The Ultimate Post-Wedding Checklist

Once you’ve said “I do” and celebrated with your loved ones, you may be wondering what tasks you need to complete after the wedding. After spending months planning your special day, you’re bound to be deep in honeymoon bliss, so it’s understandable if some smaller tasks slip your mind. From additional wedding-related duties to legal paperwork, there some tasks you’ll need to tackle after your wedding. Check out our ultimate post-wedding checklist to ensure you don’t miss any post-wedding to-dos! 

1. Freeze your cake

Traditionally, the top tier of the wedding cake is saved, frozen, then enjoyed on your first anniversary. If you’re hoping to participate in this tradition, time is of the essence! Designate someone to save the top of the cake on your wedding night. Wait a year, then enjoy!

2. Send thank-you notes

Once the wedding is over and you’ve returned from your honeymoon, it’s time to send thank you notes! Anyone who gave you a gift should receive a thank you note, but it can be nice to thank everyone who attended. While writing notes to your entire guest list may seem like a daunting task, it’s best to not procrastinate! Traditionally, you have up to a year after the wedding to send thank you notes, but the sooner you do this the better. *we could link to the thank you note blog

3. Take care of vendors

After the wedding, you should pay (and tip, if appropriate) all of your vendors! If you loved their contribution to your special day, make sure you leave them a review as a thank you.

4. Preserve bouquet/boutonniere

If you’re hoping to preserve your bouquet/boutonniere, designate someone to make sure they both get home safely and into the refrigerator as soon as possible. You should decide how you want them preserved ahead of time so that you can act as quickly after the wedding.

5. Take care of your dress

Your dress is bound to go through a lot on your wedding day, so show it some TLC afterward ! Stains become harder to remove the longer they’ve set into the fabric, so try to get your dress cleaned as soon as possible. If you’re planning on preserving your gown, you’ll want to start the process as soon as you can!

6. Social Media Review

Your guests will inevitably document the wedding day on social media, and it can be super fun to see all of your planning come to life from their perspective. Instagram and Snapchat stories only last 24 hours, so make sure you check them out before they disappear!

7. Wedding Album

Although photographers typically deliver copious amounts of photos, that doesn’t usually include a physical album. Contact your photographer about putting together a physical photo album with all of your favorite pictures from the wedding day. This is sure to be a cherished keepsake in your home.

8. If You Are Changing Your Name, Begin the Process

If you’re opting to change your name, there are several places where you’ll need to do so! Social security, licenses, bank accounts, voter registrations, etc. all require you to update your information once your name has been changed. Some companies offer services to handle this task for you, and all you have to do is fill out one form! Check out https://www.namechangekit.com/ for more information.

9. Closeout your registry

Once your wedding is over, it’s time to close out your registry! You’ll want to finish buying the leftover items that you still need, especially if you have unmatched sets. If you received any duplicate gifts, return them as soon as possible!

10. Updating beneficiaries & emergency contacts

It’s essential that you update important documents like your beneficiaries and emergency contacts right away. These documents are not automatically updated once you get married, so if you intend on making your spouse your main beneficiary, you’ll need to file that change.

11. Adjusting taxes

After your wedding, you may opt to begin filing your taxes as “Married” instead of “Single”. This change needs to be communicated to your employers, so contact HR when you return to work. Additionally, it can be a good idea to consult an accountant on how changing your filing status will affect your upcoming taxes.

12. Enjoy married life!

Now that wedding planning is behind you both, you can kick your feet up and enjoy the next chapter of your lives together. Congratulations on your new marriage!