Now that your wedding is over, you can sit back, relax, and reminisce about all the amazing moments you had; What happened as you hoped it would? What happened spur of the moment and was so much more memorable? No matter what you’re daydreaming about post-nuptials, it feels good to have all the planning over with. But it’s not totally over! There are still a few wedding-related items you need to tick off your to-do list after you get hitched.
Send Thank You Notes
Yep, you need to address and stamp just as many envelopes as you did with the invitations. But unlike the invites, you need to hand write every thank you for a genuine and personal touch. Everyone appreciates receiving a customized, handwritten note thanking them for their attendance and gifts, and as such, make this step the most important one after the wedding. Wedding etiquette experts suggest sending your thank you notes about two to three months after the big day.
Take Care of Your Dress
Whether you want your future daughter to wear your wedding gown, you want to resell it, or you simply want to keep it in good condition over the years, it’ll be important to have it cleaned or preserved shortly after the wedding. Sweat, makeup, dust, food stains, and spilled champagne can make your perfect dress a tad less impeccable, and taking care of it will bring it back to its original luster and keep it that way for years to come.
Change Your Name
This is an exciting part of getting married if you plan to change your last name. But it isn’t a one-step process. Gather all the necessary documents you need shortly after the wedding to get the process going. You’ll most likely need your driver’s license, birth certificate, and a certified copy of your marriage license to update your driver’s license, social security card, and your passport. It’s not so easy as simply using your new last name, is it? But as soon as you can get these processes going, the better, and the sooner you’ll officially be the new Mrs.
Purchase any Leftover Registry Items
For a limited amount of time after your wedding, you’ll be able to purchase items off of your own registry and be awarded points or cash back, depending on where you registered. And you’ll still receive a registry discount for a certain amount of time, so plan a fun day at the store with your new spouse and complete your registry.
Return Duplicate Registry Items
When you shop for the items you didn’t get, you should also return any duplicate items (or undesirable items you received that weren’t on your registry) as soon as you can after you return from your honeymoon. Return them for store credit and use the combined total to purchase a big ticketed item, or exchange them for items you really want.
Sell any DIY Décor
If you made a bunch of décor items for your wedding, such as centerpieces and ceremony touches, you probably don’t have much use for them anymore. But that doesn’t mean the time and money you invested in them have to go to waste. There are so many brides out there planning their weddings that would love the crafts you made for a fraction of the price of buying new. Post your DIY items on eBay or Etsy, or find a local wedding planner or wedding décor professional who might want to buy them from you and rent them out to their brides.
Relax and Enjoy Married Life!
Once you get these to-dos all done, you’ll officially be in your first leg of marriage, and it’s time to fully enjoy being a Mrs. If you are planning a honeymoon that jet sets right after the wedding, soak up that time together before heading back home. And if you’ll have a delayed honeymoon trip, be sure to spend a few days after the wedding just enjoying being married before worrying about getting these things done.
If you’re in the midst of planning your dream wedding and are looking for a mesmerizing venue, check out the Vatican Banquet Hall who specializes in delivering unforgettable ceremonies and receptions that will leave you daydreaming long after your big day.