# Your After Wedding Checklist > Your after wedding checklist: send thank-you notes, settle final charges, follow up on photos and video, update your name if you choose and archive files. Source: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding Publisher: ReadyToWeddy (https://readytoweddy.com) · Last updated: 2026-09-17 After the wedding, a short list of tasks wraps everything up. Thank-you notes, final payments and deliverables come first. The rest can happen at whatever pace suits you. ## What should you do in the first month after your wedding? After your wedding, [send thank-you notes](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-thank-you-notes), settle final charges and check that any damage deposits are returned. Follow up on photos, video and other deliverables, and leave reviews for vendors you’d recommend. If you’re changing your name, update your documents in the order your local authorities require. Then organize gifts, share photos with guests and archive your contracts and planning files. ## Checklist (12 tasks) ### Send thank-you notes - When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After) - Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up - Priority: Recommended - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-thank-you-notes Send wedding thank-you notes within a few weeks of the wedding if you can, aiming to finish within about three months, naming each gift or kindness and adding a personal line for every guest. **Why it matters:** A thank-you note tells guests their presence, travel and generosity mattered to you. Notes that arrive while the wedding is still fresh feel natural and are easier to write, because you still remember the details. Working through them steadily also avoids the heavy feeling of a long list hanging over you for months. **Steps:** - [ ] Finish your gift list with names, gifts and addresses. - [ ] Add travelers, helpers and standout vendors. - [ ] Choose cards or another format you’re happy with. - [ ] Split the list and write a few notes each day. - [ ] Name each gift or kindness and what it means to you. - [ ] Add one personal line about the guest and the day. - [ ] Tick each person off as you send their note. **Helpful questions:** - “Shall we split the list by who knows each guest best?” - “Do we want to include a favorite photo from the day?” **Tips:** - Often forgotten: Thanking the people who helped rather than gave gifts, like the friend who ran the timeline or collected the rentals. - Write for gifts received before the wedding as they arrive, so the list is shorter afterward. - Keep the gift list, cards and stamps together in one box. **Best done after:** Collect and secure gifts and cards ### Leave reviews for your vendors - When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After) - Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#review-vendors In the weeks after the wedding, leave honest reviews for the vendors who helped, mentioning specific details that will be useful to future couples. **Why it matters:** Most couples chose their vendors partly because of other people’s reviews, and many vendors are small businesses that rely on word of mouth. A specific, honest review helps future couples decide, and it’s a meaningful thank-you for the people who made your day work. If something went wrong, calm and factual feedback is more useful than a rushed rating. **Steps:** - [ ] List the vendors you’d like to review. - [ ] Note one or two specific things each did well. - [ ] Post reviews on the platforms they use most. - [ ] Share concerns privately first, where appropriate. - [ ] Offer a photo if the vendor would like one. **Tips:** - Mention details future couples look for, like communication, punctuality and flexibility. - Credit the photographer if you share their images alongside your review. **Optional:** If reviewing feels like one task too many, a short thank-you message to your favorite vendors is plenty. ### Follow up on photos, video and other deliverables - When: Up to 6 months after (First Month After) - Category: Photography & Video - Priority: Recommended - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#follow-up-deliverables After the wedding, track the delivery dates in your contracts for photos, video, albums and other items, and follow up kindly if anything is running late. **Why it matters:** Professional photos and video can take weeks or months to arrive, depending on the vendor and season. Contracts usually state a delivery window, but it’s easy to lose track once the wedding is over. Noting each date and checking in politely if one passes means nothing is forgotten, and you can download and back up files before any gallery links expire. **Steps:** - [ ] List promised dates for galleries, videos and albums. - [ ] Add reminders to your calendar for each date. - [ ] Note how long each online gallery stays available. - [ ] Download galleries and all video files on arrival. - [ ] Read any usage or sharing guidance from the vendor. - [ ] Follow up politely if a date passes without an update. **Helpful questions:** - “When can we expect the full gallery?” - “How long will the online gallery stay available?” - “Are we allowed to share and print these images?” **Tips:** - Often forgotten: Checking how long online galleries remain available before they are taken down. ### Clean or preserve your outfits - When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After) - Category: Attire - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#clean-preserve-outfits In the weeks after the wedding, take your wedding outfits to a specialist cleaner, then decide whether to preserve, alter, sell, donate or simply store them. **Why it matters:** Stains that seem minor can set and discolor fabric over time, especially sugary drinks and makeup. Specialist cleaning helps outfits last, whether you plan to keep them for sentimental reasons, wear them again or pass them on. Deciding sooner also means the outfit isn’t sitting in a bag in the corner for months. **Steps:** - [ ] Decide what you’d like to do with each outfit. - [ ] Find a cleaner experienced with wedding or formal wear. - [ ] Point out stains and fabrics when you drop them off. - [ ] Ask about preservation boxes or storage options. - [ ] Store accessories with the outfit or in a labeled box. **Helpful questions:** - “Have you worked with this fabric before?” - “What do you recommend for long-term storage?” **Optional:** If you’d rather just hang them up and decide later, that’s completely