With your wedding day in the rearview mirror, it's time to officially begin married life with your new spouse. Some choose to wait until after marriage to move in together, which means that one or both of you will need to pack and arrange for  moving services. Relocating can be stressful, especially during a time of so much personal change. Below are a few tips for weathering this experience with ease and starting life as a married couple on the right foot.

A Newlywed's Guide to Moving

1. Make a Plan

Consider the size of the place where you're moving, and decide what items, like furniture, appliances, and electronics, will go with you and what can be sold or donated. Realistically, joining two households will require giving up some possessions; after all, you don't need two beds in a one-bedroom home.

Also, talk openly with your partner about a budget for the move that includes the costs of boxes, supplies, and moving services. Each room needs, on average, 10 small, six to eight medium, and five large boxes. Obtain moving quotes as well to factor into your estimates.

2. Declutter as You Pack

Use packing as an opportunity to streamline your newly merged household. Do one room at a time, starting in a corner and working clockwise around the room, packing as you go. Be mindful as you pack, taking into account the need for each item you pick up.

Possessions that are no longer wanted or regularly used can be thrown away or donated. Decluttering will result in fewer boxes to move and a fresh, simplified start to your new life as a married couple.

3. Unpack the Bedroom First

Once you arrive at the new home, pack one room first and set it up as a home base. Ideally, this should be the bedroom; you'll need a comfortable place to sleep and unwind after the move.

Make the bed, hang pictures on the wall, and load the dressers and closets with clothing. While settling into the bedroom, discuss decorating ideas and furniture layouts for the rest of the house.

A professional moving company will reduce much of the stress of a post-wedding relocation, so count on M. Dyer & Sons. They’ve served the Honolulu, Kaneohe, Kailua, Hawaii Kai, Kapolei, and Pearl Harbor, HI, areas for over 50 years. They offer inter-island, mainland, and international relocation services as well as climate-controlled storage facilities. Call (808) 456-4200 to request a free quote, or visit them online for a full list of services.