5 Things to Do When the Wedding is Over

You finally made it! It’s your wedding day, when you’ll officially enter the state of marriage and begin the next chapter. You spent many months, maybe even years, planning for your big day.

You and your partner are on an airplane headed for Mexico and your honeymoon, and you are ready to finally relax. But now that the wedding’s over, that doesn’t mean everything is quite finished.

From sending thank-you cards to figuring out what to do with your wedding dress, there are at least essential five things you’ll want to do after the ceremony and reception are over.

What to Do with Your Wedding Dress

Remember the day you found the perfect dress? Now it’s probably sitting in your closet and might stay tucked away there for decades because you’ll have no other occasion to wear it.

What if, instead of collecting dust, your dress could bring in some cash? Borrowing Magnolia is a website that enables you to sell your wedding dress so others can shop second-hand for a designer dress.

Not only is this a great way to add some money to afford even more fun adventures on your honeymoon, but you will give someone else the opportunity to find their perfect dress.

Thank-You Cards

Thank-you cards should be a no-brainer when you think about what comes after the wedding. You want to show appreciation to people you love spending this special day with you — and of course, thank them for any gift they brought you.

As a wedding “standard,” it is regarded as proper etiquette to send out your thank-you cards within ninety days after the wedding. But honestly, the sooner you can do it, the better.

It will be one less thing on your plate to have to worry about if you have your thank-you cards prepped ahead of time. You can personalize them after you return from your honeymoon, or even the wedding, if you already have them ready to go.

All you have to do is stuff them in their envelopes and send them on their way.

Pay (and Tip) Your Vendors

When you were planning your wedding, you probably thought constantly about your vendors. But after the wedding is a smart time to think about them too.

The suppliers played a huge and vital role in making the entire event possible. You want to make absolutely certain, to triple-check, that you have paid them and added any tips you believe are warranted to show your appreciation for their hard work.

This may include leaving online reviews for the people you worked with. Give back to them generously by letting others know how great a job they did on your special day to ensure it was stress-free.

After all, reviews may well have been what ultimately drove your decision to work with these operations in the first place. Pass on the good vibes and send a warm review their way!

Freeze or Donate Your Wedding Cake and Any Leftovers

There’s a good chance you’re going to have leftovers from your wedding cake, appetizers, and even entrees due to last-minute people who did not show up (because you know to plan ahead with your caterer!). If you want to reap the benefits after your honeymoon, don’t forget to freeze these goodies.

Better yet, if you are in the mood to give, why not think about donating your leftovers to a local shelter or nonprofit organization that could make excellent use of them?

Get Ready to Change Your Name

This one may not necessarily apply to you, but for those who desire to change their name, you’ll want to start the paperwork process well ahead of time. If you do, when your honeymoon is completed, you can submit everything with just a few signatures and notaries to make this a substantially less arduous process.

The fact is, life will take hold once you’ve returned to reality, and this can be one of the biggest things people neglect to take care of after their wedding. Make your DMV appointments for your license, get all your paperwork together, and change your name on social media or wherever else it may be necessary or desirable.

Summary

The post-wedding period may feel like you are humming as a newlywed, as you should! But don’t forget the little yet essential tasks on your to-do list.

Prepare ahead of time so you have less to worry about and you can enjoy more of that period languishing in the post-ceremony glow.