WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER

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Wedding planning can be all-consuming, so how do you fill that void after the big day has passed?

words Elizabeth Chester

It’s called a ‘big day’ for a reason, and part of that is the build-up… weeks, month or even years of wedding planning. But once the party is over, the planning – and the excitement and anticipation that comes with it – will come to an end too. You may have found the process wonderful: flicking through glossy magazines, pinning inspiration from across the globe and booking appointments in boutiques where you’re welcomed like a queen. But once the final piece of confetti has fluttered to the ground and the last air kiss has been blown into the future, this all stops.

“Many of our brides say they miss the planning once the wedding day has passed,” says Jenny Granlund of Jenny Wren Weddings & Events (jennywrenweddingsandevents.co.uk). “This is understandable as it’s been a creative outlet for months. But there are lots of things to look forward to, to keep the wedding buzz alive,” she advises.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Firstly, recognise the slump and know that other people may feel it too. The good news is that, for the newly-weds, wedding planning quickly becomes replaced with married bliss! Don’t underestimate the excitement of using the phrase ‘my husband’ or ‘my wife’ for the first few times, or happily dropping ‘on-our-wedding-day’ moments into conversation. There’s also the honeymoon and the wedding album to keep you occupied.

Thank you notes are another way to reconnect with the day and enjoy DIY wedding tasks to help ease you out of the planning lull. “Ensure you make a note of which gift was from which guest so you can include a personal message in each card,” says Jenny.

Remember, you might not be the only one who misses planning. Parents, in-laws, siblings and friends have likely been involved too, so you could gather a little group of those who had key jobs on the day and ask them to help you create a wedding keepsake book. “You may already have a guest book with all your loved ones’ messages in,” says Jenny. “You can add other elements from the day into it such as a menu card, confetti or a dried flower from your bouquet.” Perhaps ask everyone to bring something with them for the book or to add a special memory from the day.

PICTURE THIS

Your photographs are a great way to immerse yourself in wedding memories and ward off any empty feelings. “Your photographer will be busy with the post-production of your photographs,” says Jenny. “When these land in your inbox, put an evening aside for just the two of you; buy a bottle of your favourite wine and some snacks. Put the photos on a slideshow and enjoy reliving the day together. The photographs will probably be ordered as the day unfolded – the first part is always fun if you were apart on the morning of the wedding as you will see what the other one was up to!”

Look into sending some photographs to your favourite wedding magazine or blog, and if your shots fit into their real wedding sections, you may soon see yourselves published online or in print. Then you’ll be able to relive the day all over again!

Talking of photographs, you have probably been posting wedding images on social media. Throwbacks are a great way of keeping memories alive. But if posting images of the big day is making you miss the planning even more, perhaps try to mix your posts of wedding throwbacks with more recent offerings like a new activity you’ve taken up or simply images of you both enjoying married life.

LOOK ELSEWHERE

If you’re craving the organising and missing the feelgood factor of planning a wedding, try throwing yourself into something equally as time-consuming and even more worthwhile such as a charity cause. Organise a charity bike ride or sponsored walk with friends and family. You can even add decorations for the finish line or costumes… Hey, you can even throw a big party afterwards and, as we all know, that takes some planning!

If any of your friends and family are tying the knot, try to carefully navigate the landscape and see if you can be of help with their planning. “Advice from other brides is invaluable to those planning their wedding and you will have learnt so much from your own experience,” says Jenny. “There are also lots of forums and wedding planning groups online you could join.”

You can also make it easier to share your wedding inspiration. “If you wanted to share your wedding ideas and styling with the world, make your Pinterest board public for others to see. You could also add some of your own wedding photos in there to help inspire other brides,” advises Jenny.

BE INSPIRED

If you jet straight off on honeymoon, you won’t even think about wedding planning while you’re exploring your chosen landscape, although you might find the slump back to earth from the dizzy heights of a back-to-back wedding and honeymoon even harder when you return. If so, try to bring something back from honeymoon, whether it’s a love of cooking, an interest in a new species of wildlife or simply a love of walking. You can then try to gently swap silk, lace and tulle for a new obsession!

And finally, enjoy this time together. “The first few months as a newly-married couple are so special,” says Jenny. Make the most of this precious time by adding elements of fun and joy into everyday life, whether it’s taking a day trip, enjoying a special dinner at home or singing along to a new playlist together while you do your household chores; this will help set the scene for staying connected throughout your marriage. “Try not to get hung up on what you’re missing and enjoy this time in your newly-wed bubble,” concludes Jenny.

“Try not to get hung up on what you’re missing and enjoy this time in your newly-wed bubble”

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