2020: a start of a new decade, and a very popular wedding year for couples. Since the news hit in late February about this new virus strand, little did we know that our spring couple’s weddings would spiral down so quickly, causing them to postpone their eagerly awaited celebration. All the pre planning work made in 2019 led to countless hours communicating with vendors on rescheduling. For now, we just roll with the punches and see how the rest of the season plans out.

As we begin to live in a new world of social distancing and wearing protective masks, here are some helpful tips while planning during COVID-19:

• Read through all your vendor agreements regarding their force majeure and rescheduling clauses. This is a good time to ask about alternative date options, transferring of services, and any non-retainer scheduled payments made towards the service balance.

• Contact your ceremony site and venue to find out what options they offer to reschedule a future date. Consider three (3) dates from each season.

• Stay up to date with the CDC and your state gathering requirements once restrictions are lifted. (The event world and group gatherings will certainly change, my friends).

BEFORE YOU BOTH MAKE ANY DECISIONS

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

*Schedule a call and talk to all your vendors. Let vendors know of any postponement decision you’re both planning to make. Talk about what the next steps are to transfer services to a future date. This is a good way to set closure on the original contracted date and moving forward expectations. Be prepared to review and sign a contract addendum to secure a new date and service.
*Have a recap conversation email with all your vendors. Make sure that all information is captured IN WRITING to help eliminate any miscommunication when a future date is set.
*Keep all guests informed by sending out a postponement e-announcement and updating your wedding website.
*Consider bringing on a wedding planner (Hi there!) to help reorganize all the new logistics. We will provide our own day of gloves and mini disinfectant spray.

FALL/WINTER 2020 COUPLES…PLAN OR PAUSE

We’re seeing fall/winter couples still holding on to their planned date. If you’re debating whether you should continue booking any pending vendors (entertainment, beauty team, any special order item etc.) we recommend using the current downtime to do your research on the vendors that you’re considering to work with. Inquire about their services and their booking policy for your upcoming wedding date. Find out their policies for rescheduling and transferring of services if you need to postpone until 2021.

ALTERNATIVE CELEBRATION: Why Not!

• Have an elopement and celebrate later. (Sorry, no hugging your officiant).

• Live Stream Ceremony (Raise your glasses and cheers from a distance).

• Use small business vendors to be part of your small, intimate event. Local florists are delivering seasonal arrangements to your front door. Skip cooking on your mini wedding day and order from an area restaurant by using delivery to-go apps. Save the 3 tier cake for later and enjoy some French macarons from a small business vendor shipped right to you.

Regardless of the fact, love lives on. If you need to…plan to postpone and not cancel.
Stay safe, stay healthy!