Coronavirus (COVID-19) And Planning Your Wedding Day
Disclaimer: The information in this article may become outdated. Federal and local guidelines concerning best practices for dealing with COVID-19 are always changing. An individual should always reference the most up-to-date information from the CDC before taking action.
Coronavirus. COVID-19. That Cough That Just Won’t Stop. You haven’t stopped hearing about it, and neither have I! It, like many topics these days, is a divisive one. Some people believe it’s a government conspiracy, while many believe it’s the next plague. No matter how you interpret the information out there these days, it’s undeniable that it is currently or soon to be impacting your daily life which, inevitably, will mean that your wedding day may be affected. Many venues are already postponing or canceling weddings. Let’s look at how to navigate this complex time!
Take Care Of Yourself First!
The most important part of this season, be it flu season or COVID-19 season, is to take care of yourself. Wash your hands more frequently than normal, make sure you get an above-adequate amount of sleep, stay hydrated, and find a quiet area to go for a walk or hike to get some exercise. See the CDC’s prevention guidelines for more up-to-date information.
Don’t Stress Over Something That Hasn’t Happened
If you live in a state that has issued a ban on certain gatherings over a predetermined size, make sure to cross-reference that mandate with the size of your wedding! Double-check with distant family and friends that were already planning on making the trip and confirm if they still plan on traveling or not. If your local government hasn’t issued any size limits on gatherings, then don’t panic. It’s the same concept as worrying about rain on your wedding day. Have a backup plan, but there is no sense in calling the whole thing off because of a possibility. Just stay up to date and communicate with your venue and vendors!
Plan For A Reduced Guest Count
Typically, between 17% and 20% of guests invited to a wedding end up not coming to the event, whether they declined the invite or neglected to let you know. That’s the standard number on a normal wedding day, so plan for a greater number of people to drop out during a time like this. It’s completely understandable, and it’s entirely a personal choice for that guest. The fact is, those people did really want to go to your wedding, but this is not a normal situation in the slightest. If it was someone you were greatly hoping would attend, I’m sure they would appreciate seeing the ceremony streamed live. Services like Facebook and Instagram make it really simple to just set up a phone and broadcast your ceremony. Just make sure to keep the phone charged, and maybe invest in a simple phone tripod!
What If Your Wedding Gets Postponed?
So, your venue canceled or postponed your wedding. What can you do?
If the venue canceled in the interest of safety, and your guest count is still below your local government-mandated number, you may be able to relocate to a friend or family member’s property, providing they have enough land. If this is a change you’re willing to take on, it will allow your guests to not worry about changing flight and travel plans, and you can keep most, if not all, of your vendors on your day!
Most venues are providing the ability to reschedule the date with no further charge. Take your venue up on this if it is something you and your guests can accommodate.
If you’re having trouble finding a date later in the year that is available for your wedding, book it during a weekday. Weekday weddings are an absolute BLAST, and I’ve enjoyed every Monday-Friday wedding that I’ve photographed. It’s so special, so unique, and parking will almost always be easier to find. Try it, it is SO fun!
What If Your Wedding Date Doesn’t Change?
If your wedding looks like it will continue, business as usual, then continue getting excited for your big day! There are a few simple tactics you may use to keep your wedding safe for all in attendance, vendor and guest alike.
Consult with your venue about putting up hand sanitizer stations around the location, if they aren’t in place already.
Avoid physical contact as much as possible with as many guests as possible. It may be a smart idea to toss out any type of receiving line, especially if hugs and handshakes were to be involved.
If your meal is going to be served buffet-style, see if your food vendor can bring on a few extra helping hands to serve the food. Keeping the utensils out of your guests’ hands and having the staff be the only ones handling them will reduce the likelihood of anything spreading by that method.
Elderly guests and anyone living with elderly or immunocompromised people should be encouraged to stay home. It’s not ideal, but it is the safest option for them since the severity of the effects of the virus increase as the age bracket climbs. Get them hooked up with a live stream as noted above, or talk to your video team for some higher-quality options.
COVID-19 may come and go, but it’s ripple effects will be felt for the coming months, possibly years. We as wedding vendors want to make your day as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, no matter where or how it happens. We’re in this together, and are absolutely willing to field any questions you may have about customizing your services to fit this unique situation the world is in.