So you’ve officially tied the knot, signed the paperwork, and had the party of a lifetime. Now, it’s finally time to sit back and relax – right?
We hate to break it to you, but your wedding to-do list isn’t over just yet! From thanking your guests to settling outstanding bills, there are a few essential things you’ll need to do after the big day has been and gone.
To make it easy for you, we’ve compiled a list of 17 important things to action following your celebration. Keep reading as we share the ultimate post-wedding checklist below!
Visit Your Wedding Venue
Before jetting off on your tropical honeymoon, it’s a good idea to visit your venue the following morning to check you haven’t left anything behind. Common culprits include cards and gifts, DIY decor items, signage, and leftover guest favors.
Many venue contracts stipulate that rubbish must be removed following your celebration, so be sure to leave the space clean and tidy to avoid being charged an additional fee.
Settle Outstanding Bills
Speaking of fees, take a moment to review all of your invoices to ensure everything has been paid in full. If any final payments are outstanding (or if you blew out your budget at the bar!) you’ll want to settle these ASAP.
Return Rented Equipment ASAP
Remember, rented equipment such as cutlery, glassware, and props will need to be returned within the designated timeframes – or you may be stung with a late fee! This also applies to any rented attire like suits or bridesmaid gowns.
Freeze Your Wedding Cake
Did you know saving the top tier of your wedding cake for your first anniversary is thought to symbolize good luck and prosperity?
Ask your caterer to preserve a portion of your wedding cake for you, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Place the wrapped cake in an airtight cake box and pop it in your freezer. Then, enjoy it on your first wedding anniversary as you reminisce on your celebration!
Repurpose and Preserve Your Wedding Flowers
After spending so much money on your wedding flowers, it seems like a waste to let them wilt away. Why not bring some joy to others by donating your flowers to a hospital or retirement home following your wedding?
You can also preserve your wedding bouquet and create a beautiful keepsake with your leftover flowers. Some ideas could include pressing your flowers into a journal, or drying your bouquet and displaying it in a clear frame. Some companies will even take your bouquet and preserve your flowers as jewelry items, artwork, and Christmas ornaments!
Dry Clean Your Wedding Attire
Following your wedding, we’d recommend dry cleaning your wedding attire as soon as possible to prevent any stubborn stains from settling in. Be sure to research reputable dry cleaners and ask them if they have prior experience with preserving bridal gowns and/or suits, as this can be a specialty area.
To maintain your items, store them in a breathable garment bag and hang them somewhere dark, dry, and temperature-regulated out of direct sunlight.
Send Thank You Cards to Your Guests
Proper etiquette states you should send thank you cards to your guests within 3 months of your wedding. Our tip? Get started on this task early while the day is still fresh in your mind, and before you have a chance to procrastinate!
Be sure to thank your guests for joining you, and make a special note to thank them for their gift – whether a physical present or monetary donation. Personalize your message by mentioning exactly what you love and appreciate about their gift, and how you plan to use it. You can check out our thank you card wording ideas here for some helpful examples!
Check Your Wedding Hashtag and Compile Photos
If you created a custom hashtag for your wedding, don’t forget to check out all of the happy snaps from your guests. You can even take advantage of photo-sharing apps and ask your guests to upload any extra photos they may have taken on the day. Check out our guide to coming up with a creative hashtag for your wedding here!
Thank Your Vendors (And Leave Them Reviews)
From your celebrant to your wedding planner and musician, be sure to personally contact each of your wedding vendors with a thoughtful text or email thanking them for their hard work. If you want to go the extra mile, take some time to leave their business a review on Facebook or Google, too. The wedding industry is largely built on referrals, so your vendors will appreciate this more than you know!
Organize Your Photo Albums
Once you receive your wedding photos back (usually within 6-8 weeks of your wedding) consider creating a personalized photo album to display your favorite images. Your wedding photographer should be able to guide you through this process, or you can choose to DIY your album online. You may even want to organize some extra albums for your parents or closest loved ones as a beautiful gift idea.
Share Your Wedding Photo Album With Guests
On the topic of wedding photos, don’t forget to share these with your wedding guests, too! An easy way to do this is by saving your favorite images into a Dropbox folder and sending the link out to your loved ones.
Change Your Name (And Update Your Documentation)
Of course, it’s not essential – but if you’ve decided to change your surname following your wedding, you can get started on this as soon as you receive your official marriage certificate.
The legalities for changing your name will depend on your location, so be sure to research the relevant process in your local area. Once your surname has been changed, we’d suggest making a list of organizations and documents that will need to be updated.
For example:
- Drivers license
- Car registration
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- Personal loans
- Insurance policies
- Employment
- Social security
- Healthcare
- Taxation office
- Passport
This can be a somewhat lengthy process, so work your way through your list at your own pace. And don’t forget to make it Facebook official!
Review Your Will and Life Insurance
Speaking of legalities, it’s also a good idea to review other important documents like your will and life insurance beneficiaries. Boring, we know – but marriage can impact what was previously written into these documents, so make sure you get these reviewed to see if any changes are required.
Create a Wedding Keepsake Box
You’ll probably have some special bits and pieces from your wedding that you’d like to hold on to and treasure. We love the idea of creating a wedding keepsake box to store these significant items – for example, your ring boxes, vow books, bouquet ribbon, jewelry items, and a copy of your wedding invitations and other stationery. This box can then become an heirloom item you can pass down to future generations!
Sell Your Wedding Dress Online
If you don’t have a sentimental attachment to it, selling your wedding dress can be a great way to make some money back. Plus, it encourages other brides to make sustainable wedding choices, too!
You can list your wedding dress on dedicated websites like Still White, or even try your luck with platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Finalize Your Wedding Registry
If you created an online gift registry, it’s worth checking to see if any discounts are available following your wedding. Some wedding registries like Amazon give you the option to purchase any remaining items at a discounted rate – but be quick, as these offers are usually time-sensitive.
Soak Up That Newlywed Bliss!
Whether you’re embarking on an overseas trip or simply spending some time together at home, don’t forget to enjoy soaking up that newlywed bliss! We know wedding planning can be hard work – so kick back and relax as you reminisce on your wonderful celebration.
Still in the trenches of wedding planning? You can streamline the process with our suite of digital wedding planning tools here at WedSites. From our intuitive online wedding planner to our drag-and-drop wedding website builder, we have everything you need to plan a beautiful wedding in one place. Sign up for your free account here to get started!
