How You Can Still Have A Wedding During COVID-19

LET ME EXPLAIN MYSELF THOUGH…

I am by no means advocating that we be unsafe or disrespectful towards the people around you. The suggestions I give below are with the understanding that measures are being taken to ensure the wedding environment is as safe as possible!

#1: Priorities

Before you start to have conversations about changing the plans of your day, it’s important to evaluate your own desires, as well as have a conversation with your partner, about what is truly important to you on wedding day. Are you able to let go of the original plans you had and explore some new possibilities? Or is your heart truly set on the entire experience you planned for? It goes without saying that staying flexible when it comes to wedding planning is extremely important to maintain sanity and also for not getting discouraged. And I think the same rings true here. If you are holding on tightly to the original plans you had, are you willing to keep postponing if necessary? These are all questions (that will also inevitably lead to more) you will have to work through on your own and with your partner to determine what is best for you guys.

#2: Logistics

If you guys have decided to embrace the adventure of changing up your original plans, here are some options you can consider!

• Elope

Don’t cringe. Don’t run away. The term eloping has evolved so much over the years – it is no longer limited to just running away without telling anyone (usually against parent’s wishes) to Vegas and having Elvis officially announce you married.

Though if that’s your style – I am NOT bashing it! Just explaining the difference 🙂

Eloping can most definitely mean that. But it can also mean finding a favorite spot with the just the two of you, reading your vows, and then meeting up with others later for dinner. Or not even meeting up with others. OR it could mean that both your immediate families join you at either a venue or an epic outdoor location and then have a family style meal, enjoying each other’s company for the rest of the evening.

Eloping doesn’t have to be adventuring off to an epic mountain hike with muddy shoes and messy hair. It can also mean finding a special, refined space and having a wonderful dinner together over candlelight with those who mean the most to you.

• Small Wedding

The second part of the descriptions above can be interchangeably referred to as elopements or small weddings. