Planning ahead: Packing for the big day
Paul Retherford Wedding Photography
Scott Breithaupt Photography
There is a law — Murphy’s Law — which dictates that anything that can go wrong, will.
Chances are, a bride’s wedding day is not immune to this phenomenon.
Often, said Kris Rundblad, owner of MerryMakers Wedding, Social and Corporate Event Planning in Charlevoix, last-minute glitches ranging from a button that has popped off to a forgotten wine key can sometimes complicate an otherwise potentially stressful day.
“In general, we hope not to have stressed-out brides or grooms or parents,” she said. “Planning ahead is the ticket and being prepared, sort of like a Scout.”
To alleviate the stress, and to add a level of damage control to situations that might require it, Rundblad recommends a multi-part emergency bag.
For the jitters and stress, remember antacid and pain relievers, and shoes not entirely broken in might require bandages or blister protection.
Though a bride’s significant other may not notice a hair out of place or smudged lipstick, for perfect pictures, pack tissues, blotting papers, tweezers, cotton swabs, deodorant, sunscreen, an emery board, lip balm or a small makeup kit, bobby pins, a comb, lotion, powder, a mirror and nail polish in case of chipping.
And if you’re truly accident prone, you might just skiff your dress with lipstick as you’re touching up. In that case, white chalk can be used as a stain masker. Other clothing must-haves include a sewing kit with needles, thread, buttons and safety pins. Double-sided tape can keep clothes in place, instant hemming tape can fix a tear in a dress, clear nail polish will stop a stocking run in its tracks and scissors can snip trailing threads.
Finally, Rundblad often sees a more nuts-and-bolts side of weddings, concerned with glitches that might happen with decorations. She has a toolbox filled with scissors, tape (both regular and duct tape), utility knives, a staple gun, ribbon, corsage pins and wrist converters, wine opener, pens, plastic bags and cloth and paper towels.
She finds tie wraps — those plastic zip ties whose end you thread through the head of the wrap and cinch tightly — especially helpful. In particular, Rundblad uses tie wraps when she wants a table linen to have a gathered or flower effect.
To alleviate stress on the bride, assign this toolbox out to someone else, especially if you don’t have a wedding planner.
This list has come in handy, Rundblad said: once, she had to make a toss bouquet out of her ribbon and the flowers that decorated the wedding cake.
No one was the wiser.
Just call Rundblad the MacGyver of weddings, and brides, with their own go-to bag of personal items and tools, might also be able to be their own personal MacGyvers.
Up North Bride Home » Fall 2011 Edition » Planning ahead: Packing for the big day