You get to hear so much about quick fixes and crisis aversion while planning a wedding, don’t you? From a tear in your train to a broken heel of your bridal shoes, everything can be fixed and saved. But what do you do when a pandemic hits just when you are in the thick of wedding planning? No wedding magazine or bridal blog quite prepares you for something like this. Because this is not exactly something that happens so often and for sure not something that even occurs to us to prepare for!
But one day, in the middle of switching color samples for your wedding decor and cake tasting, you hear the news. That Covid-19 is here, and here with a fury which is taking countless people in! Between your own share of, ‘Oh, this wouldn’t impact us’, and waking up in cold sweat in the middle of the night in a red hot panic, you have made peace with inevitable-COVID-19 has made itself comfortable and is here to stay for a while! This also means that you’ll be wedding planning during COVID19.
Understood that a lot of intricate thoughts, planning, and love has already gone into making this day truly special, there needs to be a reiteration to your wedding planning-and fast! Things have not gone south yet, and if managed smartly, you will still be able to have the most amazing wedding day, just the way you planned to! Listed below are some pointers to keep in mind as you combat the uncharted territory of these uncertain times. Breathe, refocus, and read!
Postpone or Cancel?
Postpone (Please):
A wedding to look forward to next year is still better than no wedding to look forward to! Don’t be disheartened by the turn of events and don’t give up on your big day! Rather, try to postpone the wedding to late 2020 or 2021. This will give you something to look forward to and plan towards in the current day and will make more sense in the grand scheme of events.
Half and Half:
Couldn’t wait? We understand! How about half and a half and having a small courthouse ceremony now with no party and postponing the reception until a safer date? This way, you will be technically married, but will still have something exciting and celebratory to work towards! Now isn’t that exciting?
Cancel:
If you don’t want the pandemic even remotely tainting your special day, we get it! Canceling is a valid choice, however, it might be wise to have a timeframe in mind as you cancel. This will give your mental clarity, and will not be disheartening for you and your partner.
Reschedule Norms
Vendor loyalty:
Do not let your wedding vendors go, as they might have also put in a lot of work into your wedding planning. Arrange for a meeting with your photographer, videographer, caterer, florist, etc. and work out rescheduled dates and availability. If there is a change in plan, they should be the first to know and should be given the first preference for the rescheduled date. It is fair that way only!
Flexibility:
Flexibility is encouraged when you are already in the midst of uncertain times and the options are scarce. Trying to meet midway and work out dates and choice which are feasible for both parties. We understand this is a special day for you and your partner, but sometimes, things are just not in our control and it is a good virtue to take things by the stride.
Breaking the News
Go Virtual:
When physical contact is cut down, it is the internet that comes to the rescue. Send out e-vites, virtual save the dates, schedules, and reschedules. This way, everyone in your guest list is in the loop without you having to call them personally. Trust us, nobody will hold it against you, especially at a time like this. Go for convenience rather than etiquette.
Mass Communication:
Want to break the news in a way that feels a little more personal, go for live streaming, or a video conference. This way, the guests will feel a personal connection to the message and will take it in sportingly. Also, for older members of the family, this might be the safest yet most personal way to communicate your plans.
Search for the Silver Lining
More time to plan:
As you are entering a new timeline with a revised wedding day. A few extended months of planning window is only going to help you make your wedding day even more perfect. Now is the time you can consume as much as content you can relate to wedding planning, go through inspiration blogs, and nail down what you exactly want.
Delayed gratification:
We guarantee that your guests will be highly onboard with the reschedule and will be ready to party by the time the wedding day finally rolls in. Having a social gathering to look forward to is equally rewarding to your guests as it is to you, and the wait is only going to make the occasion sweeter!
We understand these are uncertain times and we are still trying to find our foot as things are changing every day. There might be a storm of emotions brewing inside you, and it’s okay to feel as you do. We understand that it breaks your heart a little as you wrap up your dreams for a date much further away, but we reassure that we will be out of this soon enough and when we do, there will be no black cloud looming over your head, threatening to rain on your special day. That day will be truly yours, and no pandemic will steal your thunder! Now, isn’t that a heartening thought?
