Now that your wedding is over and you’re finally married, what comes next? Read on for steps newlywed couples should take after their wedding.
Getting married is a huge milestone in your life. After you get engaged, it can seem like a whirlwind as you plan your wedding and all of the other festivities surrounding your big day. But now that you and your partner are officially married, what comes next? Don’t relax too much as there’s a lot more you and your new spouse need to complete after saying I do. Here are a few steps you should take after your wedding.
Say Thank You
A successful wedding involves the support from lots of family members and friends. Whether it be for gifts, emotional support, or help with planning your wedding, there are many people you should thank for their guidance and encouragement. Depending on how many guests you had at your wedding, the amount of thank you notes you need to write will vary. While this may seem like a tedious task, it’s very necessary and shows your appreciation for your guests.
The sooner you can have these cards done, the better. At the very least, you should aim to have these finished and sent out within 90 days after your wedding. If you have a lot of letters to write, try to divide them throughout a few weeks to make it more manageable. You can use a template to make the process more efficient, and if you dedicate just 15-30 minutes each day to writing a few letters, you’ll have them finished in no time.
Finish Your Wedding Registry
As you settle in after your honeymoon, now’s the perfect time to go through your gifts and registry items. If you received duplicates or items you just won’t use, make sure to do your returns and exchanges within 2 months after your wedding to avoid any hassles with return policies. If there are still some items on your registry you didn’t receive but still want, check with your store to see if they offer any discounts for remaining products – act fast though, because the offer may have a time limit. After you’re done, close out your registry.
Organize Your Finances
Budgeting and paying for your wedding was already stressful enough, but after you’re married the real discussion about money starts. To start your marriage on the right track, you’ll want to organize your finances with your spouse. First you’ll want to decide whether you want to merge your money into a joint bank account with your partner or keep separate accounts. If you do choose to combine accounts, you’ll need to notify the bank and fill out the necessary paperwork.
If you haven’t already, you’ll also want to look at your combined income and expenses to create a monthly budget to live on and discuss your current financial situation. Do either of you have debt? Low credit scores? Any savings?
From here you can talk about any financial goals you want to work toward and make a plan to achieve them. For instance, if you and your spouse want to move in and buy a house together, you’ll need to prepare your finances. In this case, getting a mortgage pre approval can help you in the planning process to determine how much you can realistically afford to spend on a house. By doing research on financial requirements and qualifications for your future goals, your finances will be set up for long-term success.
Change Your Name
With the excitement of the wedding and your new marriage, it can be hard to focus on the more mundane tasks you have to complete as newlyweds like changing your name. This only applies if you choose to take your spouse’s last name, of course.
If you do decide to change your name, you should update your records as soon as possible so you don’t forget. Not sure where to start? Make sure to cover all of your important accounts and documents first like your Social Security card, driver’s license, passport, credit cards, and bank accounts. Even if you don’t change your name, you’ll want to notify your employer of your marriage so they can update your insurance and tax information. Once you get these tasks done, you’ll be able to enjoy your new marriage to the fullest.
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