Groomsmen Emergency Kit
Not the groom's kit. This is for the groomsmen. What each guy should bring on his own, what the best man carries for everyone, and a gift kit idea from the groom.
What Each Groomsman Should Bring
Send this list to the group chat two weeks before the wedding. Each groomsman is responsible for his own personal items. Everything fits in a jacket pocket or a small zip bag.
Extra collar stays (the rental shop never includes enough)
Breath mints (you are greeting 100+ people face-to-face)
Deodorant (travel-size, reapply before the ceremony)
Phone charger cable (your phone will die from photos)
Band-aids (new dress shoes will destroy your heels)
Eye drops (reduce redness for photos)
Hair product and comb (wind and dancing will wreck your style)
Nail file (a hangnail is distracting in close-up ring shots)
What the Best Man Carries for Everyone
One dopp bag or small backpack with shared supplies. The best man is the designated kit carrier and the go-to person when something goes wrong.
Lint roller (dark suits show every fiber, pet hair, and dust)
Matching tie backups (same pattern, just in case)
Matching pocket square backups
Shoe shine wipes (scuffs happen during photos on gravel)
Stain remover pen (one splash during dinner and you need it)
Sewing kit (needle, black and navy thread for button repairs)
Safety pins (assorted sizes for boutonniere fixes)
Pain reliever (ibuprofen and acetaminophen)
Antacid tablets (nerves and rich food are a rough combo)
Snack bars (energy for the 3-hour gap between getting ready and dinner)
Flask for a pre-ceremony toast (small, one sip each, not a party)
Portable phone charger (fully charged, shared among the group)
Super glue (fixes broken boutonnieres, cufflinks, and buttons)
About the Flask
A small flask for a pre-ceremony toast is a tradition for many groomsmen groups. Keep it to one small sip per person. This is a bonding moment, not a drinking session. Save the real celebrating for the reception when everyone can relax.
Gift Kit Idea: Groom to Groomsmen
Turn the emergency kit into a groomsmen gift. Pre-pack a dopp bag with essentials and personal touches, then give it out during the rehearsal dinner or the morning of the wedding.
What to Include in a Groomsmen Gift Kit
A personalized dopp bag or toiletry case
Engraved cufflinks or tie clip
High-quality breath mints (branded tin)
Travel-size cologne
Premium lip balm
Emergency sewing card (pre-threaded needles)
Fun socks that match the wedding colors
A handwritten note from the groom
$25 - $40
Budget-friendly kit
$60 - $100
Premium kit with engraved items
Priceless
The handwritten note inside
The Groomsmen's Best Photos
The getting-ready shots, the pre-ceremony toast, the dance floor moves. Groomsmen take some of the best candid photos. With Pix Wedding, they upload to one shared album via QR code.
Set Up Guest Photo SharingWhy Groomsmen Need Their Own Kit (Not the Groom's)
The groom's emergency kit is focused on his timeline and his unique items: the rings, his vows, his grooming routine. The groomsmen's kit covers the guys standing next to him, who face their own set of challenges: rental suits that do not fit perfectly, shoes they have never worn, and a long day on their feet.
Groomsmen are also the ones most likely to get a stain on their shirt during dinner, lose a collar stay, or need a lint roller before group photos. Their kit should be groomsmen-specific, not a general wedding kit.
- •Rental suits rarely come with extra collar stays, so bring your own
- •Dark suits show lint, pet hair, and dust, making a lint roller essential
- •New dress shoes cause blisters within 2 hours if you skip the band-aids
- •Each groomsman should bring personal items; the best man carries shared supplies
How to Organize the Groomsmen Kit
Send the individual items list to the group chat two weeks before. Ask each guy to confirm he has everything. The best man assembles the shared bag the night before and brings it to the groom's room the morning of.
Keep the shared bag accessible all day. During getting-ready, it stays in the groom's room. During the ceremony, the best man has it in his car or the coat check. During the reception, it moves near the groomsmen's table.
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Groomsmen Emergency Kit FAQ
Everything you need to know about our free tools and how they help your wedding day.
Each groomsman should bring: extra collar stays, breath mints, deodorant, phone charger cable, band-aids for dress shoes, eye drops, hair product and a comb, and a nail file. Everything fits in a jacket pocket or small zip bag.
The best man carries the shared kit: lint roller, matching tie and pocket square backups, shoe shine wipes, stain remover, sewing kit, safety pins, pain reliever, antacid, snack bars, a flask for a small toast, portable charger, and super glue.
The groom's kit focuses on his timeline (rings, vows, grooming routine). The groomsmen's kit covers the group's needs: rental suit fixes, shared supplies, and items for guys who are less likely to think about emergency prep on their own.
Yes, and it makes a practical, thoughtful gift. Pre-pack a dopp bag with essentials plus personal touches like engraved cufflinks, fun socks, and a handwritten note. Budget kits run $25 to $40; premium versions with engraving cost $60 to $100.
The lint roller. Dark suits show every fiber, pet hair, and dust particle. Groomsmen are in every group photo, and a lint roller takes 10 seconds to use. Close second: collar stays, which rental shops almost never include.
A small flask for a pre-ceremony toast is a common tradition. Keep it to one small sip per person as a bonding moment. This is not meant to be a drinking session. The real celebrating happens at the reception.