COVID-19 Threw a Wrench in Your Wedding Plans…What Now?

COVID-19 has caused everyone’s lives to come to a complete standstill. From our churches to our restaurants and movie theatres — the daily way of living has changed for the foreseeable future. Events have been canceled left and right in attempts to keep the virus under control.

If you were in the middle of planning your wedding, odds are you’ve had to cancel your ceremony, which can feel quite bittersweet. On the one hand, you’ve been waiting for this day for months — perhaps even years. However, holding off on this special day is one of the most responsible things to do for your loved ones.

So what are you to do, now that holding this intimate celebration is no longer in the cards? If you have found yourself in this situation, continue reading to learn more about you and your partner’s options for your special day.

The Postponed Wedding

You can postpone your wedding to another date. If switching dates feels daunting, not to worry! Here are some steps the bride or groom can take to shift their ceremony and reception over.

1. De-stress Before You Make any Important Decisions and Learn How to the Handle Financial Stress

You may want to take a few days to talk things over with your partner before deciding on the postponed wedding date. If you have wedding insurance, this can take a lot of the strain off, so invest in this worthwhile plan if your photographer or venue offers it. However, if you didn’t get the chance to purchase insurance, meet with a stress relief therapist if you’re struggling with your mental health.

It can often seem like you’re drowning in a sea of cancellations and nonrefundable deposits — however, keep in mind that you can’t put a price on your mental wellbeing. Dealing with financial stress can be burdensome, so take these tips into account if you find yourself beyond stress during the pandemic.

• Ask for support from family members
• Make one financial decision at a time, and try not to get overwhelmed by fixating on the big picture
• Track your spending diligently, as now may not be the best time to go on an online shopping spree
• Take out a small personal loan to help pay bills and outstanding balances in the meantime

2. Your Wedding Planner Should Be The First to Know About the Postponed Wedding Date

If you’ve been working with a wedding planner to solidify all of your wedding plans, they should be the first to know if something changes.

Call them right away and discuss alternative dates or venues. For anyone who doesn’t have a planner calling the shots, move onto the next step.

3. Reach Out to Your Vendors — Starting With the Venue

Alert your venue about the postponed wedding date next. Then, reach out to your photographer, caterers, and performers. Ask if you can have your deposit back, or see if they can offer credit for the postponed wedding date.

4. Pull Up All of Your Contracts

Remember those contracts you signed months ago? It’s time to bring those back out and read the fine print. It’s wise to always ask for a receipt from every party involved. Wedding bands or even cake decorators should all draw up some kind of agreement beforehand. If they refuse to abide by their contract, you may want to consider getting a lawyer involved.

5. Cancel the Honeymoon

There have been certain travel restrictions put into place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, so this may force you to cancel your international honeymoon. Therefore, you’ll have to find another way to celebrate your marriage. Hopefully, you purchased travel insurance. If you’re able to get your money back, consider a stay-cation instead. If you wish to travel somewhere for your honeymoon, make sure it’s a destination that’s not too far from your hometown. Traveling via car is safer than hopping on board a plane. It’s easier to sanitize the inside of your car than it is an entire cabin of travelers, after all!

If you choose to stay in a hotel, check their website and see what kind of COVID-19 precautions they’re taking to keep their guests safe.

You can also go somewhere secluded. For example, camping is a safe bet! It’s also a romantic excursion, and you’ll get the chance to be one with nature and take a break from fast-paced city living.

6. Alert Your Guests of the Postponed Wedding

Send out a mass announcement to inform everyone. For relatives that aren’t on social media, make sure to reach out to them to let them know via text or phone call. Keep in mind, your guest list will likely shrink due to any travel restrictions. Other cautious guests may choose to stay home. Remember always to respect their decision if they decide they can’t make it.

7. If You Created a Wedding Site, Update it to Include the Postponed Wedding Date

A wedding website is convenient and serves as a one-stop-shop for everything wedding-related. Guests can RSVP, learn more about your venue, and view your wedding registry. Therefore, update this site with the postponed wedding date as soon as you hear back from your vendors. This is another way you can alert the masses!

