While all weddings create treasured memories, planning one can be stressful as you’ll have to make plenty of difficult decisions. According to Credit Karma, 21 percent of people in the United States have gone into debt to pay for their wedding. For millennials, that figure rises to 30 percent.
Indeed, giving yourself and guests a fun, memorable experience while keeping your savings in line is tough. But after returning home from a romantic, exciting honeymoon, you’ll probably want to relax with your new spouse for a while. However, there are still a few things you should take care of soon after your wedding.
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Freeze Your Wedding Cake
Have your caterer save the top tier of your wedding cake, as freezing a portion of it and then eating it when you celebrate your first anniversary is a common tradition. You can also set aside a few slices if you have a sheet cake. Have a friend or relative take your cake home and put it in your refrigerator.
According to Food Network, you should pack your cake carefully to avoid freezer burn and make sure it tastes the same on your anniversary as it did on your wedding day. To do so, place the cake in your freezer without packaging it for a few hours to harden the icing. Then, wrap it in plastic or put it in an airtight container. Just make sure it’s in a spot where it won’t get smashed by other items.
Have Your Wedding Dress Cleaned and Preserved
Having your wedding dress cleaned and preserved can cost hundreds of dollars, but the expense is worth it. You can keep any stains from setting while preventing discoloration over time and making sure that beads, lace, and other embellishments stay in good condition.
That way, you can look at it and remember your special day anytime. You’ll also have the dress handy if you and your spouse ever decide to renew your vows or if one of your children wants to use it someday. To preserve your wedding dress, retailers like David’s Bridal can provide a shipping package and a personalized order form, and you’ll get your dress back in acid-free paper wrapping and a white preservation box within six weeks.
Donate Flowers and Other Items
The flowers from your wedding could make hospital patients and residents of your local retirement or nursing home very happy. Ask for a receipt to make your gift tax-deductible. Food banks and homeless shelters will also accept unopened trays of food from your caterer.
Send Thank You Notes
Thank you notes help show the people who supported you on your wedding day that you’re grateful. Knowing this, order personalized thank you cards containing photos and flowers that match the colors at your wedding. Or display your initials in an attractive design.
Thank you notes tend to include mailing envelopes with the recipients’ addresses printed on them, and they make wonderful keepsakes for your guests. You can save some time by taking your thank you cards on the plane when you go on your honeymoon, giving you plenty of time to write personalized notes.
Create Some Lasting Memories
By following this checklist, you can take care of essential tasks after your wedding. Saving your wedding cake and your dress, helping people with your flowers, and sending thank you cards will make others happy and give you and your family some great memories.
