The flowers have been tossed, the vows have been exchanged, and your reception is over. Now what? If you’re a bride feeling the energy crash that typically follows the chaotic planning and celebration associated with your wedding, fear not. There are still a few more things you should plan and do. From cake preservation to wedding dress cleaning, here’s a brief post-wedding “to do” list.
Save the Cake
Don’t let your wedding cake go to waste. Usually, you can save the top tier by asking the staff at the wedding to remove it and prepare it for transport. Have a close friend or family member take the cake to their home and prepare it by removing all decorations, chilling it until the frosting is less likely to stick, wrap it in plastic wrap, and put it in an airtight freezer bag. Put it in the freezer with a bow around it or some kind of labeling and let the deliciousness live on.
Tip: Don’t wrap your cake in foil; it’s more prone to freezer burn.
Mind Your Manners
Your parents brought you up to say “please” and “thank you”, so make them proud after your big day. It might take a lot of time, but you really should sit down and write thank you notes to all of your guests – whether they gave you a gift or not. A hand-written note of thanks means so much to those who took time out of their day to come celebrate this milestone in your life.
Tip: Try to send out your thank you notes in a timely manner – within a week or two if you can.
The New Mrs. Needs a New Name
Unless you and your new husband have the same last name – or you never intended to change yours – you’ll have several tasks on your “to do” list that involve changing your name. Your official name on your driver’s license, bank account, social security card, and, of course, on social media should be changed after you tie the knot.
Tip: Make your DMV, bank, and SSA appointments before the wedding, since you’ll likely have to wait a few weeks to get in. That means less to do after the wedding; just show up.
Keep Your White Dress White
Whether you’re hoping to pass it down to a future child or you just want to keep it looking as fresh as it did when you said “I do”, wedding dress cleaning is something you’ll want to do as soon as possible after the ceremony. Hanging it in the closet or wrapping it up yourself just won’t do. There are often invisible stains initially that will show up later and damage your wedding dress, such as perspiration, white wine, perfume, or frosting. There are many aspects that require professional inspection with a UV light and delicate professional treatment. Don’t avoid this important task.
Tip: Most online wedding dress cleaning and preservation companies are very reputable and reasonably priced and include insurance door-to-door, in the rare instance that anything would happen to your precious gown. They professionally handle the preservation and send it back to you in just a few weeks, packaged and ready for storage.
Make Long-Lasting Memories
Your wedding day is special, and you likely experienced many memorable things throughout the experience. Make sure to keep a scrapbook. Add quotes that your bridesmaids said, funny things that happened, near-misses and happy accidents, pictures, floral samples, and anything else you want to keep. Do it while it’s fresh in your mind so you can look back years later and remember the details.
Tip: Keep a box as you go so you don’t have to collect everything post-ceremony.
From wedding dress cleaning to name changes to memory preservation and more, don’t forget to handle the post-ceremony “to do” list.
