Weddings in the time of Covid-19
1. Should you postpone your wedding if you planned to get married in 2021?
Spring through Fall is a beautiful time for outdoor weddings. Beautiful weather is the reason that October is the busiest month in the wedding season. It is the perfect time to plan for that backyard, garden, farm, vineyard or beach wedding. Venues with indoor/outdoor space are a perfect solution to allow for healthy distancing. Keep your guest list intimate in case inclement weather forces you indoors.
2. How do you go about rescheduling a wedding due to COVID-19?
Being a Bride is stressful at the best of times. Making the decision to postpone is difficult . Take some time to breathe and reassess, then get to work replanning. Most 2020 brides have postponed to fall, or to spring 2021. Fall is already the busiest part of wedding season so it may be harder to find a venue to reschedule to. If your venue is booked consider having your wedding on a Friday evening or Sunday lunch. IF your dream wedding is 300 guests in a ballroom you may want to reschedule to a year out or more out. For more intimate celebrations most states are allowing groups of 25 - 50 or more so you may choose to rethink your plans rather than reschedule.
Your venue and vendors availability may determine your rescheduled date. Most venues are willing to hold your deposit and reschedule but your other vendors may not all be available to move to the same date, so prioritize. Think about the things that you desire most at your wedding. If dancing to your favorite funk band or having the most artful photos or delicious catering is key then reschedule to a date that vendor is available.
3. If you're postponing your wedding, what should you take care of now?
If you have already booked your venue or vendors reread all of your contracts for cancellation policies. If you have sent "Save the Dates” or invitations deputize a bridal party member to contact your guests about the change of plans. Then contact all of your vendors to see what their rescheduling plans are. Most vendors are very sympathetic and are bending their rules to help couples get their weddings back on track.
4. How should you tell your guests that the wedding is postponed? What should you do if you've already mailed your invitations but need to cut the guest list?
Remember that everyone you invited to your wedding is someone who loves you and understands your situation. They’ll be expecting the news and more concerned about you having the wedding that you deserve. Delegate. Phone calls, especially to older guests, can be handled by friends and family. The message may just be to "stay tuned for an update" when you have a plan.
Wedding websites are another great way to keep guests in the loop. Create a poll or email blast through your wedding website to let guests know what plans you have as of now. See who is still planning to attend if you can reschedule. Guests uncomfortable with travel or large groups may prefer to join virtually via streaming so the issue may solve itself.
5. For those who wish to postpone the party but want to elope now, how do private ceremonies work?
Micro-weddings were already a trend before covid. Many brides have a city hall wedding - now available virtually in some cities -but there are many more romantic options for a private wedding. You can choose a location that is meaningful to you both without worries of a permit or guest parking. Hike deep into the woods. Stand under the stars on the roof of your building.
You’ll still need a small entourage. Invite a cherished guest to act as officiant and two more to record or stream your wedding. Wear your dream dress, splurge on a lush bouquet and expensive champagne, hire a string quartet to serenade just the 2 of you with the money you saved on renting a venue.
Plan a party with family and friends to celebrate your first anniversary. Reenact your ceremony, dance with your mom and dad, cut the cake! The pressure will be off and. You’ll have twice as much fun at your party.
6. How do you plan for a wedding while many places are still closed due to COVID-19?
Most wedding professionals are still checking messages and email. Even if closed will be more than happy to hear from you. They are right with you on the difficulty of navigating this new world and are there to help. You can Zoom with planners to see if you “vibe”, take a virtual tour of prospective venues, read caterers menus and check out their presentations. Its so low key to look at florists, decorators, lighting designers, photographers, ice sculptures-ers portfolios online. Have a champagne tasting. listen to DJ's mixes, and enjoy the photos of beautiful weddings and happy couples. Most bakeries are open and will happily package cake samples.
There are also now dozens of options for buying wedding dresses without going to a bridal shop. You can now order anything from a LWD for your courthouse wedding to a custom designer online. Many of the dresses can be tried on and returned. Search “ wedding dress” or “Bridesmaid dress” on department and specialty store websites and you will find lots of choices. There are also website selling pre-loved and sample dresses. You can also find vintage or pre-loved gowns on eBay or craigslist where you can shop local and try before buying. Its a great idea to find your alterations specialist at the beginning of your shopping journey. She can measure you and advise you on what size to purchase, what will work for your figure and budget. even give you a guesstimate on alterationss or restyling prices. This is also a great time to support American made ‘clothing. There are hundreds of lines of wedding gowns, suits and accessories designed and made in the US. Seek out these designers and support their small business.
6. What can you do to get ahead of your wedding plans during these uncertain times?
The best thing you can do is to take care of yourself and yoru fiancé Everyone involved with your wedding is going to have a different idea about what you should do and they will be happy to share. Try to tune them out and focus on what is important to you and your partner. Making a few decisions may lower your stress level but its going to be a bumpy ride so try not to overthink and keep your sense of humor. Wine and Xanax ( but not together) also helps.
7. What should you look out for in your wedding contracts?
Unexpected things can happen around weddings at any time. Weddings can be rescheduled due to family issues, weather events, whatever. There is never a guarantee that your beach wedding won’t have storms, or your fiancé’s family’s flights won’t be grounded. Those things are upsetting to wedding plans but nothing compared to our current state. Most couples realize that what is going on right now is bigger than each of us and more important than a wedding. They care about each other, their families and friends more than a party.
Read your contracts carefully for cancellation/postponement clauses. Vendors often require nonrefundable cash deposits so check for wording about any options offered in case of cancellation or postponement besides losing your deposit. Many couples this year found that they would forfeit their deposit if they moved to a 2021 wedding date. Buying wedding insurance is always a good idea.
8. What should you do if you planned a destination wedding?
Many couples plan a destination wedding because their families are in different cities and have to travel to be together . In that case you may want to plan 2 smaller events in each of your home towns. Others choose distant romantic locations for their dream wedding and hope their guests will be able to join them. In that case you may want to plan an elopement then plan to celebrate with loved ones at a later date
9. If you just got engaged, how long should you wait before setting a date?
If you are recently engaged and want a big wedding with lots of moving parts it is typical to pick a date for a year or two out. If you are so in love you just want to be married. many couples put together a wedding in just a few weeks or months. Remember that the less time you have to plan the higher the stress level. Planning a wedding together is a great way to learn more about your fiancé and the dynamics of your relationship.
10. What precautions should couples plan for when having a reception in the age of COVID-19?
We have all found that keeping up social distancing around family and friends is hard to maintain. Fresh air and air circulation seem to be key to avoiding contagion. Choose an outdoor location or one with high ceilings and space to spread tables out. Limit your guest list. Have masks on hand for your guests. Skip the dancing - be creative and bring in entertainment. Have fans running to keep air moving. If all of these precautions make you anxious about exposing your guests then you already know you should postpone