Emergency Preparation
What to pack to make sure you're prepared on your wedding day.

There's no getting around it; no matter where on the scale your wedding falls—from large and elaborate to small and informal—it is a production!

As with any stage show, there are bound to be some last-minute challenges—missing props or a costume in need of a quick fix, for example. But think about the times you've seen an actor improvise himself out of an uncomfortable situation. The audience usually laughs or applauds. That's because the tension has been broken for everyone.

Despite the months of work and the accumulating stress of starring in your own production on your wedding day, we suggest you alleviate your tension by concentrating on the positive wedding day emotions, like love, gratitude, fun, joy, laughter—and excellence, not perfection. To paraphrase George Fisher, the problem with aiming for perfection is finding a target that will stand still for you. To that end, prepare as best you can for the little snafus that will inevitably crop up on your big day, and take them in stride.

The best way to do that is to make a bridal emergency kit. We asked Trisha Sims, co-owner of Marry Me Wedding and Event Planners in Prairie Village , how many weddings actually require an emergency kit. Her answer? "Every wedding we've ever done."

KC Weddings consulted Sims and numerous other experts to create the most comprehensive bridal emergency kit checklist we've ever seen. (See the Ultimate Bridal Kit.) This checklist covers necessities and maintenance items for the bride to look her best throughout the festivities.

One of Sims' favorites on the list is a Leatherman, something she calls a "Swiss army knife on steroids. From pliers to screwdrivers," she says, "it's funny how often tools come in handy at a wedding."

Another tool of sorts that's a must-have is a sewing kit, according to Sims. "I can't tell you how many buttons I've sewn back onto brides' dresses at the last minute. Typically she's in it and just about to walk down the aisle," Sims said.

Besides the gown, the bride's hair and makeup are paramount to her overall look. Silvia Chavez, makeup artist and cosmetics manager for Mario Tricoci on the Country Club Plaza , suggests brides look for salons that specialize in weddings. Chavez and her team offer customized makeup application for wedding parties, but a skin care regimen, she advises, must start months ahead of time for optimum results.

On the morning of the wedding, most skin emergencies are tackled in the salon. "If they happen to have puffy eyes, we will apply the right eye gel. If they have a pimple, we know what to put on it to make it better and then conceal it," she said.

Scott Schaefer, with Premiere Beauty in Overland Park , is a hairdresser who specializes in "production work," which includes up-styling for brides. Hairspray is the No. 1 product on his checklist.

Schaefer also recommends careful planning to avoid any major emergencies, including a hair rehearsal or "hair fitting" two weeks ahead of time. That's the same time frame for the bride's final pre-wedding color and cut.

All wedding professionals strongly caution against any last-minute changes in haircuts, color or perms. "You want to recognize the person who is center stage in your photographs," Schaefer says.

Although presentation is certainly a major element, remember that your wedding day represents a major life passage for you and your groom. You don't want to miss it by getting mired in little problems or by getting lost in a sea of nerves.

On the day of, Schaefer suggests brides try to surround themselves with good-natured, calm and positive people, and he adds, "I'm not sure how you pack one of these, but add a sense of humor to your emergency kit." Check!