The first two weeks
Thank-you notes
Handwritten, specific and warm: name the gift or the gesture, say how you’ll use it or what it meant, and mention their presence at the wedding. Split the list, set a nightly goal of five, and keep track so no one is missed. The thank-you note writer drafts wording for cash, registry gifts and guests who couldn’t come, and tracks who you’ve thanked. More in wedding thank-you notes.
Changing your name (US)
The order matters, because each step needs proof from the one before:
- Certified copies of your marriage certificate from the county
- Social Security — request a replacement card with your new name. It is free; you may be able to start online, and the card arrives in 5–10 business days (per ssa.gov)
- Driver’s license or state ID at your DMV
- Passport — use Form DS-5504 if your passport was issued less than a year ago (no fee for the name change), otherwise renew with Form DS-82 if eligible
- Everything else: banks, credit cards, employer and payroll, insurance, doctors, voter registration, utilities, subscriptions
The interactive name change checklist tracks every step, and name change after marriage explains each in detail. Keeping your name, hyphenating, or both partners changing are all equally valid.
Money and admin
- Health insurance: marriage is a qualifying life event (60 days on HealthCare.gov; usually 30 days for employer plans).
- Taxes: the IRS treats you as married for the whole year if you’re married on December 31. Make sure your name matches Social Security records before you file, and review your W-4 withholding.
- Beneficiaries: update life insurance, retirement accounts and your will.
The dress, the photos, the leftovers
Have the dress professionally cleaned and stored away from light, or sell, donate or re-style it. Choose album photos while you still remember the day clearly. And send leftover favors, flowers or food to people who will enjoy them.
The first three months at a glance
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Returns, license, final payments, photo backups, dress to the cleaner |
| Weeks 2–4 | Thank-you notes begin, reviews, name change starts, insurance updates |
| Months 2–3 | Notes finished, album chosen, keepsakes stored, first money date |
The post-wedding blues
After months of focus, a quiet week can feel flat. It is common, and it passes. Look at photos together, plan a dinner or trip, and keep a little of the wedding weekly check-in habit for your marriage. See the post-wedding blues.
