You just had the wedding of your dreams and it was magical. The sun was shining, you looked amazing and everyone had a fantastic time. You couldn’t have hoped for a more wonderful event and you married the love of your life! Why, then, are you feeling a little blue? It’s actually normal to be a bit down in the dumps after your big day – here’s why, and how you can deal with the post-wedding blues!
After months, even years, of planning, appointments, and parties, many newlyweds feel deflated once it’s all over. A wedding is physically and mentally all-consuming, and after such a big build-up, there’s bound to be a vacuum in your life. Every evening and weekend was probably filled with meticulous planning, so now everything is done and dusted, with no vendors to ring, no Pinterest boards to pin, perhaps you’re a bit bored. You may be exhausted after all the stress, or you feel lonely without the regular phone-calls and catch-ups with close friends and family. Or you just don’t like the humdrum of a regular routine, and the decisions and to-dos you put off until ‘after the wedding,’ which may include paying for the whole thing! Finally, admit it, maybe you miss being the center of attention as the bride- or groom-to-be? These are some of the reasons why the crash back into reality after a wedding can be jarring, but with a little perspective and planning, you can move on.
Limit the Wedding Chat
If you’re recently engaged, make sure that wedding planning doesn’t completely take over your life as a couple – that way, it will be easier to adjust after the event. For example, talking about wedding plans is fun, exciting, and necessary. But, by banning wedding chat for a few nights a week, and by spending time talking about and doing non-wedding things together, you’ll maintain some normalcy in your relationship. Better yet, discuss your expectations of married life and all the things you will look forward to aside from the actual wedding. Overall, remember that your wedding is the beginning of a new chapter and not your ultimate goal!
Postpone Your Honeymoon
Many couples decide to delay their honeymoon for a few weeks or even months after their wedding day. This is often for practical reasons — to spread out financial costs or to wait for better weather in their chosen destination — but it can prevent the blues, too. By postponing your honeymoon, you can get used to life after your wedding, but still have something exciting to plan and look forward to. In a sense, it creates a bridge between the whirlwind of wedding preparation and everyday life. If you don’t jet off the next day, you also get extra time with friends and family around you, which helps if you’ll miss this aspect of wedding planning.
Enjoy Those Last Little Details
Good news! If you’re reluctant to let go of that wedding checklist, there are probably a few final items to tick off. First, you have all the wedding photos to look through and pick the ones you want to print or put in your wedding album. Then, instead of seeing thank you cards as a chore, why not take your time creating and writing them. Including personal details – like a funny moment from the day – gives you a chance to reminisce and literally sign off on the event. For one last hurrah, you could even create ‘married and merry’ holiday cards, to mark your first Christmas together as a married couple.
Plan Fun Things
Just think of all the free time you have now you don’t have to chase vendors or rearrange seating charts! It’s your chance to have some quality time with your new spouse, or just for yourself. Perhaps there’s a tv show you want to catch up on, a gym class you want to try, or a room in your house that needs a refresh. If you’re not married yet, why not even start a list of things now, so you’ll have something to refer to after the wedding. That said, it’s not always a good idea to rush into another huge project. Instead focus on small things, like date nights or day trips, so you can just relax and enjoy married life.
Realize That Married Life Isn’t Perfect
Just because you’re married, it doesn’t mean your life, or relationship is going to be perfect, so try to be realistic in your outlook. Unlike a carefully planned wedding day, married life is not a fairytale (despite what you might see on your Instagram feed!) and takes effort and understanding. Your husband or wife will still have the same little irritating habits they had before you said ‘I do,’ and you’re still going to argue every now and then. Nor should you be joined at the hip – you’re still individuals and need your own friends, hobbies, and space. But sharing your lives and supporting each other, through the ups and downs, is a wonderful thing.
Having a touch of the post-wedding blues is a normal and understandable process many people go through. Realizing that fact is one of the best things you can do to feel better! Yes, it was beautiful, and perhaps the best day of your life, but it’s only the start of your lives together with so much more to look forward to!
Matilda is Marketing Manager in the International Team, bringing Zazzle to customers everywhere from Sydney to Stockholm.
