock a pack of both Clorox-type wipes for sticky surface cleanups as well as bum wipes for hands, faces and well, maybe bums too!
   

9. Garment Tape - Sometimes even after having our dress taken in, altered, whatever - we still "spill out" when bending over. No one wants to feel subconscious, so I always like to have a pack of garment tape to help the ladies hold the girls in place!
   

10. Blister Pads - There is almost no pain quite like not having broken in a pair of shoes prior to walking / dancing in them all night. That sensation of shoes rubbing against my heels not only drives me insane, but also makes me very uncomfortable so whether for myself or a guest in her 4 inch heels needs some relief, I'm always stocked up with blister pads.
    

11. Beauty Toiletries (hand cream / body spray)- I never always have exactly the same products but it's usually a combination of a nice hand cream, a body mist or roll-on perfume, and maybe some mascara. This one is a wild card, but I've always got something fun in my bag!
    

12. First Aid Kit - This is a combination of some Band-Aids in different sizes, alcohol wipes, Motrin, gauze - All of the things you'd expect to get in one of those first aid kids from CVS. You will never regret investing in a decent one.

So, did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below!

This is P signing off. Until next time, keep in mind: No event is too large or too small. From weddings to backyard bashes, we work with them all!

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