What goes in the Bridal Makeup Bag is a big decision that needs to be thought out well ahead of your big day. 

Your wedding day will undoubtedly be one of your life's most memorable and photographed days. All eyes will be on you from the moment you wake up on the morning of your nuptials until the final farewell at the end of the magical night.

We chatted with professional makeup artists who have worked on countless brides' big days and brides who have lived to tell the tale about the key items you'll want by your side when you say "I do."

Read on for pro tips and product suggestions that will help you look and feel like the star of your special day, from the first light on your wedding morning to the final dance of the evening.

A bride getting her hair and makeup done

The Importance of the Bride Makeup Bag

With so much excitement and emotion packed into one unforgettable day, your makeup will inevitably need refreshing and touching up throughout the celebrations. From happy tears during the ceremony to laughs over champagne at the reception, your beauty look will go through its paces. You will need to be able to touch up your bridal makeup look without your makeup artist!

That's why planning and packing a practical bridal makeup bag is an absolute must! 

Your wedding day makeup bag should contain everything you need to touch up your look throughout the day and ensure you look flawless in all your wedding photos.

It doesn't need to be a stylish cosmetic bag, expensive tote bag, or travel bag, but it DOES need to contain everything you need for touchups on your big day!

With so much excitement and emotion packed into one unforgettable day, your makeup will inevitably need refreshing and touching up throughout the celebrations. From happy tears during the ceremony to laughs over champagne at the reception, your beauty look will go through its paces.

That's why packing a practical bridal makeup bag is an absolute must! 

Wedding Beauty Tips for Brides with Sensitive Skin

Bridal Makeup Bag vs. Bridal Emergency Kit: What's the Difference?

While both are important to have on hand for your wedding day, a bridal makeup bag and a bridal emergency kit serve different purposes. 

And neither is the bridal handbag, which is something else! Yes, lots of bags are involved in a wedding!

A bridal makeup bag contains tools and beauty products to refresh the bride's makeup throughout the day. It allows quick touch ups and fixes like blotting oil, touching up makeup, and securing hair.

Meanwhile, a bridal emergency kit serves a different function. It prepares for unexpected mishaps and last-minute needs. A bridal emergency kit may contain various items such as:

  • Safety pins
  • Mini sewing kit
  • Clear nail polish
  • Bandages
  • Tweezers
  • Antacid tablets
  • Tide pen
  • Stain remover wipes
  • Extra wedding rings
  • Curling iron
  • Nail file
  • Hair elastic
  • Mobile Phone

This kit allows the bride or bridal party to handle sudden wardrobe malfunctions, comfort needs, and other urgent situations. From loose buttons to twisted straps to shoe blisters, it equips brides for the unexpected.

While the makeup bag focuses on beauty, the emergency kit focuses on quick fixes and bride comfort. Both are handy tools for a seamless wedding day. The makeup bag helps the bride look her best, and the emergency kit helps her feel her best no matter what surprises pop up!

Do I Need a Wedding Hair or Makeup Trial?

Top 15 Items You NEED in Your Bridal Makeup Bag!

We chatted with professional makeup artists who have worked on countless brides' big days and brides who have lived to tell the tale about the key items you'll want by your side when you say "I do."

Read on for pro tips and product suggestions that will help you look and feel like the star of your special day, from the first light on your wedding morning to the final dance of the evening.

Here are some vital makeup products and a few other things to keep in mind when putting together your wedding day makeup bag:

Our PRO BRIDAL MAKEUP ARTISTS have years of experience getting brides ready for their big day, so read the below for their top 15 Bridal Makeup Bag Items and helpful advice on keeping brides looking their beautiful best.

Delilah lipsticks are the perfect finishing touch for your wedding day. Choose a matt nude lipstick shade or tinted gloss for a modern bridal look

Lip Colour

Your bridal lipstick makes a perfect finishing touch to your wedding day look. Whether you choose a matte lipstick, hydrating gloss, or tinted lip balm, this will need topping up on the big day. We recommend reapplying some colour before you get in the bridal car, before your wedding photos and after the wedding breakfast.


'Every bride needs their perfect lip colour. A lot of my brides have been opting for a more nude option like Charlotte Tilbury's Bitch Perfect or Pillow Talk'

Chrys Chapman

Eyeliner

Don't forget the eyeliner! Defining your eyes with liner makes them pop in photos and videos. No need for elaborate wings or cat eyes. Just lining upper and lower lash lines smoothly can make a world of difference. Choose a highly pigmented formula that glides on easily. Try and choose one with a waterproof formula!

Hairspray

Taming flyaways and keeping updos and intricate hairstyles in place is a must. Bring a salon-quality hairspray that combines strong hold with brushable, touchable texture.

Concealer

Concealer is a bride's best friend. Whether you have perfect skin that needs just a little colour correction, dark under-eye circles, or stressed-out and blemished skin, a good quality, long-lasting concealer will brighten and freshen up your bridal glow.

You may need concealer kits to touch up under your eyes and nose if you think tears will make an appearance on your special day. Whilst a professional makeup artist can apply beautiful makeup to last all day, keeping a creamy concealer nearby is always handy for on-the-spot emergencies.


