3 ways to plan a wedding in the middle of a pandemic

Wedding planning takes time and effort, no matter when you choose to tie the knot. But add in a global pandemic and the process becomes 100 times more challenging.

You have to figure out how to celebrate without putting your loved ones and their health at risk, while also preparing for the possibility of rescheduling or even cancelling your big day more than once.

The wedding industry has been affected by COVID-19 and likely won’t be back to normal for at least the next few years. So, if you’re planning a wedding in 2021 or 2022, it may be a challenge to book a venue and suppliers to ensure your day goes exactly how you’ve dreamed.

While planning a wedding right now is full of uncertainty, it’s not impossible. Couples just have to be more flexible and have a solid Plan B (or Plan C-Z) in place. How COVID-19 will affect your wedding plans depends on the details of your wedding, including the date, number of guests and chosen location.

If you keep in mind that any wedding in the next 18 months is going to look different, let’s look at three ways you can continue planning your day while Coronavirus still has the world locked down.

1. Postpone your wedding day

If you’ve already planned most of your wedding and have your heart set on a big gathering, you may have to move your date farther into the future when more of your guests are likely to have been vaccinated and it’s safe again to hold large events.

Earlier in 2020, many couples postponed their weddings by a few months, hoping a slight delay would allow for larger weddings. However, it’s better to look at dates after mid/late 2021 if you want a big wedding party.

If you decide to postpone, contact your venue first to find out what dates they have available in the time frame you’re looking at. Once you have a list of dates, contact your other suppliers and see which dates work best.

You may have trouble finding a date that fits everyone’s schedule, which could mean you lose your deposits and have to find new suppliers. Be prepared to look for the best feasible solution and remember that you’re not alone. Many weddings have been postponed because of the pandemic, and your venue and suppliers are likely to be understanding.

2. Elope now, party later

If you don’t want to wait to get married, even if you can’t have the big gathering you’d planned, an elopement may be an excellent alternative for you. You may want to get legally married just the two of you or with a handful of guests and plan on having a proper wedding reception at a later date.

This option allows you to still hang on and look forward to that big celebration with your family and friends that you had planned, while avoiding a long wait until you get to say “I do” to the love of your life.

This option isn’t for everyone. Some people absolutely can’t imagine getting married without their parents, siblings, or close friends present, and that’s okay. The final decision is yours, and you have to do what works best for you.

3. Downsize your big day

Postponing your wedding may be the last thing you want to do, so why not have a smaller ceremony instead. If you’ve already been planning and looking forward to your wedding for a while, you may be reluctant to put it off. Smaller micro weddings are extremely popular right now. You still get to celebrate with your closest favourite people and have all the traditional wedding trappings of the dress, cake, flowers and even speeches, just with fewer people.

If you choose to plan a smaller wedding, be sure to follow all recommended health guidelines for social distancing and masking to ensure everyone stays safe, especially if you plan to have older or immunocompromised guests in attendance.

No matter how you choose to celebrate your marriage, whether you decide to postpone your big day or keep your wedding small, there are ways to ensure your wedding remains meaningful and special to you.

Even if it doesn’t look exactly like you may have imagined, your day will still be worth celebrating.

I introduced two small wedding packages this year you can read more about. If you’d like to chat about booking me to capture your day, get in touch.