How to Create the Perfect Wedding Bathroom Basket

It's all in the details.

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Updated on 11/06/22

A white basket with toiletries and restroom necessities at a wedding. — Sergey Nazarov / Getty Images

If you’ve ever been to a stunning wedding, you know that the magic is all in the details. Wedding bathroom baskets are a small but thoughtful touch that your guests and wedding party will certainly appreciate—and they can look beautiful (this is a great opportunity to incorporate your wedding color palette). The idea is to fill the baskets with everything your guests might need during the celebration, whether it's a Band-Aid for a blister or hairspray for pesky flyaways. (The last thing you’d want is for your guests to go home early due to an unsightly stain or popped button.) A well-prepared wedding bathroom basket will ensure your guests feel comfortable and confident all night.

To help you put together a wedding basket that will check all the boxes we consulted with a wedding planner and industry expert, Kylie Carlson of Wedding Academy,

Meet the Expert

Kylie Carlson is a wedding planner and CEO of Wedding Academy, an internationally recognized accreditation program that brings professional training to wedding planners, designers, and stylists. She’s spent the last 12 years training wedding planners and has helped launch over 4,000 careers in the industry.

“In the event that the wedding party, couple, or their guests have an emergency wardrobe malfunction, or want to freshen up a bit in the midst of partying, bathroom baskets are a wonderful solution,” says Carlson. “These are usually stocked with items that no one will likely have on hand at a wedding.”

Wedding bathroom baskets are a real life-saver and a crucial wedding detail that shouldn’t be overlooked. Read on for everything you need to know about bathroom baskets, plus a complete checklist of everything to include in them.

Wedding Bathroom Basket Tips

When putting together a wedding bathroom basket, it’s best to think of everything that could go wrong at the wedding (and we're talking about snafus, not major emergencies). Whether that’s a minor allergic reaction, ripped pantyhose, or a surprise visit from Aunt Flo, it's wise to just prepare for the worst so that you and your guests can enjoy a great night of celebrating. “Your guests don’t need you to go all out, but it’s nice to have some common household things in the event that an emergency pops up,” says Carlson.

Put Someone in Charge of Restocking

As the wedding organizers, you should make sure to supply enough items for all your guests. Be sure to assign someone to keep an eye on the basket throughout the night and restock as necessary. You might want to add a sign on or near the baskets to let your guests know the items are complimentary.

Avoid excluding anyone's needs on the basis of gender. Even if they won’t readily admit it, men use hairspray, too!

Consider Creating End-of-the-Evening Baskets

If you really want to go the extra mile, consider putting together an end-of-the-evening basket as a take-home gift for your guests, loaded up with everything they may need to get “un-ready” that night: makeup remover wipes, tissues, flip-flops, and/or sheet masks. It’s a fun way to send your guests home, and it’s a gesture they’ll surely appreciate.

While take-home baskets are a great idea, don't feel the need to overstuff the baskets. It’s a courtesy to provide your guests with everything they might need, but you don’t need to overspend in this area. Avoid creating unnecessary waste, and make sure your wedding planner or coordinator gets all the leftovers back to you after the reception.

To encourage proper hygiene practices, err on the side of caution and stock as many disposable items as possible, rather than multi-use products that could be spread from person to person.

Wedding Bathroom Basket Etiquette

Now that you've decided to include wedding bathroom baskets at your reception, you likely have a few questions. Here are the answers.

Who Puts Together the Wedding Basket?

The couple should have a final say in what goes into a wedding basket, but it can be organized by anyone in the wedding party. Your wedding planner or venue coordinator might offer their own pre-made wedding bathroom baskets as an add-on to your package, so make sure to ask. It might be worth it if their baskets include the essentials, and it’s one less thing off your plate. Otherwise, delegate! Let a member of your wedding party get creative with it.

What Kind of Basket Should You Buy?

You can use any type of basket, but it should match the aesthetic of the event. You could even personalize the basket with your and your partner’s last name and use it as decoration in your home after the wedding. Your wedding basket doesn’t have to look like a boring drugstore aisle either. Make it part of your bathroom decor with fresh flowers or incorporate details from your reception tables.

Sanitation and hygiene are also important factors to consider. “I would personally advise that you purchase a basket or organizer that can be easily disinfected—i.e. stainless steel or plastic,” warns Carlson. “It may not be the most decorative or appealing, but it’s better to have a clean basket that you know multiple people will be touching.”

Should the Men’s and Women’s Bathrooms Have Different Items?

It’s up to you to decide if and how much you want to tailor the baskets to each gender but be aware that most of the essentials will overlap. “It may not be worth it financially to purchase duplicates of each item for each bathroom, but it’s crucial that you make each guest feel as welcomed and comfortable as possible!” says Carlson.

Is There Anything You Should Avoid Including?

“While you may want to supply beauty items or things, such as deodorant, it’s not the wisest decision given the health scare in recent years,” suggests Carlson. “The last thing you want is for someone to contract an illness from your wedding due to sharing products, so it’s best to play it safe and stick to the absolute essentials!”