Planning a Wedding Post COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on all of our lives, but for anyone wishing to get married in 2020, there couldn’t have been anything worse. Many weddings have been cancelled, postponed or involved just a few immediate family members. What used to be the perfect excuse for a big party with relatives you only see at weddings and funerals invited, has turned into more of a damp squib and has seen many hearts broken.
For those that have managed to stage their wedding, along with those who are still planning to host theirs later in the year, some things haven’t changed. A beautiful bride’s dress, smart suits, rings and good entertainment remain the order of the day! In this article, we will look at the extra things that you need to incorporate into your wedding planning post-COVID-19.
The formalities
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How many people can attend?
Of course, the rules governing weddings at present are determined by your country and even region and are sadly subject to change at short notice. In most areas, the rules are very different for indoor and outdoor gatherings so you need to check govenment guidelines for full details.
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Social distancing
It is still a requirement to social distance, where possible, in the UK. This means remaining 2 metres apart from members outside your household is still in place, which does little to build the atmosphere on the dance floor. Also, when it comes to eating, tables should be spaced two metres part with restrictions (in some places) regarding the number of different households sitting at tables. Although “shielding” has come to an end, some vulnerable people may not feel comfortable being too close to others. Please speak to your wedding planner regarding the rules surrounding face coverings.
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Quarantine restrictions
If you were considering honeymooning abroad, you might wish to keep up-to-date with the governments latest quarantine restrictions on your return, not to mention those in place at your destination. The UK Foreign Office website, as well as the Embassy for the country that you are travelling to, are the places to obtain current travel information. Additional restrictions may also be in place regarding needing COVID-19 testing before travel as well as insurance that specifically covers the virus.
Remember, you also need to account for guests that may be coming from overseas. For many, this may involve quarantining for 14 days on their arrival. Some may effectively need to take at least four weeks annual leave, with all of that spent in quarantine at either end, never mind the time that they want to spend enjoying your wedding and seeing other things. The practicalities of getting married at the current time are unique, but it sets new challenges for us all.
The main event
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Small and intimate
If you had plans for lavish wedding inviting hundreds of guests from all four corners of the planet, now might be the time to have a rethink! Several professional wedding planners have suggested that weddings range from 10-40 people in attendance – remember, this includes caterers, photographers, bar staff and any other people required to be in attendance. Open-sided marquees are not classed as being outdoors, and the same applies to other “structures” of any kind.
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Be creative
Just because your event is smaller than you may have dreamed about, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be a day to remember. The small numbers will help to keep guests together and keeps everyone involved. You can also use the reduced numbers as an excuse not to invite those that you would rather avoid! You could use a smaller but more expensive venue, choose somewhere unusual or do something that you had always dreamed of doing.
Some people prefer the smaller occasion; remember there will be restrictions with speeches so the best man, father of the bride and even the groom may be able to have a sigh of relief. It is far better to view this as an opportunity, rather than something that could spoil the occasion. Your frame of mind will have a significant influence on how the day goes.
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Dresses and suits
There is no getting away from the fact that organising dresses and suits are going to be more challenging. Most bridal shops have been open on lockdown, and with the average dress taking six months to arrive, this can mean that you have to alter your plans. That said, some designers do retain small stocks, so you could choose something that needs a few alterations rather than starting from scratch to fit the timescales. The only way to view this is, is again as an opportunity – you may actually get something you prefer that’s very different from your initial ideas!
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Jewellery
You have probably organised the wedding rings long ago, so this may not be a problem. However, custom jewelry, such as unique necklaces for women, that you were planning to finalise nearer the big day will now need to be completed. If you are selecting a different dress, you may have to alter your jewelry slightly. Thankfully, the lead times generally are far shorter than with clothing, so this shouldn’t pose too much of a problem.
The worst-case scenario
- If you have been forced to postpone
While it might seem like the end of the world having to postpone your wedding, it will mean that you can have your big day, just as you planned it in the future and you won’t have to make compromises. Like in many of the points above, try to take the positives out of the situation, it will give you longer to save, the chance to lose more weight and an opportunity to invite even more people. Yes, it sucks, but your big day will come!
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Realism
You must remain realistic about what to expect when it comes to rearranging your big day. Venues and organisers probably can’t refund you as the money with a significant proportion of it spent on administration costs. They aren’t being awkward; it is sadly just the times that we are currently living in. Also, be aware that many days in 2021 will have already been taken, so your options may be limited, and it will probably be the busiest year ever for weddings.
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2021 and beyond!
If you absolutely must have a summer wedding, is it worth considering waiting until 2022? Yes, this may sound awful, but it will mean that you can probably have the dates you want, the venue that you want, and it gives guests time to plan their holidays! While it may seem like an age away, be honest, your wedding was coming up on you a little quick, and you would have liked more time to get things organised! Ask any wedding planner, and they will tell you that your wedding day comes around very quickly!
Other points
If you have already booked your dress, then that’s great, but you do need to take into account that it would have been scheduled for a different date. Even if your wedding was already scheduled for later in 2021, double-check that your dress is ready – it should be, but you don’t want any nagging doubts. Remember, bridal shops will need to be restricting appointments due to social distancing rules. They will also need to steam dresses between appointments, so don’t leave this until the last minute.
A touchy subject, but one that we do need to mention! During the lockdown, some of us haven’t been able to visit the gym as we used to. Besides, the temptation of the biscuit tin may have, at times, proved too much. If you are perhaps concerned about this and your wedding is just around the corner, let the bridal shop know ASAP in case they need to make some more significant alterations!
When you do go to bridal shops, wedding venues, florists or hairdressers, you MUST wear a mask. You have probably got accustomed to the idea by now, but it will only delay things if you have forgotten yours. A minor point, but it could easily add some unwanted stress. When you do visit these places, it is not wise to take your full entourage with you, try to keep it to close relatives and friend – four people is more than enough –sorry!
Finally!
Yes, 2020 has been a year we would all rather forget, but now the fun starts all over again. Your wedding is coming up, you have more time to plan, and now you can start getting excited. After taking all the sensible precautions, relax, kick back, and enjoy what should be the best day of your life!
Have a fantastic day and future together.
Many thanks to ICONIC for this article.
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