After the Wedding

Most wedding content stops at the send-off. But the week after you come home from the honeymoon is when the last real chunk of work shows up: the thank-you notes, the marriage license filing (if the officiant didn’t handle it), the dress preservation, the photos you’ve been waiting 8 weeks for, and — if you’re changing your name — a document chain that takes longer than anyone warns you about. Dedicated articles for this category are on the way.

What this category will cover

• Thank-you notes — timing, wording, shared vs solo, and what to do if you forgot who gave what
• Name change checklist — the full document chain in the right order, state by state
• Marriage license filing — confirming it was submitted and getting certified copies
• Dress preservation — cleaning, boxing, long-term storage
• Photo and video delivery — reasonable timelines, what to ask for, printing and album options
• First-anniversary traditions — cake topper, paper gift, and why people save the cake
• Tax, insurance, and beneficiary updates — the unglamorous but important housekeeping

What to do right now

Even without full guides, here’s the practical timing. Thank-you notes should go out within 2–3 months of the wedding, not the often-cited “one year” myth. Handwritten, specific (“thank you for the pasta bowls—they’re our new weeknight default”), and signed by both of you. Track gifts in a spreadsheet at the shower and at the wedding — it’s dramatically harder after the fact.

If you’re changing your name, do it in this order: get your certified marriage certificate from the county clerk first (not the decorative one from the officiant). Then in order: Social Security card, driver’s license, passport, bank accounts, employer/payroll, credit cards, insurance (health, auto, life), investment and retirement accounts, voter registration, utilities and subscriptions. Expect the full chain to take 2–3 months. Do Social Security first — most other agencies need your updated SSA record to process the change.