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Photo by Abby Jiu Photography
A great night out is always more enjoyable when you know you’re set up to sleep well and feel good the next morning. Hence the rising popularity of the wedding hangover kit. Though plenty of pre-made hangover kits can be found on Etsy and other sites, it can also be fun to make your own. To get a better idea of what to include in these kits, we spoke to Jamie Kutchman Wynne, founder & CEO of Marigold & Grey, and Dr. Sara Crystal, MD, neurologist and medical director of Cove.
What Is a Hangover Kit?
A hangover kit a favor bag for guests filled with the tools necessary to transition from a raucous night of drinking and indulgent foods to a pain-free morning after.
Besides the essentials like water and medicine for headaches and an upset stomach, you also want to include items that will make the morning a little easier for your guests. Think makeup wipes like Neutrogena's Cleansing Towelettes and mini dry shampoo bottles from Batiste. You can also add some personal touches that align with your theme, like a personalized tote from Canvas Event Co to hold it all together.
Whether your wedding will have an open bar or signature cocktails, your guests will be prepared with these hangover kit essentials.
Canvas Event Co Totes Went To The Wedding Tote Bag
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Etsy
Sure, those little drawstring bags are cute, but you know what’s especially helpful? Something you can use to quickly gather clothes and shoes that you might have left in another guest’s hotel room while getting ready, or as a last-minute extra carry-on bag for the flight home. This just-cheeky-enough design is available in 21 colors. From $5 each on Etsy.
Price at time of publish: starting at $6
Peptio Bismol Chewables
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Amazon
Guests feeling nauseous or queasy after a night of partying will be grateful for these stomach-soothers.
Price at time of publish: $8 for 48-count
Redwood & Vine Hangover Relief Kit Wedding Water Bottle Label
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Zazzle
Because hydration is key, but there’s no reason you can’t have a little fun with it. Wrap water bottles in customizable labels to remind guests of the fun they had the night prior.
Price at time of publish: $5 for 4 labels
Neutrogena Makeup Remover Facial Cleansing Towelettes
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Amazon
When you head to bed late, the last thing you want to do is wash your makeup off. These single-use cleansing towelettes will expedite the process.
Price at time of publish: $6 for 20-count
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Socks
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Nordstrom
Want to get really luxe with your hangover kit? These plush, non-binding socks will keep guests warm and cozy while they sleep. They'll also double as slippers—so necessary for confronting the cold tile of a hotel room floor.
Price at time of publish: $15
OMNI Global Labs Rebound Patch
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Amazon
There's a lot of hangover patches on the market these days. While plenty have cuter packaging, the Los Angeles Times recently determined this one to be the most effective.
Price at time of publish: $19 for 30 patches
Muior Rectangle Claw Clips
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Amazon
Helpful for holding your hair back without ruining a fresh blowout—and for a sleek low-maintenance updo at the post-wedding brunch the next day.
Price at time of publish; $9 for 5 clips
Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs
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Amazon
A key part of staving off a hangover is getting a good night's sleep. Help guests block out noise with these moldable silicone earplugs.
Price at time of publish: $7 for 6 pairs
Listerine Cool Mint Pocketpacks Breath Strips
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Walmart
Sometimes, gum just doesn't cut it. Come morning, your guests will thank you for the quick refresh of their stale, dry mouths with these strips.
Price at time of publish: $5 for 3 24-strip packs
Advil Pain Reliever and Fever Reducer, Pain Relief Medicine with Ibuprofen 200mg for Headache, Backache, Menstrual Pain and Joint Pain Relief
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Amazon
Headaches, be gone! Advil to the rescue for this common hangover side-effect.
Price at time of publish: $10 for 100-count
Starbucks Gift Card
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Starbucks
Coffee = the ultimate motivator for getting out of bed the next day. Especially when they know the first cup is on you.
Price at time of publish: Price varies
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars 6 Pack
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Amazon
This childhood lunch staple can help settle stomachs or serve as breakfast if you oversleep.
Price at time of publish: $7 for 15-count
Batiste Mini Dry Shampoo Variety Pack
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Amazon
No one is going to want to wake up early to wash and style their hair. Add dry shampoo to your hangover kits to help guests preserve their look from the night before.
Price at time of publish: $21
Carpe Antiperspirant Underarm Wipes
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Amazon
No time to shower? No problem. These odor reducing, sweat-blocking underarm wipes will help you quickly get fresh and dry. Added bonus: they’re free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehydes, and sulfates.
Price at time of publish: $20 for 15-count
Redwood & Vine Spread Love, Not Germs Wedding Hand Sanitizer
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Zazzle
Let’s face it: Hand sanitizer is a necessary addition to any gathering these days. These individual packets have a sweet (and customizable!) floral design, but we also love the look of this more minimalist style.
Price at time of publish: $13 for 10 packets
Super Z Outlet Retro Style Sunglasses
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Amazon
Don’t add a logo, don’t go for funky colors. Basic sunglasses will block head-hurting sun rays without screaming “I’m hungover from a wedding!” everywhere you go. This pack of 24 black or white shades makes it easy to give one to every guest.
Price at time of publish: $26 for 24 pairs
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
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Target
While lip balm is great for parched puckers, vaseline is better for a hangover kit because it can be used in a myriad of ways. (Like, say, to sooth dry eyelids and cuticles, or even to prolong your perfume.)
Price at time of publish: $7
Emergency Stain Rescue All Purpose Wipes
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Amazon
Ketchup, red wine, and even makeup are no match for this concentrated stain remover, which works just as well on sofas as it does on clothes.
Price at time of publish: $18 for 25 wipes
Meet the Expert
- Jamie Kutchman Wynne is the founder & CEO of Marigold & Grey, which creates custom and pre-packaged gift boxes and bags for weddings, birthdays, and more. Marigold & Grey has created custom gifts for brands such as Google, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Kate Spade New York, Bloomingdales, Microsoft, and VISA.
- Dr. Sara Crystal, MD is a migraine expert and medical director of Cove. Cove is a platform that combines diagnosis, personalized and affordable treatment solutions, and ongoing condition management for migraine sufferers.
What to Consider When Building a Hangover Kit
Design
Hangover kits are also another fun place to incorporate your wedding branding or design. “This way, the hangover kits are cohesive with everything else guests have seen, such as save-the-dates, invitation suites, and even the other contents of the wedding welcome gifts,” says Wynne. “In instances where monograms aren’t preferred, a simple phrase like 'relax and recharge' can also be great because it immediately clues guests in on what they’re about to discover inside.”
Stow all the supplies in a bag like the Totes Went to the Wedding tote, and your guests will have a personalized item they can use beyond your wedding.
Number of Guests
In order to save some time and money, it's best to buy these essentials in bulk and/or value packs so you can easily build the kits for everyone. Consider how many guests you'll be hosting and how many will be staying overnight for the next day's festivities.
Activities
Sure drinking is a given but also think about what your guests will be doing the next day. If they have an early morning, pack convenient snacks like Nature Valley Granola Bars and a Starbucks Gift Card. If you are hosting a post-wedding brunch, consider adding some sunglasses and/or hair clips to help them look put together.
Why Trust Brides
Sarah Zlotnick has been writing for Brides since February 2020 and is a journalist with seven years of experience in the wedding space. To get more information on how to treat a hangover, we spoke to Dr. Sara Crystal, MD, a migraine expert and medical director of Cove. We also spoke to Jamie Kutchman Wynne, founder & CEO of Marigold & Grey, which creates custom and pre-packaged gift boxes and bags for weddings, birthdays, more.