So today, I thought I would take a few moments to go over a few key pieces every bridesmaid should have the day of the wedding!
My Credentials? Not much, but I have been a bridesmaid twice and figure I can share what I learned from those instances!
Remember, these are all secondary to you being there for the bride. It’s a day of celebration, so be a support and soak it in!
So here it is…
THE LIST:
1. Shoes.
I don’t know what the bride-to-be told you, but make sure to pick out the pair of heels/flats/sandals to her specifications! For both of mine, I was asked to wear nude footwear, and I complied with this great pair from Target! So affordable, and looks great in photos 🙂 The only downside is that they’re fake suede and got scuffed up pretty easily, but I’m okay with that. I think it adds character.
2. Fashion tape.
Alterations are all nice, as are custom made dresses, but there will still be that moment when you try on a dress (or someone else in the bridal party does) and finds to their chagrin that something doesn’t fit quite right. It might be the bust area. It might be the length of the dress. It might be a little gap between the fabric and the skin. Always carry some fashion tape for that “oops!” moment. And stop it before it happens. I’m all about prevention, here haha.
3. The Dress.
You know, the one that you’ve been waiting to arrive and crossing your fingers that everything would fit right. That the color would at least match your skin tone isn’t asking too much, right?? This cute mint dress was from Etsy and custom made for every bridesmaid. Just don’t forget to bring the dress the day of the wedding because…. well, people are going to notice if you’re in a pair of sweats and a button down!
4.Speaking of which… the Button down.
Why is this necessary? Wear it so that when the makeup artist (whether it’s you or someone else) is working on you, you don’t get makeup stains on “the Dress” that is going to be photographed for days on end. And because it has buttons, it’s easy to slip out of and into the dress afterwards without your pretty face smearing all the laboriously-placed makeup on the non-button down shirt you could have been wearing!
5. Flats/sandals.
These are crucial throughout the wedding! I wore mine to the location where we were getting ready, which was nice – you know, pampering my feet before they would be standing in heels before hundreds of people for about an hour (and more at the reception!). But I also wore them on the walks to the different locations where the bridal party/groomsmen went to take photos. This is a lifesaver when you have to walk on cobblestones! And the flats are super cute and a no-brainer to slip into after the reception if you’re staying to help clean up!
And onto the hairy end of things!
6. Hair straightener and curler.
Pretty standard – you can use the straightener to make your hair sleek and smooth, or do some wrist-turning and turn it into a hair curler! I love my Babyliss 1″ curling iron (in red) and it’s my second purchase now! GAWWWGEOUS, darling. No joke.
7. Round brush/teasing comb.
Always useful tools to have when you need a little extra oomph in your hair! Volume is always nice, hehe. Particularly useful for those with heavy or fine hair.
8. Bobby pins/small elastics.
Purchase these in the same color as your own hair so that they don’t present too much of a contrast in photos! I added a decorative floral piece if you wanted some for pizzazz and needed a little reminder 🙂
9. Headband.
Does anything need to be said? It can get a little annoying having that one stray hair keep tickling your face when you’re getting all done up. Don’t even let that happen!
On to the beautification!
10. Face pre- primer.
I have Dr. Brandt’s pore refiner – it smells funky, but it literally makes your pores disappear and mattifies the skin. Amazing. Pricey, but amazing.
11. Face primer.
You can skip the pre-primer, but definitely use a primer! I have the L’oreal magic perfecting base, which has worked so well for me every time I purchase it.
12. Foundation.
Sometimes, the makeup artist will have a few, but it’s always best to bring your own that you know matches your skin tone and lasts well through long periods of exposure. Here, I have pictured a foundation my mom gifted me because my grandma said it was good! Haha so we all have the same foundation, and I brought that.
13. Foundation/bronzer/blush/jack-of-all-trades brush.
Just in case.
14. Pressed translucent powder.
[Pictured in the middle] Sometimes, you need to touch up, and the E.L.F. is a great option (so affordable too!).
15. False eyelashes.
Ardelle’s 110 “Natural” lashes are classic! Easy to put on (speaking from the makeup artist’s perspective – I take forever and still can’t guarantee results) and instantly add some drama!
16. Eyeshadow primer.
This one here is from Urban Decay (gold tube and purple cap) and is in the shade “greed.” It’s a stunning soft gold shade, and is CRITICAL for ladies with a crease. Without it, my eyeshadow goes all over the place, but this ensures a snug fit with all of the layering and blending action going on.
17. Eyebrow pencil.
I look like the Mona Lisa without it. If you can say “aye” to that yourself, remember to bring a pencil/powder/wax/whatever floats your boat!
18. Eye Makeup Remover.
Neutrogena’s product (blue bottle, gray cap) works wonders and is too simple to use. I remember using this for the foundation under one of my eyes, where it strangely turned an awkward texture and changed color. I have no idea what happened, but I kept calm and removed it, then added the foundation and powder on top where the bare spot was.
19. Q-tips.
For the makeup remover/touchups.
20. Body lotion.
To make sure you don’t have dry patches showing in photos. I packed the Fresh Body Lotion (sea salt, I believe? smells super good).
21. Eyebrow gel.
To keep your revamped brows in place, in thick or thin, sweat or skin.
22. Mascara + Curler.
You know the drill. Va va VOOOOOOM.
23. Oil blotting sheets.
While I do like the affordable ones from Daiso, I believe nothing beats the Clean&Clear sheets for a special occasion. Yes, it’s gross to see all that oil change the color of the sheet, but hey, you know it’s coming off your face! 🙂 Definitely makes a HUGE difference when blotting. Highly recommended.
24. Floss.
Juuuust in case. You’ll thank me later.
25. A thankful heart!
Just remember all the good times you’ve had with the bride to be, the ways you’re thankful for her, the lovely memories to look forward to, and the life she can have with the person she commits to love for the rest of her life!
And I think we’re a go!
I packed all of these in a small luggage roller to ensure easy access and travel. So maybe that’s included in the list as well!
I hope you enjoyed and found this helpful!
Now go back out there and enjoy the day, stress-free and all prepared, to celebrate your friend’s big day!
Love,
Jess
blackbirdspaces 