8. Spend This Extra Time Wisely

One of the benefits of prolonging your wedding is that you get more time to plan. If you’re feeling down about your new date, try to look on the bright side of things. You can plan an even better wedding while you wait to walk down the aisle, so take advantage of this.

Create custom signs and nameplates for your wedding party, or add a few more important items to your wedding registry — do anything that will make you feel productive and optimistic for the future with your new spouse.

Throwing a Smaller Wedding — Downsizing for Your Health and Safety

For those couples that can’t wait for the postponed wedding date, consider downsizing your wedding. This can be more cost-effective, and you’re also lessening the likelihood of spreading the virus to other friends and family.

Unsure of how to make a smaller-scaled wedding feel grand? Consider implementing these tips to throw an unforgettable wedding in your backyard.

Landscaping Design

Nature can be your best friend when trying to upgrade your backyard wedding. With the weather warming up, this is also the best time to plant several trees, flowers, and other plants to create a gorgeous space.

Therefore, consider hiring a landscape design company to give your residential property a makeover. Try to stick to a consistent color palette, so your wedding photos come out beautifully.

Landscaping Ideas for Your Wedding

A flower arch is both romantic and timeless. Use white or red roses to decorate the arch and alter.

Also, before deciding on new plants, make sure that you’re willing to care for them after the wedding is over. All plants require some level of maintenance — but others thrive in drier climates, so make sure this backyard makeover is something you want even after your wedding ceremony is over.

Additionally, pergolas and awnings are a must if you live in a hot and humid climate as they’ll provide the perfect amount of shade.

Cancel Your Hair and Makeup Appointment

Ask a relative to do your hair and makeup instead of going to a salon. It’s quite risky, as salons are tight-knit spaces. If you would like to support your local hair salon during this time, contact them ahead of time to see what kind of precautions they’re taking during this pandemic. Are they only allowing 50% capacity to enter the building? How do they sanitize their tools after each use? These factors can help you make a safe and informed decision, so you don’t have to sacrifice your wellbeing to feel beautiful on your wedding day.

If you decide to do your own makeup for your wedding, experiment with different styles in the days leading up to your ceremony. Watch tutorials online so that you can create the perfect look. You don’t have to be an expert, but practicing your desired look will likely help you master it.

Make Your Courthouse Wedding Special During COVID-19

Lastly, a courthouse wedding may also be appropriate if you wish to marry your significant other, despite these trying times.

If you still want to keep the romance alive, despite having a non-traditional wedding, consider these next few tips.

Dress to Impress

Even if your local courthouse is only a short drive down the street away, don’t come dressed in a plain outfit. Yes, you may not be walking down the aisle, but this doesn’t mean you can’t dress for the occasion. Wear something that excites you — whether it’s your favorite dress or suit. Also, don’t forget your wedding bands.

Accessorize with jewelry or your favorite watch.

Bring Your Photographer or a Friend With a Nice Camera

While a courthouse doesn’t seem like the most romantic and photogenic place in the world, this shouldn’t stop you from capturing the moment. The smiles on you and your partner’s faces should light up the entire photo anyway. All that matters is that you’re capturing this special day, so you can preserve the memory for many years to come.

Eat Breakfast in Bed

If you wish to limit your contact with others, avoid the restaurants and cook a nice meal at home. You can even make breakfast and enjoy it in bed.

Create a Playlist Together

While we may not be able to attend jam-pack concerts just yet, you can still stream your favorite songs from your portable device. Make a special playlist with your future spouse filled with romantic songs that remind you of how special your relationship is.

Create Your Own Cocktail

Commemorate the evening by creating a signature cocktail at home.

Some Final Words on the Postponed Wedding

Moving your special day to a later date is not the end of the world! You can still make it a day to remember with the right attitude. You may also downsize your wedding by holding it in your backyard. Get creative with it, and it’ll wind up to be a stunning venue.

But the bottom line is, these details shouldn’t matter if you’re marrying the right person.