Wedding Planning – After the Wedding – Week 53

While the planning is done, there are still a few things to take care of now that the wedding is over. 

 

1. Return the tux. Most tuxedo rental companies ask for the tuxedos/suits to be returned the next day. The easiest way to take care of this is for the groom to change before he leaves the reception. A family member or friend can then return his outfit the next day while he’s on his honeymoon. Just be sure to make the necessary arrangements ahead of time.

 

2. Freeze the cake. You’ll want to do this as soon as possible. You’re welcome to eat the leftovers, but freezing it is the best way to make it last until you can finish it. Also, year-old frozen cake is not really very tasty (at least ours wasn’t). You are welcome to brave a bite, but many bakers are starting to offer a package that includes a first anniversary cake. Doesn’t hurt to ask so you can have fresh wedding cake.  🙂

 

3. Preserve the bouquet. Not everyone wants to do this, but some do. There are some kits available, but a simple way to preserve your wedding flowers without taking up a lot of space is to dry the groom’s boutonniere and a few of the flowers from the bridal bouquet. 

 

4. Preserve the wedding dress. Search local dry cleaning companies and read the reviews. This will be the easiest way to preserve your wedding dress. It will be cleaned and placed in a special box that will keep it from aging badly. You will need to open the box every few years and refold the dress so it doesn’t get colored fold lines.

 

5. Confirm all vendors were paid. This is a biggy. Double-check receipts to make sure everyone was paid. When in doubt, call or email the person to make sure.

 

6. Write thank you notes. Start these right away. Hopefully, you had time to write thank you notes for people who sent you gifts or gave them to you at the shower. That will make this process a lot easier. One of the best ways to get this done is to do a few every night while you watch TV. Set a goal for each day and keep the thank you notes by the couch. That way you have no excuse.

 

7. Leave vendor reviews/feedback. This is a great way to thank your vendors. Your testimonial or review will be valued by other brides who are looking at who to hire for their wedding. If you’re not sure where to leave a review, just ask your vendor and they can tell you where you should go (email, Facebook, Google+, The Knot, Wedding Wire, etc.).

 

8. Finish changing your name on official documents. This can be a tedious process, but it is necessary.