Teddy Afro surprises the newlyweds on their wedding day. Teddy Afro and Amleset Muchie’s appearance at the wedding.
Wondering what to expect after the honeymoon? After months and months (years?) of wedding planning, meticulously checking boxes, and working towards one major culminating moment—it’s over. The big day has come and gone in one blindingly beautiful whirl of love and emotion and floral arrangements.
You’ve recited your vows, partied the night away with loved ones, and melted away the stress of it all on your honeymoon with your newly-minted spouse. So what happens now? How do you come down from all that and transition back to normal life, as a newlywed? As you settle into your new married life, some things are bound to surprise you. From next-level to unexpected wedding planning withdrawal, here are the highs and lows you can expect in the first weeks of marriage and beyond.
“The fantasy of the wedding is gone,” describes Van Kirk. And while some couples stay on their best dating behavior, others “will finally feel like they can let it all hang out,” she says. No matter how long you’ve been together or whether you lived together before you tied the knot, it seems that having that piece of paper comes loaded with expectations. And you may find your partner doesn’t meet each one, she warns.
After you’ve been the center of attention for so many months, it can feel anticlimactic to unpack your bags and return to the humdrum of everyday life. (With a mountain of thank-you notes to crank out, to boot.) Some newlyweds go through wedding withdrawal. Post-wedding life can seem flat, dull, and even a bit empty. After months of filling every spare second stressing about the wedding, some couples find themselves staring at each other, “Okay, now what do we do?” This lack of tasks may initially feel like a void in your life.
