Once spring hits, wedding professionals gear up for the busiest season of the year. Historically, summer is the most popular time for couples to say ‘I Do.’ Summer as the height of wedding season has become such a part of our culture that entire industries plan on the influx of cash during that time.
Until 2020.
Considering the year started off with threats of World War 3, followed by out of control fires throughout Australia, a devastating volcanic eruption in the Philippines and now, a global pandemic that has forced some countries to literally shut everything down.
If ever there was a year that has turned everything on its head, it’s 2020.
Jokes aside, the upheaval seen this year is unlike anything most of us have ever experienced before. For couples who may have been planning their upcoming wedding, news about quarantines and closures have undoubtedly sent them into a tailspin of worry and stress.
But take a deep breath because we are here to help. While no one can control how the COVID-19 situation will play out, there are things you can do to taske control of how you handle its effects.
For Weddings Planned BEFORE June
Couples who have been preparing for an April, May or June wedding will almost certainly need to reschedule their wedding. As of March 2020, the CDC has advised people to cancel any large gathering – including weddings – for at least 8 weeks.
Companies and professionals working on weddings scheduled for this window may offer special refund options or ways to carry the cost over to a newly scheduled date.
If you happen to be planning a destination wedding in an international location, you may need to do more than simply postpone. Depending on where your destination is, you may need to shift the location entirely. Many countries, including China, United Kingdom, Ireland and most of Europe have instituted travel bans and strict regulations. With that in mind, it could take months for them to lift and relax regulations and get tourism industries back to normal.
For Weddings Planned After June
People with wedding plans later in the season may still be able to keep their date, but they should still take some proactive steps in order to improve their chances of keeping their plans in place. It’ worth mentioning that many experts agree the bigger the wedding plans, the more likely you will need to postpone. This is due not only to issues with a gathering of a large number of people, but also because a larger wedding requires more services, supplies and professionals to pull it off. The more moving parts involved, the more likely there will be a problem along the supply or service chain.
Regardless of wedding size, couples want to do whatever they can to mitigate the adverse affects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve put together a few simple steps to help navigate the process and (hopefully) keep the stress to a minimum.
Contact Your Vendors and Suppliers NOW
Even if your wedding isn’t planned until later in the summer, don’t postpone reaching out to them as soon as possible. Florists, photographers, musicians and even venue managers may already be pushing back and rescheduling weddings planned for early in the season which could impact your date even if it isn’t slated until August or September.
If you had planned to do anything on your own such as floral displays and decorations, check with the suppliers you planned to use. The supply chain in many areas has been reworked in order to give priority to cleaning and medical supplies. In other cases, the point of origin for your supplies may be an area severely affected by COVID-19. In either case, you may need to find new sources for supplies and the earlier you know, the better your chances of finding what you need.
Talk to Family and Friends Who Have to Travel
If you have invited family and friends from out of town, reach out to them to see if their plans have changed. International travel may be restricted or even prohibited in some areas and there are states considering restricting who can enter even from neighboring areas.
Hotels and other accommodations may not be available either. With all the changes in travel and places to stay, be prepared for some guests to be prevented from coming at all.
Reach Out to Vulnerable Guests
Even after the immediate threat posed by the virus has passed, people who are more vulnerable such as the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, may need to exercise caution for a longer amount of time. Reach out to these guests early to reassure them and see what their thoughts are on being able to attend. It’s a good idea to set up a streaming option that guests will be able to use if they aren’t able to make it in person. Live streams for weddings are becoming increasingly popular and many platforms offer simple, easy to use options so that it is an easy process regardless of the user’s computer experience and knowledge. Taking the time to set up the system now – even if it is months in advance – will ensure you understand how it works and can handle any technical problems on the day. If possible, include a live stream for your rehearsal as well in order to make any final adjustments needed.
Keep Calm and Plan On
More than anything else, it is important to remember that everyone working to make your wedding happen – from friends and family to hired professionals – all have one common goal: Making your day special.
For your part, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest news and to remain as flexible as possible. Your date may get changed, your venue may need to switch arrangements and your guest list could change dramatically. Accepting these possibilities is a part of adjusting plans in the light of this global issue.
No matter what changes or what happens to the wedding you planned, remember it isn’t all about the wedding itself. You can always have a small, intimate ceremony and then plan a large party once thing settle down and people can come together again. At the end of the day, the celebration isn’t about the ceremony, it’s bout the union and love you share and nothing – not even a worldwide pandemic – can stand in the way of that.
