If you have a wedding planned during this covid-19 period, you are going through a lot. What a crazy time it is for couples right now either who have a wedding date this year or are planning. I feel for you. For couples and all wedding vendors, this is uncharted territory. My advice for navigating wedding planning during this unprecedented situation is don’t make any hasty decisions, and really think about what you value most for your wedding. And if you have already booked your wedding vendors but your date might be cancelled due to coronavirus, please postpone, don’t cancel. We are all in this together and will bend head over heels to make your day amazing.
Options
Postpone
Postpone everything until you are able to move forward with the wedding you’ve envisioned and planned for. Venues will be more than eager to work with you and fill up their calendars as quickly as possible. If Saturdays aren’t available, more and more couples choose Sundays or Mondays so guests can plan for a long weekend. You’ll find more open dates this way, too.
Micro wedding
If you’re under time constraints or anxious to get married, forgo the big wedding and do a mini wedding or elopement using the same vendors, just on a smaller scale and reschedule the bigger reception/party for another time.
Elope
Plan an elopement for and move the celebration to a later date. If you do choose to elope, remember that you can always throw the reception of your dreams at a later date when it’s safe to gather in large groups again. Planning a reception for the future can also be a good way to work with the vendors you’ve already hired as your deposit and payments may be used towards the new event. The San Francisco Bay Area has incredible elopement options. From the gorgeous redwoods in Oakland, City Hall, Fay Park or under the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, your elopement will be gorgeous
Once you’ve made a decision to cancel or postpone, send your guests Change the Date cards to alert them of need-to-know information. This may include your new wedding date or a simple announcement that your plans have changed and to keep an eye out for more information. If you haven’t already, this would be a great time to set up a wedding website (which you can link on your Change the Date card!) where you can provide updates to guests as they happen. Most wedding websites also allow you to contact your guests all at once through your site, which is just another great reason to have one.
This can feel overwhelming, but this too shall pass. And when it does, what a party it shall be. If you have any questions at all or need advice, feel free to send me a note.
Stay safe!!!! Christina
