Photos by Ashlee Nicole Photography
You think you have it all figured out. You have the venue and the dress. Your save the dates and invitations are sent out to your guests. The pre-wedding jitters have set in as you envision your day all coming together. Then, an unthinkable pandemic happens, closing everything around you. You anxiously watch the news, looking to get some sort of hope that your wedding will still go off without a hitch, but unfortunately, Covid-19 has impacted everything that you thought was going to happen. For many couples, this is an extremely trying time in what is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of their lives. What does all of this mean for your wedding, and how do you manage planning a wedding during the Covid-19 outbreak?
Consider a Possible Postponement
May 9th was supposed to be a special day for bride Autumn Freeman and her fiancé Joel Miller. However, due to Covid-19, everything changed. "The day we actually decided to postpone was very draining. I had so many mixed emotions. I felt extremely sad because I was so ready to celebrate our marriage with everyone in less than two months. After we called our vendors, I called my dad immediately and started to cry," Autumn said.
Autumn and her fiancé are not the only couple in this boat. As of March 15, 2020, the CDC recommended that all scheduled weddings be postponed for at least 8 weeks, and that recommendation is changing by the day. Weddings that are scheduled for May are not likely to take place as normal, and June and July are still very questionable. With that said, many planners are recommending those who have weddings scheduled for the summer months consider postponing. Though this is a hard decision, it may bring couples a sense of relief that they don't need to worry about it for a few months. Autumn says, "Even though I was sad we had to postpone, I also felt beyond relieved. For weeks leading up to our decision I was stressed to the max."
If you have decided to postpone, then the question remains, "When do I reschedule?" With all the uncertainty, it can be hard to decide on a date that will hopefully be Covid-19 free. Many experts agree that the wedding should be pushed back a far as possible, even though this can be uncomfortable to the couple. This may seem sad and daunting, but it actually may give you the freedom to have things as close to as how you originally planned them a possible. Autumn and her fiance had a May 9th wedding planned, but now it has changed to January 30, 2021. Though this isn't ideal, the couple is able to keep their venue and their original Saturday date. Many venues want people to know that rescheduling your wedding is a difficult task. Weddings may be booked every weekend, especially in the spring and summer months. Postponing every client is a very hard task, but in times like these, there may not be another choice. Some wedding experts are even predicting the popular Saturday date for a wedding to be a thing of the past after the pandemic. Not everyone can reschedule for the same Saturday date, so perhaps a smaller wedding on a Wednesday or Thursday will be popular. Those dates are more likely to be open at the venue of your choice.
This situation remains volatile and will continue to change, so choosing a date farther in the future could ease your stress more. Follow the CDC for up to date information.
Autumn and her fiancé are not the only couple in this boat. As of March 15, 2020, the CDC recommended that all scheduled weddings be postponed for at least 8 weeks, and that recommendation is changing by the day. Weddings that are scheduled for May are not likely to take place as normal, and June and July are still very questionable. With that said, many planners are recommending those who have weddings scheduled for the summer months consider postponing. Though this is a hard decision, it may bring couples a sense of relief that they don't need to worry about it for a few months. Autumn says, "Even though I was sad we had to postpone, I also felt beyond relieved. For weeks leading up to our decision I was stressed to the max."
If you have decided to postpone, then the question remains, "When do I reschedule?" With all the uncertainty, it can be hard to decide on a date that will hopefully be Covid-19 free. Many experts agree that the wedding should be pushed back a far as possible, even though this can be uncomfortable to the couple. This may seem sad and daunting, but it actually may give you the freedom to have things as close to as how you originally planned them a possible. Autumn and her fiance had a May 9th wedding planned, but now it has changed to January 30, 2021. Though this isn't ideal, the couple is able to keep their venue and their original Saturday date. Many venues want people to know that rescheduling your wedding is a difficult task. Weddings may be booked every weekend, especially in the spring and summer months. Postponing every client is a very hard task, but in times like these, there may not be another choice. Some wedding experts are even predicting the popular Saturday date for a wedding to be a thing of the past after the pandemic. Not everyone can reschedule for the same Saturday date, so perhaps a smaller wedding on a Wednesday or Thursday will be popular. Those dates are more likely to be open at the venue of your choice.
This situation remains volatile and will continue to change, so choosing a date farther in the future could ease your stress more. Follow the CDC for up to date information.
Invitations and Save the Dates
Many brides and grooms have already sent out their invitations and save the dates to their guests. So what do you do if you have already done this and need to inform your guests of a change? First, it is important to have your new information completely solidified before mailing anything to your guests. Many couples, including Autumn and Joel, are considering sending out RSVP cards with the new date on them. This not only allows your guests to see the new date, but also gathers information about any guest list changes.
