It’s time to leave for the hall. Don’t scramble and leave any item behind. Have your list prepped, packed, and organized ahead and enjoy a smooth, calm day
Yes, pack all of it because you never know. And while there might be other personal items that you need, this is a basic list that works universally.
What might those other personal items be? If you have a family member that may need an epi pen, pack it. If you know your little ones will want to get into pajamas before going home and that they’ll want a cozy blanket in the car, add that to your list too (especially if the wedding is not in your home town and they’ll sleep in the car).
Some people like to pack minimally. That’s because whatever you bring along will have to be packed back up at midnight (or whatever time the wedding is over!).
Some basics:
- Kids need to be fed. Make sure you have clean finger foods at the hall.
- Try on the gown, do a dress rehearsal, and make sure all the details are good before the wedding – see more wedding tips on these topics over here.
- Note that if you are hiring a dresser for the evening, she will be bringing many of the items on this list and you won’t need to.
For More Prepping for Wedding tips, see these posts:
8 Tips to Prepare Well for Your Wedding Day
How to Create a Schedule for the Day of the Wedding
The Complete Wedding Packing List
Kallah/Bride Packing Checklist
Pack the bride separately from the rest of the family.
Clothing:
- Gown / Petticoat
- Headpiece
- Veils/ Dek Tichel – with pins
- Pantyhose
- Shoes
- Sneakers
- Socks for sneakers
- Bra
- Underwear x 2
- Wig / Wig Grip (If putting on a wig after the chuppah)
- Jewelry
- White shell
Personal Care:
- Perfume
- Sweat shields
- Deodorants
- Static Guard
- Contact Lenses x 2
- Glasses
- Mouthwash / Mints / Dental Floss
- Q-Tips (to touch up makeup)
Other:
- Tehillim
- Siddur / Yom Kippur Machzor
- Invitation for the photographer
- Pill/Any Other Meds
- Food to break your fast
Chosson/Groom Packing Checklist
Many of these items vary depending on your family’s minhagim
Clothing:
- Hat/Shtreimel
- Shirt × 3 / Pants x 2
- Tzitzis/ Yarmulke
- Suit/Bekishe
- Tie
- Gartel
- Coat for chuppa
- Kittel
- Shoes/dancing shoes
- Change of underwear and socks
- Belt
- Watch/Cufflinks
Personal Care Items:
- Deodorant
- Lenses and Glasses
- Mouthwash / Mints / Dental Floss
- Shoe Polish
- Hat Brush
Important to Remember:
- Kesuba
- Tehillim / Siddur / Yom Kippur Machzor
- Kiddushin ring
- Yichud room gift
- Apartment or hotel key
- Wallet
- Food to break your fast
- Car / car keys
Family Packing List
Girls/Women Clothing:
- Gowns / Petticoats
- Shells if needed for gowns
- Girls hair accessories
- Jewelry
- Underwear and socks
- Shoes / dancing shoes
- Socks if changing to sneakers
- For mom if wearing: tichel if wearing for chuppa
- Suits / little boys outfits
- Shirts
- Ties / Bow Ties
- Boys Tzitzis/ Yarmulke
- Underwear and socks
- Shoes
Boys/Men Clothing:
For Young Children:
- Diapers and wipes
- Blankets and Pacifiers
- Pajamas for little ones
- Snacks and food for kids to keep them happy
- Entertainment / game to keep kids busy pre-wedding
Other Family Essentials:
- Payments for all vendors
- All medications, if needed
- Shout Wipes
- Tylenol, Advil, Band aids
- Safety pins, pre-threaded needle and thread, small scissor (buttons are always falling off!)
- Water bottles
- Shopping bag/ laundry bag for all dirty laundry
DOWNLOAD the complete wedding checklist here.
This post has been contributed by Dina Neuman – Dresser – 732.600.1915
EVERYONE needs to eat! (not just kids) Make sure they are neat, clean foods. Snacks like mini pretzel bags and mini chocolate chip cookie snack bags are perfect. I always get the big bags with many little ones inside and leave them with the babysitters. Since each bag is so little, even if they drop one, not such a mess. I also go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of crayons, stickers, jumbo colouring books, cheap toys to help keep the kids entertained. (no markers!) If they come home great; if not, not.
In your notebook for the chasuna, have one page for each family member of what to bring to the hall. Add to it as you think of things. Then, a day or 2 before, rip out the page, give to anyone old enough to do it themselves, and gather whatever is needed in one place. Recheck after! Renting or borrowing a coat rack is very helpful. Put it in your living room, or somewhere close to the door. Hang the gowns there, along with a bag for each person. Label all gown bags and crinolines with the person’s name. Then check and recheck the lists before you go. If you have a responsible teen, ask them to do this.
Make sure to leave a key with a neighbour, or even in a hidden place. Likely you will forget something, and this way, a friend can go in to your house and get it.
Most of all – SMILE and remember mishaps are part of the experience. Your attitude towards issues will set the tone for everyone else. No need to get upset, it’s all Hashem’s plan for the day. And somehow it will all get worked out b”eh. (And we’ve had some doozy mishaps!) Bh!
Anyone have any links for girls gowns when you live out of town with no gemachs?
Whenever possible have the makeup artist and the hair people come to your house!! Also, as many people that can dressed at home the better!! Much less packing up before and after the wedding!!
Yes for sure have them come to you! Makes the day so much calmer then having to go back and forth. In general, do whatever you can to keep your house calm. I said no grandchildren over that day (except for when the girls had their hair done; then they left). Soft music, warm, easy to eat and transport good food available. If you have small kids, and someone else can take them and take care of bringing them, dressing them and watching them, that’s ideal.
I have found it’s easier to transport the gowns and crinolines to the hall and dress there. You can gently lay them on top of each other in the back of a van, but sitting with poufy gowns in a car is hard, plus they get scrunched.
There are many stunning inexpensive gowns to be gotten on Ali. Many tznius options available and u can customize with the sellers. Though right now begins a lengthy Chinese holiday I think..
Here are some more tips especially for parents of young children. Only get into your wedding gowns, clothes… a few minutes-not hours before pictures! Yes that might make other unhappy but you don’t want your kids beautiful clothes then black, torn, or stained from something they ate. Things are bound to happen and the gowns or whatever you’re wearing might get dirty. BRING BACK-UP OUTFITS!!!! For yourself, husband, and kids. Like a COMPLETE *fancy (something you’d be ok taking pictures in) change of clothes (undershirt, shirt, pants…) My sister just got married and our newborn had a blowout and it got all over car seat and my husband’s clothes so he had to change his shirt and baby’s clothes. Later my toddler threw up all over my husband and he needed another change of clothes. These things are likely to happen when you’re not home and kids aren’t in a normal setting… to avoid awkward situations, be sure to take a complete change of clothes. For babies I find it helpful to also bring pajamas once pictures are over and they’re ready to go to sleep it’ll be easier to transfer them to car seats that way. Also, if your baby won’t sleep in the stroller bring an a pack n play- it’s 100% worth the shlep. Mazal Tov!