You may not realise this, but there’s great fun to be had after the wedding – like sharing your stories and experiences with other brides! Here are just a few things to look forward to once your honeymoon suitcases are all unpacked and you’re basking in the fun of being a newlywed.
Decide what to do with the dress
Most brides will want to put away the wedding dress as a memento of the day. If you’re a bit of a romantic, you may like to save it for your daughter to wear one day, or change it into your first baby’s christening gown. Some brides will prefer to sell it, and there’s a multitude of places – eBay and dedicated websites like sellmyweddingdress.ie. You can also do a good deed and donate your dress to charity – they’re highly sought after and you’ll have the added satisfaction of doing something good. Whichever option you choose, a professional dry cleaning followed by appropriate storage is a must – we have some excellent suppliers you can rely on in our directory.
Image from Shane & Sinead’s real wedding by Emma Russell Photography
Sell the leftover bits and bobs
We know some budget-is-no-object brides who still love a good bargain, and a fantastic place to find a real steal is our forum’s buy and sell section. You can even post a ‘wanted’ ad there, if you’re looking for something specific. There’s everything from dresses to lanterns, so if you have some items to sell, all it takes is a post. It’s a fantastic way to recoup some of your costs and make other brides smile.
Share your wisdom with brides-to-be
Once you’re a newlywed, you will have ‘lived to tell the tale’, as they say. It’s one of the reasons we always ask our real wedding brides to share their advice – their experience is invaluable. Say what’s worked for you, what didn’t, what you wish you’d spent – or not spent – money on, and everything else worth sharing. Your advice will make a difference to someone out there, guaranteed. You may be surprised just how much you learn once it’s all over.
Image from Victoria & Victor’s real wedding in Barcelona by Monica Hadarean Photography
Leave reviews for suppliers
Most people only contact service providers with complaints – but positive comments are even more important. By letting the suppliers know what they did right and how pleased you are, you’re not only telling them what they’re good at, but letting other brides know this supplier is trustworthy and does impressive work. You can be as short or as eloquent as you like, it all counts. Many people worked to make your wedding special and one of a kind, and feedback is one of the best things you can give them. You can do it by email directly to the company, use their website’s dedicated section, or write a review on their WOL profile. Or, we have a dedicated page where you can fill out a simple form.
Share you wedding story
Our specially created wedding day reports forum receives lots of attention, and we love reading your stories. They’re great for inspiration, practical information, and plenty of awwww too. Pictures are very welcome, even if they’re not your professional ones. So once your special day is done, be sure to tell us all about it!
Honeymoon hints
If you’ve already been on your honeymoon, first-hand information about your experience is simply invaluable. This is always a fantastic topic for our brides, and it’s no surprise really – it’s such a big deal in every way. Whether you’re going to a tried-and-tested place many have visited before, or somewhere completely unknown, the details you share with us will help others make the right decision, or maybe even give them new ideas to do something completely different.
Image from Maria & Sean’s real wedding by Tomasz Kornas Photography
Send thank-you cards
We probably don’t have to say this, but it’s best to make sure all the essentials are covered. Don’t wait too long to send these cards! If you haven’t kept a list of all the gifts people have given, simply say how happy you were to have them present on your special day. You can design your own cards, incorporate your fave wedding photo, or simply order them alongside all your other stationery.
Don’t forget the legal stuff
You’re probably already looking forward to telling all the banks and utility companies about your new name as soon as possible, but there are a few more legal things to take care of – like deciding how to file taxes and insuring valuable wedding gifts you may have received. Here’s our handy list of legal things you should do after you return from honeymoon.
Main image from Valerie & Paul’s real wedding by Patricia Fitzpatrick, Insight Photography
