The big day itself might be over but there are still plenty of after the wedding things to do now you’re a Mrs! Read the final part of our wedding checklist and finish your celebrations on a high.
Sort your gifts
After the wedding day, it’s best to delay your honeymoon, at least for a couple of days. That way you’ll have time to reflect on the day with your guests, the chance to sort through your gifts and, if you’re really organised, write your thank you cards! Opening your gifts is an exciting thing to do but try to think practically. Have a pen and paper handy so you can write down who gave you what. That way, you’ll be able to make your thank you cards much more personal.
Return suits and reclaim deposits
If you have hired suits for the big day, assign an organised person to return them on your behalf. This is usually the best man. He needs to make sure the suits are complete – cufflinks, cravats and shoes included – or else you may end up with a hefty bill. You also need to make sure that any hired items for the wedding are returned – vases, details, garden games. Ask a relative to hold any deposits for you until you return from honeymoon.
Honeymoon details
Hopefully you would have already packed your honeymoon cases well before the big day, as well as having any inoculations and getting any visas you need for travel. If you have booked your honeymoon in your married name, you will also need to change the details on your passport. Make sure someone looks after your gifts while you’re away and stocks the fridge for your return. And don’t forget top mentioned that you’re on honeymoon at the airport – you might get a free upgrade!
Clean your dress
After the wedding day, one of your first tasks should be cleaning your dress. It’s bound to have picked up some dirt during the day and you need to get it professionally dry cleaned before those stains set in. Sending it to the dry cleaners, and then ordering a box from The Empty Box Company is the perfect way to store your wedding gown for years to come. The Empty Box Company provide boxes made of pH neutral board which prevents any discolouration of clothing or papers. Expect to spend 10% of the cost of your dress on dry cleaning it.
Preserve your details after the wedding
Did your photographer order you to trek across muddy fields to get the perfect shot? Then your shoes will probably look a little worse for wear after the wedding. The Colour Studio at Rainbow Club have a fabulous dyeing service that can revive tired wedding shoes to their former glory. Most brides choose black so they can wear their shoes again to formal occasions but they can dye shoes almost any colour you can imagine so there’s no limit on how crazy you could be! You can also preserve your wedding bouquet if you’re quick enough. Your florist may be able to do this for you.
Review your wedding video
We love this idea! Invite friends and family round after the day big to review your wedding video. Tears and laughter guaranteed, so make sure you’ve got plenty of tissues at the ready. One real bride hired a whole cinema so everyone could relive the day in real style – something to consider if you have any budget left after the wedding!
Memories box
After the wedding day, creating a wedding memories box is a charming idea. You might not be the creative type, but it doesn’t have to be a work of art! You can just use some of your wedding photos, the order of service, place cards, a button or a small piece of lace from your dress, messages from guests – really anything that reminds you of your wedding. Don’t forget to include some of the perfume you wore on the day – that special scent will remind you of all those happy memories.
Looking ahead
Many brides feel low after the big day. With such a busy and exciting time now over it’s easy to feel like there’s nothing to look forward to. Banish those post-wedding blues with a holiday or house makeover. And don’t forget to send those gorgeous real wedding pictures to Wedding Ideas! If you get featured, it will be a great keepsake after the wedding!
First anniversary
You can also now look forward to your first anniversary as husband and wife. Paper is the traditional gift. We love poems on parchment paper, theatre or gig tickets, a scrapbook of old photos… the only limit is your imagination.
