SO… I have some exciting news!  I recently took some time away to walk down the aisle with my long-time love!  I was completely shocked when he proposed (yes, even after 4 years of dating) but we quickly switched into high gear and planned our New Orleans destination wedding in just 3 short months (to the date, of course).  I am so delighted and proud to introduce to you my amazing new husband Nick!

After being super organized during the planning (thanks to my handy dandy homemade wedding book) and only slightly panicked on the big day (which I credit to my nerves…and typical wedding chaos), somehow it was after the wedding when I felt like an absolute mess!  How is that even possible?  Well, what they don’t talk about in all those fancy wedding magazines is the calm after the storm.  I’ve discovered that there is a perfectly good reason for that.

It’s because there isn’t one.

I am currently in the midst of what I am referring to as a wedding hangover.  (Vodka not included.)  I thought once the wedding was over, my to-do list would vanish.  But alas, the tasking didn’t stop there.  Here are some things I didn’t anticipate:

• Finding gifts a home.  Do not get me wrong- I love gifts as much as the next person.  But with a small kitchen and very little cabinet space, where on earth am I supposed to fit all those fabulous new serving dishes?  And dessert carriers??  And fancy cake plates???  I’ll be filing this one under #spoiledbrideproblems.
• Thank-you’s.  This is an important one that is expected (and more than deserved), but seeing as how I still haven’t ordered any thank-you cards, this one definitely earns a shout-out (and probably an apology).  And speaking of cards…
• How to save all those cards?  I cannot part with hand-written notes, and for the wedding we got quite a few really special ones that I definitely can’t toss.  Cards are the one thing I allow my inner pack-rat to hoard.  But what is the best way to preserve these special little gems without creating clutter?
• Photo overload.  I definitely wasn’t expecting an influx of people asking to see pictures from the ceremony.  Oh, the pressure!  Luckily our photographer is amazing and was able to compile an online gallery at lightning speed!  Now it’s on to the next task- creating our wedding album.
• Wedding decor aftermath.  I did love our fun Eiffel tower vase and ostrich feather centerpieces, but what do I do with them now that the wedding is over?  To resell or re-purpose? That is the question.
• Preserving the dress.  I haven’t gotten to this one yet, and in my case I also have a handmade jewel bouquet to think about!  These beauties definitely need some special TLC.
• The name change.  This one seems never-ending and deserves an entire blog post.  It’s not just about the driver’s license anymore folks.  Have you ever thought about many people/places have your email address!  This one may take a while.

I have a few creative solutions up my sleeve, but I’d love to hear from you!  Were there any post-wedding organizing projects you didn’t anticipate?  And what on earth did you do with those fancy engraved cake knives?

Seriously- how cute is this?!?

This metal belt holder has 4 separate heart-shaped hoops and is both fun and functional! It hangs directly on the closet rod so belts are visible and easy to access. The best part?  It’s as cost-effective as it is cute.  For about $6 you can snag one of these at Bed Bath & Beyond, making this an item just about anyone can enjoy!