It’s your wedding day.  The weather is beautiful, the guests are arriving, and all is right with the world... and then you spill something on your perfect wedding dress.  Wedding day dress mishaps can occur even with the most careful planning.   Zippers can fail, straps can break, or maybe one of your bridesmaids touched her dress right after retouching her makeup.  No need to panic!  The smart bride will have put together an emergency repair kit ahead of time to prevent a minor mishap from becoming a wedding day disaster.   Here’s what you’ll need:

• Clear double-stick tape -- This tape has a multitude of uses.  It can keep straps inside of dresses, fix a loose hem, and help keep strapless dresses in place.
• Needle and thread in the same color as your dress and any trim on the dress -- Thread the needle ahead of time so you can make the repair quickly and you won’t have to worry about shaky hands trying to push a thin thread through a tiny needle.
• Extra buttons -- If your dress has buttons, there are usually extras available.  (If you don’t see them when you pick up your dress, ask.)
• Stain remover stick or baby wipes -- Baby wipes are great for removing small traces of makeup.  Use a small corner of the baby wipe and BLOT (don’t rub!) the stain quickly until it disappears.
• Paraffin wax for sticky zippers --  Rubbing a little wax on the teeth should make it slide right up.
• Extra pantyhose -- In case you poke one of your beautifully polished nails through your pantyhose.
• Clear nail polish -- If your pantyhose begin to run in a non-visible spot, put a dab of clear nail polish just below the run to keep it from traveling any further.  
• Safety pins -- These can fix a loose hem, close a small tear, or fix a broken strap if you don’t have time to sew it.  If you’ve lost a little weight before your wedding day, you can use small safety pins on the inside seams for a better fit.
• Small lint roller -- If you have pets, it might be best to put them away so they won't interfere with the ceremony.  Still, pet hair travels through the air and can land on anything. If one of your bridesmaids sits on a chair covered with cat or dog hair, a quick brushing with the lint roller will make those stray hairs disappear.
• A small pair of scissors  -- to cut tape, thread, etc.
• Soda Water - great for helping to dissolve even red wine stains.  The bubbly drink is also said to help settle your stomach so have your wedding planner or bridesmaid keep a bottle handy to help with any pre-wedding nerves too!

The best thing to arm yourself with? An ability to laugh.  I know brides who have had massive oil stains appear on their dress while getting out of the limo and have gone on to enjoy their wedding, while others have been in a bad mood and considered the day "ruined" because of a sticky jelly stain from an affectionate flower girl.  It's not your dress, but your attitude that can make or break your wedding happiness.  That said, having an emergency wedding dress repair kit at the ready ensures that you’ll be prepared for any last minute problem that may arise and still look perfect.