Congratulations! You’re finally newlyweds! All the planning paid off! But did you realize that there’s a lot to get done after the wedding as well? Sorry to burst your bubble, but the to-do’s aren’t over yet. Let’s go over a few of the main items to check off your list!
1. Make it Official (on paper)
Besides getting your wedding certificate, there’s a lot of other changes you need to make formally. If you’re legally changing your last name, you’ll need to change it on all of your accounts. This could include your bank account, memberships like Netflix or the local gym, and your driver’s license. Trying to remember to change your information on everything can be overwhelming, I know! But there are plenty of online services that can help you get this done in a flash.
2. Keepsakes
If you’re sentimental like I am, you’ll want to keep a lot of your precious wedding items. You’ll want to preserve these things relatively soon after the wedding, especially if they have an expiration date. For example, you might want to designate someone to save the top tier of your wedding cake after you have left the night of your wedding. You can preserve the cake for your one-year anniversary by simply wrapping it up well in plastic wrap and storing it in the freezer. Another item you’ll want to designate to a loved one would be your wedding bouquet. If you’re planning on preserving or drying your florals, it needs to be done as soon as possible. Don’t wait until after you get back from your honeymoon! Lastly, if you want to keep your wedding dress, look into ways to store and preserve it from the test of time.
3. Thank You’s
Your guests, wedding party, friends and family have all done their part to make your big day a success. Don’t forget to properly thank them for their help! Mailing thank you letters is always a great way to do this. To shorten your list of to-do’s, you might consider starting these thank you notes in advance. If you have received a bridal shower gift, for example, go ahead and send that thank you card before it piles up with the rest of your notes!
4. Purge
For those less sentimental wedding items that you bought, you probably don’t want them taking up space in your garage. This might be table centerpieces, wedding signs, or candles. You might consider giving them to friends or family that you know are planning a wedding next. There’s also online marketplaces for wedding supplies where you can potentially recoup some of your wedding cost. And if nothing else, there’s always the option of donating them to a local charity!
While this list isn’t exhaustive of all post wedding to-do’s, I do hope that this will help you move forward with your newly-married life. Once you start checking things off the list, it’ll be easier to get back to a routine with your new spouse. And if you happened to celebrate your wedding at the RJC, don’t forget to leave us an online review or send us your sweet wedding pictures! We hope your wedding day was nothing but amazing!