Another option is an announcement on your wedding website. If you don't have a website, you may consider getting one. Websites like theknot.com offer couples free wedding websites that allow couples to post details and collect RSVPs. After you finalize your new date, you can post the details on your wedding website for your guests to see.
The most important thing is to inform guests that changes are being made and that you will be in touch so that they have time to plan. Most wedding experts recommend at the very least to give the people on your guest list a call to inform them of changes.
Another option is an announcement on your wedding website. If you don't have a website, you may consider getting one. Websites like theknot.com offer couples free wedding websites that allow couples to post details and collect RSVPs. After you finalize your new date, you can post the details on your wedding website for your guests to see.
The most important thing is to inform guests that changes are being made and that you will be in touch so that they have time to plan. Most wedding experts recommend at the very least to give the people on your guest list a call to inform them of changes.
Connect with Vendors
The key to getting through wedding planning during this crazy time is maintaining communication with your vendors. From your flowers to your venue, it is important to work with your vendors to make decisions. Both sides need to be open with each other to ensure a solution be met. Many wedding experts are recommending couples ask their vendors what the worst case scenario would be in order to prepare for the worst. First and foremost, contact your venue with any concerns you have and postpone if need be. If you decide to go another direction and change venues, finalize where you want your wedding to be. Then, ensure that the new date fits with your other vendors, including floral providers and caterers. Many couples are reporting that vendors are being flexible during this time, including Autumn and Joel. "The venue was very helpful with rearranging everything, and all change fees were waived. We asked what was still available and wanted our wedding to remain on a Saturday, so we had to go pretty far back." She also says, "I think the biggest advantage we had on our side was time." Though they had to reschedule, getting ahead of things and communicating with their venue eased a lot of stress, and ensured that they still had their desired Saturday date. Being open and honest with what you want is the key to finalize your rescheduled wedding details the way you want them.
Another option in connecting with your vendors is to hire a wedding planner. Many couples who didn't have a wedding planner in the beginning of this pandemic are now opting to hire a planner. This helps the couple deal with the stress of planning, and also gets another person on your side. A wedding planner's job is to ensure that your day goes as planned, and often will contact your vendors for you.
Consider Your Guests
If you decide to postpone your wedding you need to come to the realization that your guest list will be different than originally thought, especially if you have already sent and received your RSVPs. Some guests who may have been able to come on the original date may not be able to make a date later in the year. The opposite situation could also occur, and those who may not have been able to make the original date could be able to attend the new date. The new guest list is another reason to consider sending out new RSVP cards.
Brides and grooms must also take into consideration what the state of the country will be after the pandemic. If your wedding involves a lot of travel for your guests, it may be hard for them to afford travel or take off work to travel.
Brides and grooms must also take into consideration what the state of the country will be after the pandemic. If your wedding involves a lot of travel for your guests, it may be hard for them to afford travel or take off work to travel.
Follow CDC Guidelines
Regardless of what decisions are made during this pandemic, it is extremely important to comply with CDC and other government guidelines. It can be very tempting to go through with your wedding as planned, but at this time that is not feasible or recommended. Following CDC guidelines is required, and though it may seem like an impossible thought to change your plans, it is likely to ease your worries if you get ahead of the situation. By following these guidelines you will not only help to keep yourself healthy, but also those you love. For additional links on this topic, see the resources at the bottom of the post.
Hang on to Hope
Planning your wedding is supposed to be one of the most exciting times of your life. It is easy to get caught up in the disappointment of Covid-19, but it is important to not give up hope. When I asked Autumn if she had any words to other brides who are going through this trying time she said, "Although postponing the wedding of your dreams is heartbreaking and not an easy decision to make, keep reminding yourself that everything is going to be okay. Everyone will understand and support your decision. Take advantage of the extra time. Maybe now you can save up for that videographer you wanted before and couldn't afford. You will still get your happily ever after, even if it takes a little longer."
Written by UNCW English student and Bellamy intern, Hailey Morrison
Sources
Photographs supplied by Autumn Freeman and taken by Ashlee Nicole Photography
https://www.ashleenicolephoto.com/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/wedding/planning/a31673827/how-to-plan-weddings-during-coronavirus-pandemic/
https://www.brides.com/what-to-know-about-coronavirus-and-wedding-planning-4799160
https://www.theknot.com/content/postpone-wedding-guidelines
Sources
Photographs supplied by Autumn Freeman and taken by Ashlee Nicole Photography
https://www.ashleenicolephoto.com/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/wedding/planning/a31673827/how-to-plan-weddings-during-coronavirus-pandemic/
https://www.brides.com/what-to-know-about-coronavirus-and-wedding-planning-4799160
https://www.theknot.com/content/postpone-wedding-guidelines