fine. ### Update your name, if you’re changing it - When: Up to 12 months after (First Month After) - Category: Legal & Documents - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/update-name If either of you is changing your name, start once you have your official marriage certificate, updating core identity documents first and then accounts, following the official authority’s guidance. **Why it matters:** Changing a name usually involves several organizations, and many of them ask to see an updated document from another. Working in a sensible order avoids repeated trips and rejected applications. Requirements differ by country and region, so checking with the official authority where you live keeps the process smooth, especially if you have travel booked in your old name. **Steps:** - [ ] Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. - [ ] Check the official process where you live. - [ ] Update core government records first, if required. - [ ] Update ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. - [ ] Update banks, payroll, insurance and healthcare. - [ ] Update voter records, utilities and online accounts. - [ ] Keep a list of what’s done and what’s pending. **Tips:** - Often forgotten: Upcoming travel bookings must usually match the name on the passport you’ll use. - Book travel in the name that matches the passport you’ll travel with. - Keep one certified copy of your certificate at home at all times. **Optional:** Not everyone changes their name, and there’s no right choice; keep, combine, hyphenate or change, whatever feels right to the two of you. **Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry. **Best done after:** Confirm who has the marriage documents; Order certified copies of your marriage certificate ### Order certified copies of your marriage certificate - When: Up to 2 months after (First Month After) - Category: Legal & Documents - Priority: Recommended - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#order-certificate-copies Once your marriage is registered, order several certified copies of your marriage certificate from the official authority, and check every detail for errors as soon as they arrive. **Why it matters:** Many organizations ask to see a certified copy of your marriage certificate, including passport offices, banks and insurers, and some keep the copy or take weeks to return it. Having several on hand lets you update records in parallel. How and when a marriage is registered after the ceremony varies by location, so checking with the official authority shows when copies become available and how to request them. **Steps:** - [ ] Confirm your marriage has been officially registered. - [ ] Find out how to order certified copies and the cost. - [ ] Decide how many copies you’ll need. - [ ] Order them and note the expected delivery time. - [ ] Check names, dates, places and the seal on each copy. - [ ] Request a correction right away if anything is wrong. - [ ] Store the copies somewhere safe. **Helpful questions:** - “When will our marriage be registered and available to order?” - “Is there a time limit for correcting errors?” - “Do we need an apostille or translation for use abroad?” **Tips:** - Often forgotten: Couples who married abroad often need an apostille or official translation before the certificate is accepted at home. - Count the places you’ll send a copy at the same time, such as a passport application and a bank, and order at least that many. - A decorative certificate from your ceremony is usually not the official document; check which one organizations need. **Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry. **Best done after:** Confirm who has the marriage documents ### Update finances, insurance and beneficiaries - When: Up to 4 months after (First Month After) - Category: Legal & Documents - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#update-finances-insurance In the months after the wedding, review your accounts, insurance, beneficiaries and emergency contacts together, and ask a qualified professional about anything that affects your taxes or legal situation. **Why it matters:** Marriage can change what makes sense for your insurance, savings and paperwork, and some policies only allow changes within a set period after a life event. Beneficiaries and emergency contacts listed years ago may no longer reflect your wishes. Rules and options vary by location and provider, so a calm review together, with professional advice where needed, helps you make informed choices rather than leaving old settings in place. **Steps:** - [ ] List your accounts, policies and workplace benefits. - [ ] Discuss joint, separate or mixed accounts. - [ ] Ask about health coverage options and change deadlines. - [ ] Review home or renters and car insurance. - [ ] Review beneficiaries on policies and retirement plans. - [ ] Update emergency contacts at work and with doctors. - [ ] Ask a qualified professional about tax or legal issues. **Helpful questions:** - “Is there a deadline to change our coverage after marriage?” - “Are our beneficiary designations still what we want?” - “Who could answer our questions about taxes or wills?” **Tips:** - Often forgotten: Beneficiary designations on existing policies and retirement accounts are easy to overlook, and they often aren’t changed automatically by marriage. - Update financial records after any name change, so names match across accounts. - Keep a simple shared list of accounts and policies so either of you can find them. **Optional:** Not everyone merges finances; keeping things separate, combining some or combining all are all valid choices. **Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry. ### Settle final charges and deposits - When: Up to 2 months after (First Month After) - Category: Payments & Contracts - Priority: Essential - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#settle-final-charges In the weeks after the wedding, pay any approved final charges, check invoices against your contracts and make sure damage or security deposits are returned. **Why it matters:** Some costs only become final after the wedding, such as extra bar charges, overtime or damage fees. Deposits can also take time to come back, and they’re easy to forget once the celebrations are over. Reviewing every invoice carefully, and following up on refunds, keeps your budget accurate and protects you from paying for something you didn’t agree to. **Steps:** - [ ] List open invoices and every deposit you’re owed. - [ ] Compare each invoice, venue