Covid-19 and your Wedding

wedding

Mar 16

rentals: nostalgia rentals florals: heather bee floral venue: soiree room

no matter who you are or what you do, you are probably being affected by the coronavirus in one way or another. at the very least you are having trouble buying toilet paper due to panic buying. but if you’re one of the hundreds of couples getting married in the next few months, your normal wedding planning stress could be on high alert since the latest recommendation of the CDC “for the nest 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in person events that consist of 50 people or more through the United States”. being a wedding photographer and small business owner i was shook at this new information and i want to share my thoughts with my brides and with anyone else in a panic over the thought of having to cancel or postpone the wedding they have been planning for the last year or longer. let’s go over a few of our options.

Reduce guest count to 50 or below
Postpone your wedding date
The show must go on!

per CDC “Organizers should continually assess, based on current conditions, whether to postpone, cancel, or significantly reduce the number of attendees (if possible) for mass gatherings.”

Reducing Your Guest Count

as you know, those most at risk for having major complications with covid-19 are vulernable populations such as older adults and persons with severe underlying health conditions. as much as it will hurt not to have grandma and grandpa at your wedding day, they are the most at risk and need to be shielded from any possible exposure to this virus. i remember 5 years ago when i got married, i was heartbroken that my great-granny would not make it, but she was able to watch my video later and see the ceremony. some people are opting to live-stream their ceremonies to loved ones that cannot make it. if you want to reduce the guest count yourself, go through and split people up into groups of “must be there” “you would like to be there” and “unable to attend”. its so sad that the number of people at your wedding may be decreasing, but practicing social distancing during the biggest social event of your life could help protect others.

Postponing Your Wedding Date

the many small businesses and individuals are taking a financial hit during this time while other industries thrive (i see you ammunition and cleaning supplies). most people you hired to make your wedding day run smoothly are small business owners who depend on the wedding and event industry to feed their families and pay their mortgages. if you have not reached out to your venue, photographer, or coordinator please do so ASAP so they can help you formulate a plan. retainers are not refundable but in 99% of the people i’ve contacted you should be able to reschedule to a new date and transfer the retainer fee. and if you are a LHP bride i will do everything in my power to make this transition easy on you! i have a list of available dates i will give you to plan an alternative date with your other vendors.

The Show Must Go On

“you may now kiss the bride!” but just don’t touch anyone else. most weddings i’ve attended are filled with an abundance of hugs, kisses, and handshakes (and honestly its just human nature when you’re happy) but everyone will be cognizant of excessive touching. i’ll still be getting those intimate shots of you and your future hubby, but probably won’t be extending my hand to meet your parents. with all the cancellations, it will be important to inform your guests that the wedding is still taking place. make an announcement on your facebook page or wedding website regarding your plan of action for the wedding day. you can include recommendations directly from the CDC (found here).

no matter what direction you decide to take, keep in close contact with your vendors. they will be able to guide and assist you in the process. please only take information directly from the CDC or WHO. take a moment, take a breath, at the end of the day you’re marrying your best friend. i love you and i’m here for you.

-linsey