Post Wedding Arrangements

You will probably think about your wedding every day after it is over for the next couple of weeks. The wedding comes with a certain high that you would wish could last as long as possible. Before you know it, six months fly past and now you are very married and your first wedding anniversary is around the corner. The following are the top 10 things that you should remember to do shortly after the wedding.

1. Send Thank-You notes to Family and Guests

Your guests, family members, friends, and colleagues came from far and wide to attend your wedding. It is only fair to thank them for leaving their important commitments to be with you on your special day. They perhaps brought you nice gifts. As soon as you are finished with your honeymoon, the two of you should write elaborate thank you notes and mail these to all guests.

2. Preserve or Clean your Wedding Gown

Every bride wants to keep her wedding gown for posterity. You are not alone. Have the dress cleaned by professionals to get rid of all that cake, glitters, and bubbly from your celebration. Chances are that you will never wear it again, but it makes sense to keep it clean and sparklingly new. Smells and stains can become stubborn if you don’t clean them immediately. Then, keep it in your closet so you can pull it out in the future and relive the milestones.

3. Ask for your Wedding Photo Album

This is perhaps the greatest treasure of your wedding celebration. It is more important than the digital photos that you have posted on your social media. Your photographer should print the actual photos and arrange them tastefully in a wedding album. The album should be part of the package of photography services. In addition, have digital copies in a flash drive or CD. More importantly, upload these on another location such as Cloud Storage from where you can always check.

4. Review the Services from Vendors

So many people burnt the midnight oil to make your day splendid. Vendors such as hairstylists, makeup technicians, florists, DJ, and caterers must have gone out of their way to provide special service. It is good to thank them personally for the sacrifice. It is even better to write positive reviews on wedding sites and boards. In the process, you might just help them grow their customer base and business. 

5. Return or Exchange Wedding Gifts

All gifts are good because it is the thought that matters. However, you may not practically use some gifts, and it is only natural that you exchange or otherwise return them. Choose something that is more practical for your life. In some cases, you could consider donating to charities. To whom much is given, much is expected.

6. Buy Wedding Gifts that you Missed

Are there some things that you did not receive yet they should have been part of sets? Use the gift cards wisely. Remember that the offers that registries and stores have for wedding gifts close a few weeks after your wedding. Redeem these immediately after your honeymoon. Designate a couple of people from your circle of friends, family, and relatives to help you with the post-wedding activities.

7. Delete your Wedding Website and Registry

Are you paying money for website hosting services? Cut down your costs by closing the hosting account after the wedding. Note that people could still find your registry on search engine results. If you do not want people to see your names and wedding event, then do this sooner than later as search engines keep a history of your web page.

Consider leaving the registry open for a couple of months because in most cases, relatives and distant guests may want to gift you something special after the wedding.

8. Return Rented Wedding Items

Chances are that you ordered for emergency items to standby in case of challenges. If you did not use these items, it is time to have them returned. Still, some items were hired and they need to go back to the owners. Have vendors of photo booths, glitter frames, backdrops, and décor return these. Tables, seats, covers, and flowers must be cleaned before they are returned. Is it the vendor’s responsibility to clean these? Are there broken equipment that needs replacement? Find out from the vendors and reimburse them accordingly.

9. Recycle all Your Wedding Décor

What are you supposed to do with all the little things that made your day sparkling? Should you stuff them in the somewhere in your house, return to the vendors or giving them away altogether? One good idea is to sell items that you no longer need. Online selling sites come in handy. Put together a sale off your garage or recycle them tastefully to decorate your house. It can be overwhelming storing things in your house that you don’t need. Find out how to declutter and live happily ever after.

10. Change your Name Legally

The bride has now assumed a different status. You can choose to change your name so you can add your groom’s name on your ID documents. It is easy to change your name on the social media profiles. However, doing do legally requires a great deal of effort. For example, gather legal documents such as social security card, marriage license, passport, and driver’s license among others. It is better to deal with the headache now than to wait for later. Changing your name immediately after the wedding helps you internalize the change of status. You will then transition to married life faster and more conveniently.