From a Wedding Planner Who Did Everything Backwards

I planned, prepped, and pulled off an amazing wedding. I walked down the aisle, said “I do,” and celebrated with family and friends. Now, officially married! But before you get too comfortable basking in the glow of newlywed life (or, in my case, drowning in post-wedding procrastination), there are still a few things left to check off the list.

As a wedding planner, I’m all about making sure my couples have an stress-free, perfectly planned wedding day. But when it came to my own post-wedding to-do list? Let’s just say life had other plans!

Confessions of a Wedding Planner Bride

Let’s start with the basics: My husband and I just got our marriage license today. 01/29/2025 Yes, OVER two months after the wedding.

My wedding dress? Still dirty, still in its original bag, and hanging in my hallway closet. My thank-you cards? Sitting in my Zazzle cart, untouched for over a month. And name change paperwork? Yeah, haven’t even thought about that yet—though I should probably get on it soon, considering my passport expires in February. 😬

To top it all off, our honeymoon got cut short because our youngest, who was 15 months old at the time, was teething and suffering from a severe diaper rash. Nothing like a screaming baby to set the mood for romance, right?

Oh, and did I mention that before getting married, we already had two kids and bought a house together? So, let’s just say the whole “honeymoon phase” looks a little different when you’re juggling toddlers, homeownership, and real-life responsibilities.

But hey, at least I did marry the love of my life! So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the post-wedding tasks, just know you are not alone. Let’s get through this together, shall we?

Your Post-Wedding Checklist (For Those Who Actually Want to Stay on Top of Things)

1. Make It Official (Unlike Me, Who Took Two Months)✔ Obtain your marriage license (preferably before you start calling each other husband and wife).

✔ Start the name change process if you’re taking your spouse’s last name. This means visits to the Social Security office, DMV, bank, insurance companies, and anywhere else your name is on file. (Warning: This is an absolute pain, and I am mentally preparing for it as we speak.)

2. Preserve Your Wedding Memories (Or, You Know, Just Don’t Let Your Dress Collect Dust Like Mine)

✔ Get your dress professionally cleaned & preserved—before it turns into a dusty keepsake.

✔ Order your wedding album—because scrolling through your photographer’s online gallery isn’t quite the same.

✔ Frame or store sentimental items, like invitations, vows, or even a piece of your bouquet.

3. Take Care of Financial & Legal Stuff

✔ Pay any outstanding vendor balances (don’t be that couple who ghosts their vendors).

✔ Return or exchange wedding gifts—because no one needs three air fryers.

✔ Update beneficiaries, insurance, and work records to reflect your new marital status.

4. Actually Send Those Thank-You Cards (Unlike Me)

✔ Write heartfelt messages, buy postage, and mail them within three months (or whenever you get around to it).

5. Plan for Your Future (Because Adulting Never Stops)

✔ Update your emergency contacts (you know, in case your spouse actually needs to be notified of something important).

✔ Combine finances (if applicable)—or at least start discussing money goals.

✔ Start thinking about anniversary traditions—even if it’s just setting a reminder so you don’t forget it altogether.

6. Actually Enjoy Being Newlyweds

✔ Take that honeymoon (or reschedule it if you had to come home early like we did).

✔ Plan date nights and don’t let life’s chaos overshadow the excitement of being married.

✔ Keep celebrating the little moments—because at the end of the day, marriage is what it’s all about.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, once the wedding is over, real life doesn’t hit pause to let you bask in newlywed bliss. Between legal paperwork, thank-you cards, and everyday responsibilities, that fairytalepost-wedding glow can feel very short-lived. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make time to celebrate the start of this new chapter.

Whether you’re doing everything by the book or pulling a me and procrastinating for months, just remember: it’s your marriage that matters most. Everything else? It’ll get done eventually.

And if you need help planning a vow renewal, anniversary party, or (let’s be real) getting your life back in order after the wedding, Its Fate Wedding Co. is here for you.Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some thank-you cards to order… finally.