The vows have been said, everybody has tears in their eyes and all the guests are full from the wonderful fare at the wedding reception. You and your new spouse gaze at each other's eyes and sigh in relief since everything has gone according to plan. Nothing messed up. In fact, everything went beautifully. This means that you can now stop fussing and start relaxing, right? Wrong!

Admittedly, you deserve a rest. For all the efforts that you have poured into your wedding preparations, you have rightfully earned your honeymoon. However, there are tasks that still need to be done after the wedding ceremony and reception are over.

Rentals

You have to take care of your rentals, particularly your rented clothes and wedding paraphernalia. First, you have to make sure that all rented clothes and any other material are accounted for and that every piece is in good condition. You also have to make arrangements for these rented materials' return. You may assign these responsibilities to one of your wedding entourage members - the best man, for instance.

Wedding Gifts

Some guests will send their gifts well in advance; some guests will persist in bringing them over on the day of the wedding itself. Therefore, you're bound to have a lot of gifts lying around after your reception, which you cannot very well take with you on your honeymoon.

You should ask a trusted friend or a member of your wedding entourage to collect these gifts and bring them to your house. Ask the best man or one of the groomsmen to do this task.

Leftover Food

You also have to think about the food left after the reception. Having caterers take care of food preparations for the wedding has its advantages because you will not need to worry about any food left. You can simply ask your caterer to set the leftover food aside or to have it delivered to your house. You may also have to make arrangements for your wedding crystals and other utensils if they did not come with the caterer's service.

Guests' Accommodations

It is also of utmost concern that guests coming from faraway places have accommodations for the night or for the length of their stay. Relatives and friends who took the time to go to your wedding should be taken good care of. You don't have to pay for their accommodations if you don't have the budget. However, you have to personally make the rounds to make sure that your guests have satisfactory and comfortable accommodations.

Thank You Notes

After the wedding, you should also make sure that you have made arrangements for your wedding thank you notes. The maid of honor is usually tasked with this responsibility; however, you should not assume that she knows that she's supposed to do this. Even during the planning stages, make sure that your maid of honor is well briefed about what's expected of her.

Gifts to Your Entourage

You are not the only one entitled to gifts on your wedding day. Actually, the members of your wedding entourage also deserve a token of your appreciation for their invaluable help in your wedding preparations.

If possible, have your gifts ready before the wedding so you can distribute them during your wedding reception. However, you can also wait until after the honeymoon to give them gifts. Just make sure that the gifts you give are well worth the wait.