In the midst of uncertainty regarding the coronavirus a lot of brides and grooms are having to make the difficult decision regarding if they should postpone their wedding or not. The CDC and government is recommending that all social gatherings be limited to 10 people, causing anxiety throughout the event and wedding industry. Our hearts go out to all of the couples, vendors and fellow planners that are affected by COVID-19. If you are a couple that is considering postponing your wedding, there are a few things to take into consideration. The first step in deciding if you should postpone your wedding day is to consider the number of attendees, age of attendees and travel needs. This approach will provide the most clarity on how you need to modify your big day. If you decide to postpone your wedding, here are some steps you should take:
1.Don’t panic
Planning a wedding is stressful enough, without the additional coronavirus uncertainties. You’ve likely already spent countless hours planning for your big day and you may be feeling sad, frustrated, enraged or even numb. Just know that all these feelings are justified, and you can feel whatever way that you want. Our best advice is to try and stay relaxed during this especially stressful time. Take a bath, go for a run, mediate- do whatever you have to do to keep your sanity. Once you’ve taken some time to feel all the feels, try and move on and focus on plan B. Your wedding day can still be just as incredible as you imagined, just with a new date!
2. Contact your planner if you have one
If you are working with a wedding planner, this should definitely be your first call. Your planner will be able to help establish a plan B and put your mind at ease. If you don’t have a planner, skip to the next step.
3. Review contracts
You should have received contracts from each of your vendors. Now is the time to review all those contracts, particularly their policies on postponements and cancellations. Many vendors contracts won’t address this specific scenario (coronavirus). However, there has been an abundance of love from the wedding community and many vendors are being as flexible as possible given the circumstances.
4. Contact all vendors
If you are working with a wedding planner, they will most likely handle this step and contact vendors on your behalf. For the easiest transition and least financial impact, keep the same vendor team intact if possible. If you are not working with a planner, we recommend reaching out to your venue first. Once you have contacted all your vendors regarding the new date and plan, it’s a good idea to follow up any phone conversations with a written email that includes the new details.
5. Inform bridal party and close family members
Your bridal party and family members are typically highly invested in the wedding day. They have probably devoted time and resources from wedding attire to travel. It is a nice courtesy to let your closest circle know the new plan before releasing the information to your entire guest list.
6. Inform your guests
Some stationers are offering complimentary or discounted notes for their clients to email or mail to let the guests know of the postponement. Once you have decided on a new date we recommend mailing or sending a paperless post invitation. It is also important to update the wedding website ASAP with the new details and information.
7. Cancel or reschedule any travel plans
If you have already made travel plans for the wedding and honeymoon, make sure to reach out to any airlines or hotel accommodations to cancel or reschedule. Most brands are being very generous with their policies considering the current situation. If you invested in travel insurance, it is also important to review those documents.
If you have any questions or need support during this time of uncertainty our team is available and ready to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out or contact us. We are here to help and navigate through this together.
