5 tips for how to plan a COVID Wedding
This year have been hard for everyone, no doubt about it. COVID has changed our lives in many ways and taken away the ability for couples to have the wedding they’ve been dreaming about. Some have rescheduled, some are choosing to put it all on hold, and some have sadly canceled.
I truly can’t imagine how hard it is for my clients and others as they see all their plans and dreams go away. However, I’m writing this to give you hope and a few ideas. I’m a firm believer in looking for the silver lining and in this hard time I see some benefits available to those who are willing to think differently. Here are my thoughts on how to plan a wedding with the reality of COVID-19.
1) What is your why?
Why are the two of you getting married? At the core, I believe it’s about two people committing to each other, joining the rest of their lives together and establishing a new family legacy. Whatever your why, let that be the anchor for everything else you do on your wedding day. Let that inform what actions you take. When you do that and if you stay true to that, then you are sure to have a wonderful, meaningful wedding experience.
2) Focus on what matters most
One of my couples, Eddy and Melissa, were supposed to have their wedding in late May. Sadly they had to reschedule but they chose to go ahead and still get married. In the process, they had to think about what mattered most. What was going to make their wedding day a success? Was their wedding all about the champagne, or the food, or the expensive dress? While none of those things are bad by themselves, it is easy for couples to get caught up in the extra things that weddings can offer.
The ability to customize and add-on at every level of planning can cause you to think that a wedding is primarily about material things. Eddy and Melissa had to cut out a lot, but they chose to still have a first look, a first dance, a cake cutting, and other elements that were special to them. What matters most to you? Focus on those.
Charlie and Kelly’s elopement in the Shenandoah National Park.
3) Elopements and Micro Weddings
Is it important that you get married in front of every one of your best friends and family members? If not, consider eloping and planning a larger party when the opportunity is available. Charlie and Kelly got married on top of a mountain with two of their best friends and myself to document the adventure. Maybe that is the right answer for your story.
If situations improve and more people can gather together, perhaps a smaller micro wedding of less than 50 people is all you need, leaving room for more at a later celebration. Give yourself the freedom to consider these different options, realizing that you don’t have to have a traditional wedding with 100-200 people. Think outside the box.
4) Save that Money
When it all comes down to it, having a smaller wedding will simply be cheaper and with that options open up that may not have been there before. You can take that extra money and give your guests an incredible dinner experience, you can get that bouquet you’ve always wanted, or get married at a unique venue. You might invest in the makeup artist you’ve always wanted, or an heirloom wedding album, or maybe you’ll simply save it and put it towards that next big life purchase.
If you’re looking to save, considering planning a wedding for a weekday instead of a weekend. That alone can save you money as many venues and vendors offer weekday discounts (myself included). This will also give you more date options, as rescheduling has forced many couples to vie for the same 2020 and 2021 Saturday dates. Consider a weekday and a world of options will open up to you.
5) Think Differently
In the end, while it’s sad to have to give up on so many plans, it’s also encouraging to know that this forces us to consider why we do what we do. For me the COVID pandemic has made me realize just how vital images are to the human experience. It is a gift to be able to remember our best moments and our loved ones through images. I love that it is my job to give people that gift.
As you plan your wedding, give yourself the freedom to think differently. In the end, when you let go of the idea that you have to have a particular kind of wedding, you might be surprised at how much more fulfilling and special it all becomes.
Want to read more? Click below for elopement weddings tips and ideas!