'Delilah's Take Cover Concealer' is a great easy to use touch up cover up that can be used under the eyes to brighten, or on blemishes if you wake up with a few pesky spots on your big day.'

Melissa Clare

Mini Perfume

Refreshing your signature scent during your wedding celebrations is a thoughtful touch. Dab discreetly on pulse points when you start to notice your fragrance fading. Choose a sentimental scent that makes you feel confident, romantic and elegant.

Breath Mints

A few slim breath mint tins can be lifesavers for freshening up your breath quickly and discreetly after eating, drinking or a million memorable kisses during your wedding day. Tuck them in your makeup bag, clutch or maybe even ask your bridesmaids to have some on hand in their clutches too. Don't be scared to use your bridesmaid makeup bags as well!

You're getting married, the countdown has begun and it is only a matter of days until you walk the aisle! Now is the time to start packing your bridal makeup bag, with just the essentials for your big day. So what products should you be packing?

Powder / Blotting paper

Blotting papers are an absolute must-have for touch-ups throughout the wedding day. One pack is small enough to keep in your purse and can serve your whole bridal party.

We love the Shiseido Pureness Oil Control Blotting Papers; a quick dab will lift away excess oil without smudging your makeup. Try the Chanel Papier Matifiant Oil Control Tisses if you feel like spoiling yourself or treating your bridesmaids to a thank-you present! Next, set your oil-free skin with a dab of finishing powder and your are good to go.


'Blotting papers will take away the oils before powdering skin. This makes sure there is no added texture build up'

Raquel Bester

Compact Mirrors

You'll want to check your makeup and fix touch-ups throughout your wedding celebrations. A compact mirror ensures you can give your look a quick once-over whenever needed. Pick a slim, elegant style that won't occupy much room in your bridal makeup bag,


A compact size will fit into a clutch bag or makeup kit much easier, just make sure you don't lose or break it!

Tweezers and Scissors

It never fails - you'll suddenly notice one crazy, unruly brow hair at some point during your wedding day. Tweezers let you quickly groom your brows and pluck any rebel strands. Tiny folding scissors are great for snipping loose threads on your gown or cutting an itchy tag.

You're getting married, the countdown has begun and it is only a matter of days until you walk the aisle! Now is the time to start packing your bridal makeup bag, with just the essentials for your big day. So what products should you be packing?

Setting Spray

Looking for that ultimate bridal glow or worried about your face becoming an oil slick by 5pm? Setting sprays come in many different skin type finishes so choose the right one for you and lock that bridal look into place. We love the Mario Badescu Facial Sprays to set your makeup, with an 3 different formulas to suit different skin types, rosewater for hydration/radiance, chamomile/lavender to calm and soothe, and aloe vera/cucumber to keep things cool and refreshed! Setting spray can be re-applied throughout the day to boost the skin and give you an energising pick me up.


'The Glamglow Glowsetter spray gives brides a final boost of radiance to keep skin smooth and hydrated all day long'

Sally Malcom

Tissues 

Blot happy tears and sweat without ruining makeup. Add mini packs to your bag.

Stain Remover 

Remove smudges or spills from your gown quickly with wipes. Nobody wants a makeup smudge on their wedding dress!

Wedding day Hair tips for bridal hairstyles - Image courtesy of Unsplash #weddingday #bridalhair #toptips #weddingupdos

Hair Grips

Wedding hair updos come in many different styles. A professional bridal hairstylist will use carefully applied hair grips to hold together these beautiful updos so that they last long into the evening. These days, many brides are opting for softer styles with movement, loose strands and wisps. With these styles it should be expected that some extra strands may loosen by the end of the day and you will be thankful to pop in that extra hair grip swiftly!


'Spare hair grips are a must have for your bridal makeup bag on the big day. Hugging, dancing and veil removal can dislodge the odd piece of hair so having them on hand will fix anything out of place. They can also be useful with tricky zips and buttoned up bridal dresses'

Helen Willis

Safety Pins

Do quick clothing repairs in a pinch. Pin a few inside your bridal clutch.

Bandages

Protect against painful blisters from wedding shoes and dancing. These are an excellent choice to include in your Bride Makeup Bag!

With your Bridal Makeup Bag stocked with products to refresh your bridal glow, plus your emergency kit prepped for surprises, you can focus entirely on savouring each joyful moment and getting on that dance floor. Touch up your lipstick blot oil, and fix flyaways quickly without stress.

Related: If you enjoyed this article, you may want to read our blog on Red Lip Wedding Makeup!


Affiliate Disclosure: At MakeMeBridal, we're excited to share top bridal products through our blog. Product links in our content may be affiliate links (Such as links to Amazon Products). If you buy through them, we earn a commission AT NO COST TO YOU. We only recommend bridal products we believe in and use ourselves. We're transparent about our affiliate relationship to comply with guidelines. Your trust is vital, and we're dedicated to providing the best wedding resources and recommendations. Thank you for being part of our community!