Sealing your future with an "I do" requires a lot of logistical planning. Will you move in with your spouse, or will they move into your home? Perhaps you will both pack up and move to a new home where you can build a beautiful life together on neutral ground. You then have to determine whether you're going to make this transition before or after the wedding and the honeymoon. This is important because it may determine how much time you have to prepare for moving day. Even if you plan to move after returning from your honeymoon, you should start planning and preparing before your wedding day. This prevents you from returning to a stressful situation after enjoying some of the most romantic and relaxing days of your life.
While
professional movers can handle the loading, transporting and unloading of all your belongings, this guide will help you prepare for other aspects of transitioning into a new home together. These suggestions can help turn your moving day into a celebration worth remembering.
Preparing for the Move in Four Steps
It takes time to blend two lives into one, especially when you're condensing two households and moving long distance all at once. As soon as you know that the move is going to happen, it's time to start the planning process. There are four steps that you should take to make moving as easy as possible.
1. Create a financial plan and budget.
While some surveys have revealed that most couples plan to discuss finances before getting married, other surveys have proven that only 50 percent or fewer actually follow through with those plans. Research also suggests that money is the primary cause of conflict for most couples during the first year of marriage.
If you don't want to get caught in marital turmoil over moving expenses, take the time to create a detailed moving plan that includes an itemized budget. Once you know the zip code for your new address and your moving date, you can use a
moving cost calculator to get a general estimate of what the move may cost, but only use that as a starting point.
Your next step is to get a quote for moving services. You can then create a realistic budget that includes boxes and other moving supplies as well as some unexpected moving costs that may surface after the move. Don't forget to figure in service-related expenses like having your current property cleaned or upgraded before passing it back to your landlord or onto the next owner.
2. Openly discuss what items you will take from each existing home. You can't take it all.
The process of blending two homes into one starts with some introspection from both parties. Spend some time alone going through your home and making two lists:
• Items that you must take with you
• Appliances and other household items that are in good enough condition to keep
When you compare lists, you will have the information needed to determine what you will take from each of your homes. For instance, you may decide to take your partner's refrigerator because it's practically new while donating their stove because yours is much nicer. Do this for all shared items of your household, including small appliances. Once you open your wedding gifts, your plan for some items may change.
If you come across items that cause disagreement or that you aren't sure that you want to keep, consider renting a storage unit. Visit the storage unit once a month after the move to discuss what you want to do with those items. If you can live comfortably without the items for six months or more, chances are good that you don't really need them. This gives you some time to work out differences or determine how you feel about some items, but make sure to include the cost of storage in your moving budget. In general, you can expect to pay up to $50 a month for a small storage unit while large spaces can cost over $200 per month. If you don't think the items are worth the storage fees, you may have to question whether they're worth keeping.
3. Work with your professional movers to create a detailed plan for moving day.
It's important to discuss all available moving services with a professional representative before you
finalize your moving plan and start packing. There are some unique services offered that can make your move easier and more affordable while even allowing you to give back to your community before you head out to your new home.
Here are just some of the services that you may want to use:
•
Habitat for Humanity Donation Program. Newlyweds often have to donate items still in good condition because they don't need them in their new home. You may also have decorative items or furniture that won't fit the style of your new home. This program makes it easy to donate these items to your local Habitat for Humanity Restore without hauling the items off on your own. Your donation also counts as a charitable donation for tax purposes.
• Moving storage facilities. If you do decide to place some items in a storage unit short term, you can include that service in your moving contract with some movers. This eliminates the hassle of moving your items into the storage unit on your own.
• Packing services. Experienced movers know all the tricks when it comes to packing delicate items so that they're less likely to break. When you opt into this service, your movers will also bring the bubble wrap and other packing supplies.
Even if you don't want the extra services, work with your moving team to create a timeline that works with your schedule. You will need to know when the moving truck will arrive to start loading your belongings and when you can expect delivery at your new home. You can then create an extended timeline that includes your meals, visiting your loved ones to say goodbye and making other moving-day stops unique to your situation.
4. Pack in true newlywed style.
It's not difficult to find simple
packing tips that will make getting your items into a box faster and easier, but you can still consider this the most time-consuming task within your moving plan. Even if you allow movers to pack your belongings, you will have to prepare those items so that they're well organized and ready to hit the boxes. If you're doing the boxing on your own, you will spend even more time preparing for the big move.
Instead of spending all of that time alone, why not invite your partner over for a packing session? He or she can help you pack up your belongings while sipping wine and enjoying chocolate-dipped strawberries, and then you will return the favor with a night of packing and their favorite takeout. You can turn one of the most stressful moving jobs into an opportunity for bonding and fun, and you're less likely to leave behind commonly forgotten belongings when you have two brains working together.
Moving Day Has Arrived
You've taken the time to create a comprehensive moving plan, and you've communicated with your moving service enough to know what to expect on moving day. Now that the big day has arrived, there's no time to deviate from your plan. You have to trust that you've covered this day from all angles and everything will proceed smoothly.
Rather than focusing on what may go wrong, recognize that this is a big transition that will impact the rest of your life. You're officially starting your life as a married couple, and this is a day that you will want to remember forever. Consider exchanging small gifts before the moving madness begins, or go out for a leisurely breakfast to talk about your new home and your plans for the future. This may be the most sentimental moving day you ever have, so enjoy it to the fullest.
Settling in After the Move
Whether you start unpacking boxes and arranging furniture right away or you leave the boxes and head out for your honeymoon, you will eventually face the obstacle course of boxes. Start by designating one room as your sanctuary and putting it together from the paint job to the furniture and the decorations. This is where you will spend time together while sorting through the boxes, painting and decorating the rest of your home.
You can unpack in true newlywed style as you did in the packing up phase, but make sure to leave time for a little fun. Take walking breaks to explore your new neighborhood and connect with colleagues and friends living in the area. When you're ready, you can start discussing ways to blend your decorative styles so that you both feel comfortable in your living space.
Finally, take some time to discuss daily routines. You will need to work out your schedules and determine how you will split household chores. This includes determining how you will handle yard work, pool maintenance and other jobs specific to your home. Keeping the lines of communication open and discussing potential problems in advance is one of the best tips for newlyweds that you will ever hear.