So the big day has come and gone. Now it’s time to make up for lost sleep and snuggle up with your significant other, right? Wrong! The to-do list hasn’t ended simply because the wedding is over. Here’s what to do.
Have Your Wedding Gown Cleaned
Get your wedding dress dry cleaned as soon as possible; even if you haven’t decided whether or not to preserve it yet. The sooner you have it cleaned, the better it will look. Plus, you’ll have a much better chance of getting out any stains. And if you are a bride who opted for an alternative wedding dress, preserve that outfit, too!
Your local dry cleaners should be able to take care of this for you. However, it’s important to note that getting your wedding dress dry cleaned can take up to a few days or longer.
Send Out ‘Thank You’ Notes
Before your guests start to forget what they gifted you, send out those ‘Thank You’ notes. Make time for this with your partner; it will be completed a lot more quickly with two! In-line with wedding etiquette rules, send them out within the first week after the honeymoon.
Save The Wedding Cake
If there is cake left over, make sure to have it readied for preservation. Remove any decorative elements, and then chill the cake. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Then, seal it in a freezer bag and label it. A year later, you’ll have a piece of wedding cake to enjoy on your first anniversary! This is one wedding cake trend that will never go out of style.
Preserve Your Wedding Photos
The majority of wedding photography packages don’t include prints and photo albums. Therefore, you’ll need to select the photos that you want to appear in the album and figure out how you will preserve them. If you want it professionally done, place the order as soon as possible so that you don’t forget or lose any of the photos. Another excellent idea is to send out your wedding photos as part of your ‘Thank You’ message to your guests.
If your county or state has a fair, here is the perfect opportunity to submit your beautiful wedding photos. Who knows, maybe your photographer will win an award! Just always ask for permission from the photographer before using their work.
Follow Up With Your Vendors
If there are any services that you did not prepay in full before the wedding, check in with the vendors to make sure that any final invoices are settled. Read the fine print to be sure that you received all of the services you paid for. Don’t be surprised by hidden wedding costs!
Send Your Wedding Announcement To The Local News
Having a wedding announcement appear in your local newspaper is a small keepsake from the wedding that you will enjoy for years to come. It will be a keepsake for generations to come. After the wedding, send the announcement to the local news so that it can appear in the wedding announcements section.
Change Your Last Name
If you plan to change your last name to your spouse’s, start the process immediately after the honeymoon. After you update your name, be sure to update all credit accounts, loans, bank accounts, or investments with your new last name. Don’t forget to change your driver’s license!
To start the process, you’ll need to find where your local Social Security office is located.
On another note, the change of your last name may affect how you file taxes. Therefore, make sure to contact a tax professional and get advice on what to expect before tax season comes around.
Return Any Unwanted Or Duplicate Gifts
At the least, you’ll probably receive one gift that’s a duplicate. Some people still purchase wedding gifts off-registry. Whether or not that is considered wedding etiquette is up to you, but we all can agree that it’s best to return unwanted/ unusable gifts. Be sure the exchange or return any wedding gits before the return policy expires.
On a similar note, if any decor went unused, now is the time to return it. If it’s not in the original packaging, try selling whatever it is online. You’ll save money and help reduce the amount of waste from your wedding. After all, it’s one way to have a more environmentally-friendly wedding.
Pack for Your Honeymoon
Find your bathing suit, sneakers, passport, tickets, credit cards, and any other essentials that you need! Give yourself at least a few days to pack so that there’s time to take care of any last-minute details.
You’ll also want to make sure that you tackle some of the mess around your home so that you don’t have to come home and still deal with cleaning up.
Plan Your Next Event
Avoid the post-wedding blues and plan new event. Invite your friends over for drinks. Make it a small get together- it doesn’t have to be fancy! This way, you won’t end up spending a lot of money after what was probably the most expensive day of your life.
While this list of what to do may seem daunting, it won’t take long. Plan ahead and work together as a couple to get everything completed. After that, it’s finally time to relax! Enjoy being married. Soon, you’ll forget about the months and months of planning that you endured.
