20 Commonly Forgotten Items in the Bridal Getting Ready Suite

After photographing weddings for nearly a decade, we've noticed the same thing happen over and over again.

The wedding morning arrives, everyone is excited, hair and makeup are underway, and suddenly someone says:

"Wait... does anyone have scissors?"

Or:

"Where are the rings?"

Or:

"What are we supposed to be doing next?"

The getting ready portion of the day is often one of the most fun parts of a wedding, but it's also where a lot of little details can get overlooked.

To help you avoid last minute stress, here are 20 of the most commonly forgotten items we see in bridal getting ready suites.

1. Printed Timelines

Keep a few printed timelines in the bridal suite so everyone has something to look back on when questions come up.

You can also give copies to your wedding party, parents, and anyone helping keep the day moving. That way, instead of constantly answering "What's next?" all morning, you can point people toward the timeline and stay present.

2. Straws for Drinks

Whether you're drinking water, coffee, mimosas, or champagne, straws help keep lipstick intact and reduce the need for touch-ups.

3. A Wooden Hanger for Dress Photos

If you want beautiful photos of your dress hanging, bring a wooden hanger or a personalized hanger with "Bride" on it.

Most dresses arrive on a plastic hanger, which is totally fine functionally, but it doesn't always photograph the way you might want it to. A simple wooden hanger instantly makes those photos feel more polished.

4. Extra Hangers for Other Dresses

If you want photos of the bridesmaids' dresses, moms' dresses, or other special outfits, bring a few extra wooden hangers too.

This is especially helpful if all the dresses are being photographed together. One beautiful hanger beside a bunch of plastic ones can look a little mismatched, so having extras keeps everything feeling clean and intentional.

5. The Wedding Rings

Yes, really.

You would be surprised how many wedding mornings include a frantic search for the rings.

Make sure someone specific is responsible for them.

6. Bouquets

Double check that bouquets, boutonnières, corsages, and any other floral items are arriving where they need to be and at the correct time.

7. A Designated Vendor Contact

If you don't have a wedding planner, choose one person who vendors can contact throughout the day.

Just make sure that person knows they are the point of contact, so they actually expect messages or calls and don't accidentally miss something important.

8. A Steamer

Wrinkles happen.

Veils, dresses, robes, and suits often need a quick touch-up before photos begin.

9. Matching Robes or Pajamas

Not required at all, but they can create really fun and cohesive getting ready photos.

The best option is whatever makes everyone feel comfortable and confident.

10. A Sewing Kit

Tiny wardrobe emergencies happen more often than you might think.

A small sewing kit can be a lifesaver.

11. Safety Pins

Safety pins solve an incredible number of wedding day problems.

Bring more than you think you'll need.

12. Fashion Tape

Perfect for securing dresses, necklines, straps, and preventing unexpected wardrobe malfunctions.

13. Stain Remover

Spilled coffee.

Makeup smudges.

Champagne accidents.

A stain remover pen can save the day.

14. Hair Pins and Elastics

Even after hair is finished, extra pins and elastics often come in handy for quick fixes throughout the day.

15. Band-Aids and Blister Pads

New shoes have a habit of becoming less exciting after a few hours.

Blister pads can make a huge difference in comfort.

16. A Camera or Polaroid

Some of our favourite wedding memories are the candid behind-the-scenes moments captured by friends and family.

A Polaroid or disposable camera can add a lot of fun to the morning.

17. Extra Phone Chargers and a Power Bank

Phones are constantly being used throughout the wedding morning.

Photos, texts, directions, playlists, vendor communication.

A dead phone is surprisingly common.

18. Champagne

This one speaks for itself.

19. Enough Champagne Glasses for Everyone

We've seen plenty of mornings where the champagne is ready, but there aren't quite enough glasses.

A lot of couples remember glasses for the bride and bridesmaids, but forget that they might also want to include mom, mother-in-law, sisters, or other important people in a cheers. Having a few extra glasses makes everyone feel included, and it keeps the photos looking consistent too.

20. A Getting Ready Playlist

The right music can completely change the atmosphere of the room.

Whether it's relaxing, nostalgic, upbeat, or a full dance party, a good playlist helps set the tone for the entire day.

WANT THE FULL LIST OF 50 ITEMS?

These are just 20 of the most commonly forgotten items we see on wedding mornings.

We've also put together a FREE printable checklist with 50+ commonly forgotten items in the bridal getting ready suite that you can save, print, and use while planning your wedding.

It's basically the "please don't make me remember this on the morning of my wedding" checklist 😅

👉 Download the free checklist here:

50 Commonly Forgotten Items in the Bridal Getting Ready Suite

Just enter $0 at checkout and it'll let you download. Gumroad makes it look like you have to pay, but you don't, promise!

And if you find it helpful, feel free to check out our profile for more wedding planning resources and checklists 🫶🏻