Our last blog covered what to do after you get engaged, so today WhereBridesGo.com decided to discuss some of the things that you need to take care of after the I do's. Your married life will go much smoother once you get these tasks out of the way.
#1 - Finish the Thank You Notes
Hopefully you already wrote the thank yous for the gifts you received prior to the wedding day. No one expects you to get these to them the week after the wedding, but the sooner you take care of it, the quicker and easier it will be. You definitely should strive to have them all delivered by 3 months after the wedding date.
#2 - Legally Change Your Name
If you will be changing your name, it needs to be taken care of on everything. The two most important ones are your social security card and driver's license. The process can differ from state to state, but you will most likely need a certified copy of your official marriage license. Not the fancy one you signed for show at the wedding, but the legal one with a notary's stamp.
Once those are taken care of, you need to tackle everything else, which is most likely a large list. Other legal documents, like your passport or car title, will need to have your new name put on them. Get the name changed on your credit cards and bank accounts. Next tackle all of your subscriptions, memberships, online profiles... Basically anything that you have ever signed up for with your maiden name will need to be switched over. Take care of the important ones first, then worry about things like magazine subscriptions at a more leisurely pace.
#3 - Make Financial Decisions
There are two of you now, and most financial obligations will be shared. You will need to decide if you will be opening a joint checking or savings account. If not, you may want to add your new spouse's name to your personal account in case of emergencies. All housing bills, like the cable, electric, etc... will need to have both of your names added to them.
#4 - Share Your New Address
If you did not already live together, at least one of you will now have a new address. Just like your name, all subscriptions and bills will need to know where to find you. Also make sure all of your friends and family have your new address so those birthday cards don't get lost in the mail.
#5 - Return or Exchange Extra Gifts
The longer you wait to do this, the more likely those duplicate wedding gifts that you received will end up in your closet, forgotten about. As soon as you decide what you will be keeping and what will go, head to the store and have a fun shopping day together.
#6 - Order Your Wedding Photos
Just like with returning those gifts, the longer you wait to decide which wedding photos to order or have printed, the less likely it will happen. Then you have to deal with family members constantly asking when they can get a wedding photo. Put a day aside to go through all of the photos within a month after the wedding and pick out your favorites. Then order some immediately for your home and your parents. Even if your photographer gave you digital access to all of the photos taken, the longer you wait to print them out, the more likely they will just be left on that disc forever.
Once you get those important details taken care of, you can get ready to sit back and enjoy all of the excitement and adventures your new married life will bring along with it. Remember, WhereBridesGo.com can still be of help to you after the wedding is over. We offer a large variety of wonderful items in our online gift store for you to give away at Christmas and on other special occasions. There are also many wonderful things for you to use in your new home together.
~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team
Post by Deanna Powell, Certified Bridal Consultant
#1 - Finish the Thank You Notes
Hopefully you already wrote the thank yous for the gifts you received prior to the wedding day. No one expects you to get these to them the week after the wedding, but the sooner you take care of it, the quicker and easier it will be. You definitely should strive to have them all delivered by 3 months after the wedding date.
#2 - Legally Change Your Name
If you will be changing your name, it needs to be taken care of on everything. The two most important ones are your social security card and driver's license. The process can differ from state to state, but you will most likely need a certified copy of your official marriage license. Not the fancy one you signed for show at the wedding, but the legal one with a notary's stamp.
Once those are taken care of, you need to tackle everything else, which is most likely a large list. Other legal documents, like your passport or car title, will need to have your new name put on them. Get the name changed on your credit cards and bank accounts. Next tackle all of your subscriptions, memberships, online profiles... Basically anything that you have ever signed up for with your maiden name will need to be switched over. Take care of the important ones first, then worry about things like magazine subscriptions at a more leisurely pace.
#3 - Make Financial Decisions
There are two of you now, and most financial obligations will be shared. You will need to decide if you will be opening a joint checking or savings account. If not, you may want to add your new spouse's name to your personal account in case of emergencies. All housing bills, like the cable, electric, etc... will need to have both of your names added to them.
#4 - Share Your New Address
If you did not already live together, at least one of you will now have a new address. Just like your name, all subscriptions and bills will need to know where to find you. Also make sure all of your friends and family have your new address so those birthday cards don't get lost in the mail.
#5 - Return or Exchange Extra Gifts
The longer you wait to do this, the more likely those duplicate wedding gifts that you received will end up in your closet, forgotten about. As soon as you decide what you will be keeping and what will go, head to the store and have a fun shopping day together.
#6 - Order Your Wedding Photos
Just like with returning those gifts, the longer you wait to decide which wedding photos to order or have printed, the less likely it will happen. Then you have to deal with family members constantly asking when they can get a wedding photo. Put a day aside to go through all of the photos within a month after the wedding and pick out your favorites. Then order some immediately for your home and your parents. Even if your photographer gave you digital access to all of the photos taken, the longer you wait to print them out, the more likely they will just be left on that disc forever.
Once you get those important details taken care of, you can get ready to sit back and enjoy all of the excitement and adventures your new married life will bring along with it. Remember, WhereBridesGo.com can still be of help to you after the wedding is over. We offer a large variety of wonderful items in our online gift store for you to give away at Christmas and on other special occasions. There are also many wonderful things for you to use in your new home together.
Where Brides Go®
...for What Brides Love!
~ The WhereBridesGo.com Team
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