COVID-19 has seemingly impacted lives all over the globe in a matter of weeks and everyone is just trying to figure out how to continue on with life’s demands and plans. It’s easy to say we are in unprecedented times. Sadly, this virus has impacted the lives of so many. Coronavirus has impacted people physically in regards to their health, but has also had an extreme impact on how the world operates and interacts with each other.
In the past month we have worked through so many details with our couples as they are doing something they never thought they’d have to do; postpone their wedding.
Our couples have been so strong and amazing (as always) through such a trying time. An exciting season of life suddenly becomes so uncertain. But in the midst of this we are able to see the resilient human spirit manifest a strength we wouldn’t have otherwise known. It’s so beautiful! It reminds us of the unique opportunity we have to walk alongside our clients through this season in their lives and do what we can to make it just a tiny bit easier.
We want to provide you with a few things today; advice, resources, and encouragement!
Advice
We hope that none of you come to the point of making the decision to postpone your wedding, but as planners we always want to plan for Plan Z (AKA Worst Case Scenario)! Here are some practical next steps for you to take as you begin this conversation.
Vendor Team - Keep your planner and vendor team up to date with how you are feeling and process this decision with them. Work to process your feelings now so that when your time comes to make decisions, you are in control and have a plan.
Vender Availability - Talk to your vendors to understand payment terms for their services/products. Review vendor contracts and work to keep your vendor team together if you can! All of our fellow vendors are bending over backwards to make sure that they can serve their couples and it’s amazing to serve alongside such wonderful people. We are going to work with you and understand this is such a tough position to be in.
Communication - If you decide to postpone your wedding completely, or have an intimate ceremony, communicate this clearly with all involved and all guests. You can communicate this change via your wedding website, or simply by sending out an email. If you feel you have time and the resources, printing “Change the Date” cards and sending those out is also an option!!
Marriage Certificate Logistics - If you’ve already gotten your marriage license but have decided to postpone the wedding a few months, the license may expire depending on when you got it. Look into the procedures for the state and county you live in and discuss with your officiant and wedding planner more in regards to how to navigate this!
Wedding Insurance - Make sure you are contacting the company you used to get insured for your wedding day. Notify them with your change of date and any additional details they may need.
Ultimately, look to those closest to you for wisdom, but ultimately make the decision with your future spouse by your side. Compromising and working through things as a couple are what marriage is about! Make sure you and your partner come to an agreement and make this decision together. You will be stronger for it.
Resources
There are two things we feel that we can do at this time for couples that are feeling the weight of COVID-19 in regards to their wedding plans.
FREE CONSULTATION TIME
First, we would like to offer a free consultation time for couples that have/had weddings planned in 2020.
Do you feel the need to get some advice from a wedding industry professional?
Do you keep your wedding date? Postpone the wedding?
Get married with only immediate family present?
What are all factors that need to be considered? Travel/Hotels? Will you vendors be available?
We want to walk through this with you! We are offering one hour via phone call or video chat to discuss your unique situation and listen to you as you process!
FREE WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST
Secondly, we understand that there are couples that have recently gotten engaged and could use some guidance on how to get started with the planning process. We’d like to offer you a resource in the midst of this season, to help you to keep the ball moving on your wedding plans.
Please see below to download a free copy of our wedding planning checklist for your reference as you begin the planning process. We are so excited for you and hope you feel celebrated and loved in this season!
Wedding Planning Checklist PDF
Encouragement
If you are a couple getting married in 2020, the thought has most likely run through your head “What if we have to postpone our wedding?” If this is true for you, just know you’re not alone and it’s okay to have a little bit of worry.
So many times when things in life hurt us, it’s because our expectations did not come to fruition in the way we thought they would. And for a day as big as your wedding day, it’s a hard pill to swallow. You spend your days working and spend any extra time you have planning every single detail for the best day of your life, and to think that it may not happen when you thought it would is certainly heartbreaking! And that is totally valid.
Our encouragement for you is this, worry will not change the current situation you are in. Don’t let this steal your joy and excitement for this season! You have the ability to choose how you’re going to react to any given situation.
In addition to that, when the time comes to make the decisions you need to make, you have a tribe of people surrounding you and supporting you. This isn’t just your family and friends, it also includes your vendor team!
I don’t think people truly understand how much vendors care about what they do and how much they value serving you. This community is incredible.
Let’s do this, together!
