After I Do: A To-Do List
Whether you were planning your wedding for weeks, months, or even a few years, one thingâs for sure â the day itself will pass in a flash! While youâll want to ride the post-wedding high for as long as possible, there are numerous tasks that youâll need to complete in the months following the ceremony. Hereâs our guide to the essentialsâŠ
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Check the venue
Itâs always worth checking with your venue that you didnât leave anything behind â with all of the excitement, itâs easily done, especially after a few glasses of celebratory fizz! Paying a visit soon after your wedding will ensure that nothing was missed and give you a fantastic opportunity to thank them for hosting your day.
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Organise your outfits
If youâve hired suits or kilts, be sure to return them on time so that you donât incur any late fees or additional charges. If you purchased your outfits, youâll need to make sure that you clean them as soon as possible too â no matter how hard you try to keep them clean, itâs inevitable that theyâll get a little dirty. Kilts require minimal care, and the majority of stains can be tackled with a lint-free cloth or clothes brush. Most dry cleaners will be able to take care of any tailoring or the rest of your Highlandwear, but for the bridal gown, itâs a good idea to take it to a bridalwear specialist who can help clean and preserve your dress.
Whether itâs for sentimental value or the possibility of passing it down to your own daughter, preserving your wedding dress is the best way to ensure it retains its colour, fabric and shape for years to come. Itâs worth asking the seamstress or store you purchased your dress from for their recommendation â a professional preservationist will survey your gown in person, taking into consideration the materials, embellishments and any stains before coming up with a special approach for cleaning your dress. Theyâll also be able to advise you on storage, as youâll want your dress to be protected from extreme temperatures, moisture and exposure to sunlight.
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Say thank you!
A particularly time consuming task, writing thank you notes is something many couples will try and put off, particularly if you had a large wedding with many guests. However, your friends and family will have travelled from near and far to be with you on your special day, and most likely gave you a nice gift too, so itâs very important to make sure that you donât leave this too long. Schedule some time to tackle the task together with a bottle of wine, or put aside fifteen minutes each day to work your way through them and youâll be done before you know it!
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Go on honeymoon
Heading off on honeymoon soon after your wedding ceremony? Plan ahead to make sure that youâve got everything you need and that your first vacation as newlyweds is as stress-free as possible! If youâre waiting to jet off â perhaps you need time to save up again, given the expense of the wedding alone â then the weeks after the wedding are a good time to start researching places you would like to go together, giving you another adventure to look forward to.
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Make an album
Once you receive digital photos from your wedding photographer, youâll want to settle down to select your favourites and consider how to best preserve them â whether you want large prints or to create an album that tells a story of the day. With choosing images taking an average of six hours, be sure to schedule some time together to choose your favourites and order your album. Sometimes, an album will be part of your photography package â make sure to tick this off your to do list if so, and donât miss out on something youâve already paid for!
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Change your name
While itâs by no means necessary in this day and age, if you choose to change your name, then itâs important to take all of the legal steps quickly as the longer you wait, the more likely it is that youâll create more headaches for yourself. Make a list of any bodies that will need to know about the change to ensure you donât miss anyone out.
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Exchange any gifts
This is an awkward one, but even if you put together a gift list, itâs still possible that some presents may not be your thing or youâll receive duplicate items. If you are thinking of returning something, itâs a good idea to do so as soon as possible, before itâs too late. If youâve received items that are part of a set, itâs also worth considering buying further items while theyâre still in stockâŠ
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Sell your stuff
Tealight holders, confetti, flowers, bunting â there are a whole host of decorative items you may be left with following the celebrations! While you may have a use at home for them, if not, itâs also worth considering donating them to other couples planning a wedding or selling them online. Weâd also recommend buying a keepsake box to store any significant items safely for the years to come.
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Review your suppliers
Did you love your make-up? Think the food was fantastic? Stay on the dancefloor all night? Your vendors will have worked tirelessly to make your day special, so if you or your partner was particularly impressed with any of them, then make sure they know by leaving them a glowing review on Facebook or TripAdvisor. Not only is it a great way to express your gratitude, it will help them grow their business. Plus, your recommendation will help other couples achieve the day of their dreamsâŠ
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Enjoy married life!
When youâve been looking forward to your wedding day for weeks, months or years, itâs easy to feel a little blue once the big day is over. Planning something together will give you a new focus: whether itâs a renovation project in the home; hosting a dinner party for your friends where you can try out your new chinaware, or researching ideas for a one year anniversary vacation, there are a whole host of ways to make the most of your life together as a married couple. Be sure to enjoy every one of them!
If you'd like to find out more about getting married at The National Piping Centre, contact us on 0141 353 5551 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.