bill too, to its contract. - [ ] Ask about any surprise charges before paying. - [ ] Pay approved balances on time and keep receipts. - [ ] Chase deposit refunds that haven’t arrived. - [ ] Update your budget with the final totals. **Helpful questions:** - “Could you break down this additional charge for us?” - “When should we expect our deposit to be returned?” **Tips:** - Often forgotten: Security deposits that are only refunded if you ask for them. - Once everything is settled, save contracts, receipts and paperwork copies in one backed-up folder; they help if a deliverable is late or a refund is disputed. **Best done after:** Return rentals and borrowed items ### Organize gifts and close your registry - When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After) - Category: Registry - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#organize-gifts In the weeks after the wedding, organize your gifts, handle any returns or exchanges, use remaining registry perks and close or update your registry. **Why it matters:** Gifts often arrive over several weeks, and duplicates or damaged items need attention before return windows close. Some registries offer completion discounts or credits for a limited time. Sorting gifts properly also finalizes your list for thank-you notes, so no guest is missed. **Steps:** - [ ] Unpack and check every gift for damage. - [ ] Match each gift to its giver on your list. - [ ] Return or exchange duplicates before the window closes. - [ ] Check for any registry completion offers. - [ ] Close or hide your registry once you’re done. **Tips:** - Check return policies early; some windows are shorter than you’d expect. **Optional:** If you didn’t have a registry, or gifts are few, a simple list for your thank-you notes is all you need. **Best done after:** Collect and secure gifts and cards ### Share photos with your guests - When: Up to 4 months after (First Month After) - Category: Photo Sharing - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#share-photos-with-guests Once you’ve collected guest and professional photos, share a selection with your guests through a gallery link, album or message, respecting your photographer’s usage terms. **Why it matters:** Guests enjoy seeing the day from other perspectives, and sharing photos keeps the celebration going a little longer. It’s also a warm follow-up for people who traveled or helped. Choosing a selection, rather than every file, keeps it manageable and lets you leave out anything you’d rather keep private. **Steps:** - [ ] Choose a selection of guest and professional photos. - [ ] Check your photographer’s terms for sharing. - [ ] Create a shared album or gallery link. - [ ] Send the link with a short thank-you message. - [ ] Send family photos directly to the relatives in them. **Tips:** - Include a favorite photo with your thank-you notes or messages. **Optional:** If you’d rather keep your photos private, that’s entirely your call. **Best done after:** Download guest photos and videos ### Choose photos for prints or an album - When: Up to 12 months after (First Month After) - Category: Photography & Video - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#choose-album-prints Once your full gallery arrives, shortlist favorite photos for prints, frames or an album, and check any album selection deadline in your photographer’s contract. **Why it matters:** Digital galleries are easy to forget about, while printed photos get looked at and shared across generations. If an album is included in your package, there may be a deadline for choosing images. Making selections while the day is still fresh is easier and more enjoyable than sorting through hundreds of files years later. **Steps:** - [ ] Download and back up the full gallery first. - [ ] Each choose a shortlist of favorites. - [ ] Combine and narrow the list together. - [ ] Check album deadlines and page limits. - [ ] Order prints for family members who’d love them. **Tips:** - Include a few guest photos for a fuller story of the day. - Mark favorites as you browse, then return to decide later. **Optional:** If prints and albums aren’t for you, a well-organized digital folder is a perfectly good keepsake. **Best done after:** Follow up on photos, video and other deliverables ### Update or close your wedding website - When: Up to 4 months after (First Month After) - Category: Wedding Website - Priority: Optional - Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#update-wedding-website After the wedding, update your wedding website with a thank-you message and photos, or close it once you no longer need it. **Why it matters:** Guests may still visit the site after the wedding, looking for photos or registry details. A short thank-you and a few pictures give it a warm ending. If you’d rather not keep it, closing or hiding it protects your privacy, especially if it lists addresses, travel details or guest information. **Steps:** - [ ] Add a short thank-you message to guests. - [ ] Share a few favorite photos or a gallery link. - [ ] Remove travel, address and schedule details. - [ ] Update or remove registry information. - [ ] Decide when to close or hide the site. **Optional:** If you’d rather just switch it off, that’s a perfectly good ending. **Best done after:** Create your wedding website ## FAQ ### How soon should you send wedding thank-you notes? Sooner is kinder. Many couples aim to send them within a few weeks of the wedding and finish within about three months, though expectations vary. Writing a few each day makes it manageable. A short, personal note that mentions the gift or their presence is plenty. ### How do you change your name after marriage? The process varies by country and state. Usually you need your official marriage certificate first, then [update key identity documents](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/update-name) before banks and other accounts. Check the order and requirements with the relevant official authorities. ### When will we get our wedding photos? Delivery times vary by photographer and should be stated in [your photography contract](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/book-photographer). If the agreed date passes, a polite check-in is reasonable. Ask whether you’ll receive a preview set sooner. ### What should we do with our wedding website after the wedding? You can add a thank-you message and a link to photos, then close it later. Check whether your provider charges for hosting or a domain, and cancel anything you no longer need.