You’re married! Now what?
In this final episode of 52 'Til I Do, we’re covering everything couples may want to take care of after the wedding day. From vendor follow-ups and thank-yous to name-change steps, photo timelines, and easing into newlywed life, we’re talking about what comes next once the celebration is over.
After your big day, you and your spouse are probably asking each other, “What now?”
Whether you’re heading off on your honeymoon or having a little staycation at home, be sure to actually enjoy these next few days together. You just got married! Give yourselves some time to celebrate, relax, and soak in this exciting new season of your life.
If you have rentals or other items that need to be returned the day after your wedding, make sure you have a plan in place for getting everything where it needs to go.
Maybe you and your partner are running some errands together if you aren’t leaving for your honeymoon right away. Or, you can have a trusted friend or family member take care of these tasks for you.
This could include things like:
The important thing is to figure this out before the wedding day so you aren’t trying to make a game plan while you’re exhausted and newly married!
Did you want to preserve a slice of your wedding cake? Your bouquet? Florals from the big day? Maybe even your wedding dress?
Whatever you want to keep, make sure you have a plan for preserving it before the wedding day arrives.
For florals, if you’re planning on doing a DIY preservation project, do your research ahead of time so you know exactly what you’ll need to do when the wedding is over.
If you’re sending your florals to someone for professional preservation, be sure to check how quickly they need to be delivered or shipped after the wedding.
And don’t forget about your dress! If you want to have your wedding dress professionally preserved or turned into something else—like a robe, pillow, or even a baby outfit—look into your options ahead of time.
At the end of the night, where is everything actually going? Be sure to check out Episode 49 for all of our tips and tricks for packing things up at the end of your big day. But beyond simply packing everything up, you want to have a solid plan for what happens to it afterward.
Talk with your vendors ahead of time about whether everything needs to be completely cleared out that night or if you’re able to come back the next day to pick things up.
And don’t forget about all of that decor! Is it going home with friends or family members? Are you donating it? Selling it? Keeping it for another event? Whatever you decide, make the plan before your wedding day so you don’t end up standing in your venue the morning after your wedding with ten boxes of candles, vases, and decor and absolutely no idea where any of it is supposed to go.
There are a TON of different people and vendors to thank for everything they did to make your wedding day happen. And what we like to see is all of those thank-you notes and gifts sent out within three months of your wedding day at the latest.
One of the biggest challenges that comes with thank-you notes is staying organized and keeping track of everything. There are a few things we recommend to make the process a little easier.
For your non-VIP guests, consider having one simple thank-you note that you can send to everyone. Trying to keep track of every single gift while also writing an individual, unique letter to every guest can quickly become stressful and VERY time-consuming.
Having a simple, thoughtful card or letter that you send to all of your guests can make the process much more manageable while still showing your appreciation.
Make a list of everyone you want to thank and how you’re going to thank them.
An Excel spreadsheet can be a lifesaver here. You could have categories like:
Then, underneath each category, keep track of exactly who is receiving what. This way, you can make sure nobody gets forgotten and you aren’t trying to remember everything off the top of your head.
Yes, handwritten notes can be super time-consuming. But there’s something really special about receiving a handwritten thank-you after being part of someone’s wedding day. If you have a LOT of notes to write, consider asking some family members or other trusted people to help you. Having an extra set of hands can make the process go much faster and help your guests feel even more appreciated and loved.
Your vendors put a LOT of time and effort into making your wedding day happen, so don’t forget about them when you’re sending out your thank-yous! One of the best ways to support your vendors after the wedding is by leaving them a review.
Reviews are incredibly important for wedding vendors, especially when future couples are trying to decide who they want to hire. Taking a few minutes to leave a thoughtful review on their website or other review platform can go a long way in supporting their business.
Start here! You can update your name either by mail or in person at your local Social Security office. This step needs to be completed before moving on to many of the other name-change updates.
PSA: If you’re changing your middle name as part of the process, triple-check that all of your information is correct before you leave. Name changes can get a little confusing, and it’s possible for things to be entered incorrectly—like ending up with two last names or two middle names. Take a moment to make sure everything matches exactly what you intended!
Once your Social Security record is updated, head to the DMV to update your driver’s license. While you’re there, go ahead and update your vehicle registration and voter registration if needed.
Once your Social Security card and driver’s license are updated, it’s time to work your way through the rest of your life admin. Make a list and check things off as you go—there are probably more places than you realize that have your legal name on file!
Here are some things you may need to update:
Pro Tip #1: Don’t feel like you have to tackle this entire list in one day! Keep a running checklist and update things as you come across them. Some changes will be quick and easy, while others may require extra documentation or a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
Pro Tip #2: Get multiple copies of your marriage certificate! Once you’re married, you’ll probably need your marriage certificate for several name-change and paperwork steps. Save yourself some time and order multiple certified copies—you’ll be glad you have them!
After your wedding, you’re DEFINITELY going to want to see all those gorgeous photos, videos, and content from your big day! But before you start refreshing your inbox every five minutes, remember that delivery timelines can vary HUGELY from vendor to vendor.
Your photographer, videographer, content creator, or other vendors should have a timeline for when you can expect to receive your final deliverables. For some vendors, this might be around 4 weeks, while others may take 4 months or more, depending on the vendor and the services you booked.
Be sure to check your contract! This will tell you what you can expect and when. Knowing the timeline ahead of time can save you from wondering, “Ummm… where are my pictures?” three weeks after your wedding.
There are a few different things that can happen when it comes to receiving your wedding content. The first step is always to check your contract with that vendor. It may simply be that you’re still within their stated delivery timeline—or it could be something that needs to be addressed.
If it’s been longer than the timeline outlined in your contract, reach out to your vendor and check in. They may be able to give you an update or let you know if there’s been a delay.
And remember, just because your wedding is over doesn’t mean we’re done supporting you! If you’re having trouble getting in touch with a vendor or aren’t sure what to do next, feel free to reach out to your coordinator. We’re still here to help you navigate those post-wedding details!
And just like that… you’re married!
The planning is over, the big day has happened, and now you get to enjoy what all that planning was leading up to. Your life together! There may still be a few thank-you notes to write, documents to update, and photos to wait for, but don’t let the to-do list take over. Take a breath, look around, and enjoy being married! From all of us at 52 ’Til I Do, thank you for letting us be part of your wedding planning journey. We hope these episodes helped you feel more prepared, less overwhelmed, and excited for what’s ahead.
Your wedding may be over, but your next chapter is just beginning. Congratulations, newlyweds!
Be sure to listen to Episode 53 of 52 ‘Til I Do on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to learn more about steps to take after your wedding day.
Have more questions? Send us a message at hello@marryment.com or get in touch on our social media—we love helping couples navigate this part of wedding planning!
Photo Credit to JNA Visuals
Marryment proudly serves couples all across Chicago and the surrounding Chicago Suburbs including popular areas such as Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Naperville, Evanston, Joliet, Oak Park, Skokie, Barrington, Downers Grove and Northbrook, to name a few. We also love destination weddings. We'd love to be a part of your wedding day! Schedule your free planning call with us today.
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