Of all the content ideas we’ve passed around over the years, never did we ever think we’d be running an article about having a wedding during a pandemic (thank you, 2020). But, alas, here we are! With everything this year has brought, we would be amiss if we didn’t talk about this unprecedented hurdle facing brides and grooms today. Although it may not be exactly how you imagined planning your big day, don’t stress! We’re here to help. Here is everything you need to know about planning, moving or attending a Covid-friendly wedding.
Changing Your Date
It’s probably easier said than done, but we still should say first and foremost, don’t panic! By now, plenty of people will have had to move their wedding due to Covid, but this is good news for you. Why? Because now, vendors, couples and guests alike have become accustomed to pivoting. Moving your date isn’t an easy decision, but given the current circumstances, it’s likely people will be more than understanding. The first step in changing your date would be to contact your wedding planner. They have the relationship with your vendors already established and will be able to reach out to them to move things around if possible. If you don’t have a wedding planner, then you should contact your vendors directly. Again, most vendors are going to understand your predicament and will be happy to discuss booking another day with you. If you’re worried about your preferred vendors not being available on your new date, call them before you officially change it and work the day around when they are available.
After your vendors are rebooked and you’ve set a new date, be sure to inform your guests as soon as possible. Remember that they’ve also set aside the time to be there for your big day, so give them as much as a heads up as you can so they too can rearrange their plans. If you have a little extra money in your budget to spend, you could consider sending out “Change the Date” cards. Or, for something more time-friendly, you could also send a digital one via email to your guests and update your wedding website if you have one.
Planning a Covid-Friendly Wedding
If you’re just getting engaged this year, congrats! While it’s probably not how you imagined planning a wedding, consider yourself lucky that there are plenty of resources available to help you by now. When you start researching vendors and booking venues, keep in mind that there might not be as much flexibility as there typically would be. Vendors are now dealing with not only new brides, but an influx of re-booking’s as well. That being said, have more than a few dates in mind as ideas. The more you have, the better the chance that one will be available! To increase your chances, you could also have a couple of non-traditional wedding dates on your list, such as Sunday’s or weekdays.
It’s hard to know what the status of the pandemic will be a year from now, or even a few months from now! However, erring on the side of caution never hurt. In fact, there are a lot of precautions you can plan for that wouldn’t make a significant difference if you ended up not needing them. For example, plan the wedding outdoors or in a larger indoor space to allow guests to spread out. If Covid isn’t as much as a concern by the day of, then you can just move the chairs closer together and no one will ever know the difference. Things like masks and hand sanitizing stations are easy to get coordinated closer to time.
For the most part, any restrictions you may have, should be communicated to you by your vendors. You should anticipate venues potentially having capacity limitations, caterers working with a smaller staff and that things such as wedding invites, alterations or shipping might take a little longer than they normally would. To alleviate stress, give yourself plenty of time to plan and be prepared.
Attending or Not Attending A Wedding During Covid
As a wedding guest, RSVPing in a timely fashion is always important. But in the midst of a pandemic, it’s even more crucial. While it might be tempting to put it off due to not knowing what the future may hold, it’s important out of respect for the bride and groom, to let them know as soon as possible. You should know that if you don’t feel comfortable going to a wedding now, that’s totally okay. You have to do what’s best for you and your family. But if that’s the case, be sure to communicate that in a timely fashion. If you do feel comfortable going, be sure to keep an eye on the wedding website and invitations for updates. You should be prepared to take any extra precautions that the bride and groom are requesting, such as wearing a mask, gloves, social distancing, extra sanitizing, etc.
Despite how much it’s been said, these are truly unprecedented times, and everyone is just doing the best they can. Cut yourself some slack, take a deep breath and just remember that everything is going to be okay!
