***Updated 4-19-20***
During these past few days, I've been kind of quiet, because quite honestly I've been speechless, as I know most of us have been, by the current health crisis happening worldwide. Everything has happened so quickly and has caused our world and life as we know it to come to a screeching halt.
As we all know, the government has restricted gatherings of 50+ people for the next 8 weeks, including weddings (***extended in NYS to May 15th). I have already been in contact with my couples who's weddings were booked during this time frame to figure out a postpone date that would work with them, myself and the venue but I wanted to write this post for my wedding couples (and any couples), who's wedding is being affected by the Covid-19 virus outbreak. My heart goes out to anyone's wedding that is up in the air right now because of this. While you've spent countless hours, days, and months planning for your wedding... none of us planned for this.
As much as we all hope and pray that this is all over in the next 8 weeks, it's always smart to have a backup plan, in case these restrictions on events get extended even further. If your wedding is scheduled for May, June, even July, or August you may want to be thinking of a back up plan for your wedding...just in case! Again, not trying to invoke any further fear or panic in anyone, it's just better to be over prepared than unprepared.
Here are 4 steps you can take right now to be proactive about your wedding and get a plan in place for the unpredictable months to come.
Step #1- Contact Your Venue Right Away- If you haven't already, contact your venue right away. Like stop reading this for a minute and give them a call! Ask your venue, should the restrictions on events over 50 people last longer than 8 weeks, what is their plan? Can you find date that is still available, maybe in late summer that they can tentatively put you down for? Ask if they can give you a list of dates that might work as a possible plan B so that you can check availability with your other vendors.
Step #2- Contact Your Other Vendors- Once you have talked to your venue and hopefully figured out a plan b (or a few) dates that you could postpone to should it come to that, then it's time to reach out to your other vendors to see what date/s would work for them. I think I speak for all wedding vendors when I say, we will be more than willing to work with you in any way possible to find a new date that works for everyone. After all, YOU are the reason why we are able to make a living doing our dream jobs and YOU are at the forefront of our attention and concerns right now!
Step #3- Keep Wedding Guests in the Loop- We all know that events are up in the air right now, in my opinion I think it's best to keep open communication with everyone rather than keep them in the dark. If your wedding is more than 8 weeks out right now, it's certainly no time to panic and pull the postponing trigger yet, but if your wedding is mid-late May, I would say it would be a good idea to keep guests and wedding party informed. If at this point you do have a backup date in place with your venue and vendors, you could mention it to your guests so that they can plan it as a tentative date as well. Just be clear to them that plans are still in place for your original date, but this is the date you will postpone to ONLY should it come to that. The best ways to do this is, you could sound out a mass email to everyone on your guest list or even easier, you could make a private facebook group with your last name and wedding (ex. "Smith/Brown Wedding") and add all of your guests to the group. That way you can update them on the situation periodically and guests can interact, send ideas, positive thoughts ect.
Step #4- Think Positive- Try to limit social media usage during this time. A great quote I once heard (wish I could remember who said it) is "Control the media that you consume or the media will consume you." I think it is relevant now more than ever. I feel like every time I go on social media for the past few days I get sucked into a black hole of fear and panic and honestly my mood is just so low after that. So let's all try to think positive during these dark times and lift each other up. If you know another bride going through this as well, reach out to her, be a friend. There's strength in numbers and we will all get through this together. Just remember that when all of this is over, you will be marrying your best friend and that is what matters most at the end of the day!
As you navigate these scary and tough times, just know that I am 100% here for you. If you have any questions, concerns, or need help in any way please do not hesitate to reach out. Even if you just want someone to vent to or to give you a pep talk, I am here! Stay safe my friends and keep your head up!
Xoxo,
Rebecca
