Planning a Wedding in a Pandemic
So you just got engaged and are living off that high you and your significant other are experiencing together and then Covid hits. There’s nervousness in securing vendors, anxieties towards setting a date, your guest list, and stress about what this new plan looks like for you two. This roller coaster of emotions isn’t helping anyone especially those just engaged. Let’s try and refocus those worries and use those extra minutes while working from home to keep that enthusiasm up and get planning!
So how on earth will you be able to think of it all with these circumstances? How can you adapt to still make the entire experience leading up to your big day still wonderfully happy? Let’s make sure we focus on what can be controlled. There’s a lot to think about, so let’s start on those “must haves'' on the big day. Remember, don’t let those “all knowing” friends and family wanting to weigh their opinions let you lose sight of what you and your significant other are looking for. Stand firm in what you believe is best suited for your initial day together! So what are some steps you can take right now?
Start with a Vision Board! This could be simply that Pinterest board you started 10 years ago finally coming in handy or it could be a physical collage with visuals focusing on your color schemes, flowers, cake, decor, etc. This is the easier “happy phase” of wedding planning. Thinking of all the amazing things you have envisioned. You might even be able to look around at venues, as many have provided virtual tours!
If it’s in your budget go ahead and get that wedding planner/coordinator hired as soon as possible! With the extra stress that Covid-19 has given newlyweds, venues, vendors, photographers, etc. it would give you great peace of mind to know that you would be saving an incredible amount of time and stress if you went this route. It’s one of the biggest things newlyweds during the pandemic recommend to others. Start calling around and see who is available, who is in your budget, and who best fits your style. Consultations are normally free, so no harm in asking around!
Some of the first things you should focus your true energy on would be deciding a date and booking those big vendors. The upside to everyone being at home right now is that many vendors are eager and awaiting inquiries so response times are even faster! The worries of “what ifs'' when booking will certainly be lurking. The best thing you can do is look around at well established vendors who have contracts that can highlight things such as potential postponements or large gathering restrictions that hold no serious financial penalties against you. A tip to keep in mind is that Spring is the peak time for weddings which may or may not work with your schedule and the pandemic right now but nonetheless something to think about when contacting vendors.
Right now is the time you go ahead and take the advice to get that insurance! Wedding insurance may not have seemed like an essential thing to add to your budget before 2020, but because of the uncertainty of the future make sure you get insurance through any vendors you can. This helps you with that peace of mind just in case the world goes topsy turvy again.
Keep on going! Try and stay optimistic while planning. Hold off on ordering items when possible and try not to make any serious postponements until 8-12 weeks out (unless a state-ordered restriction happens). The goal is to be as stress-free as possible so try to have everything planned in a manner that you are not ever rushing. In the worst case scenario, and your wedding is totally postponed then just think, everything is already planned!
We all need a little bit of connection. For now, let’s take those extra precautions and use good old video calls. You may not be able to drink with your friends on the same couch but, set up monthly chats where everyone can still feel connected, bounce ideas off of each other, laugh together, play games, and drink a little! I am sure everyone will appreciate the time to hang out even if it is just through our screens for now. All in all, you need to make sure that those close to you through this process are going to be there as that support and extra enthusiasm you may need.
Now, when looking for just the right dress you may run into a different way to go about it. A lot of wedding designer storefronts are not doing in -person try on experiences due to health regulations. Instead, some are offering at-home virtual try-on experiences! This varies between the storefront you might be interested in but, remember to call any possible storefronts of interest in advance so you know just how long this new process might take!
So let’s say you now have the dress you have been dreaming of. It is in your possession and waiting to be tried on as officially “yours”. Well, don’t let it just be you looking at the mirror! Invite the bridal party and any others on a video call to keep everyone’s spirit up, especially yours! Everyone would be super excited to still be apart of the special moment when you find “the one” so make a date out of it! Remember, the “Getting Married Experience” starts the day you start planning. So, take the time to share those intimate moments of happiness with others when possible!
Another big worry may be “The Guest List”. Now hey, this might just be the perfect excuse to not have to invite that particular somebody you were being pressured too. But in all seriousness try and have prepared two guests lists. One that holds a larger number of people and one considered the “Essential Guest List”. This helps for everyone you may want to be there to be prepared if everything goes smoothly and CDC and state regulations allow your original gathering size. The “Essential Guest List” would be that backup if the gathering size was once again lowered in numbers, making sure you already know exactly who will fill those spaces.
Love can not ever be postponed or cancelled even if your wedding day is. We all will eventually find ourselves on the other side of this. I know all of this is much easier said than done, but it is a starting point and at minimum a way to help organize your thoughts when they are crowded with so much right now. We can’t do this alone so reach out to that support team when needed, take the self-care days when overdue, and remind your significant other they are loved when at all ever possible.
