Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC has recommended canceling and postponing large gatherings, including weddings. As it’s in the best interest of the health and safety of everyone involved, especially for those located in hard-hit areas, many have had to reluctantly cancel their upcoming big day, or have been otherwise left to come up with creative solutions. However, despite the impact the virus has had on the wedding industry, couples can still take advantage of the time spent at home during lockdown to plan the perfect wedding.
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Cancellations and creativity
Due to the virus, many have put their special day on hold until restrictions are lifted. However, it hasn’t been easy, as some venues haven’t given full refunds, causing some couples to lose money in the process. For example, Michael Blodgett and Shreya Sharma planned to have their wedding in May at the Stone Tower Winery located in Leesburg, and had made a downpayment of $6,500 to the venue. However, due to the pandemic preventing their planned May wedding, they were informed that they would only get back half of the money they put down because of a clause in their contract.
Instead of canceling or postponing, some couples have turned to creative methods so that they can still get married on time, such as virtual receptions and ceremonies. In fact, one couple – Bri and Lindsey – took their wedding to another level when they decided to have a drive-in ceremony on April 28th at Doc’s Drive-In Theatre in Buda, Texas. With an estimated 85 cars in attendance, guests were able to remain in their cars the whole time, allowing everyone involved to celebrate without worry of COVID-19 health risks. However, for those who still plan to have a traditional wedding, playing things by ear has become the new normal.
What now?
For couples that still have their weddings scheduled in 2020, it’s important to contact the venue and wedding planner in order to get the necessary information on whether or not you should keep your current date or reschedule and set a new one. Depending on local policies and regulations, holding your wedding may still be possible – though it’s important to keep in mind that things could still change (for instance, you may not be able to have more than a certain number of people in attendance). Whether you choose to keep your current date or postpone it, it’s important to keep your guests informed of any changes made – as well as to respect their decision if they decide to not attend due to safety concerns. On the other hand, if your wedding was canceled, taking advantage of lockdown regulations can allow you to plan the perfect wedding. Not only can this give you the extra time that many wedded couples wish they would have had, but it can take some of the pressure off and reduce the stress of planning a wedding on a strict time frame.
Planning ahead
When planning your wedding in lockdown, it’s important to use your time wisely in order to make the most of it – after all, we really don’t know how long restrictions from the coronavirus will be in place. Because of this, using the extra time can be the perfect opportunity to change things you may not have been happy with before (such as the color palette or flower choice). This can also be a great opportunity to change or book additional things in advance, such as live music, if you couldn’t arrange this before. No matter what your plans are, changing things to your liking during lockdown can ensure that everything is watertight so that you have the perfect wedding when the time does come.
While it might feel like your wedding has been ruined by the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to positively and productively use the time in lockdown. From a second chance to change something you didn’t like before to getting creative with a virtual ceremony, now could be the ideal time to plan the perfect wedding.
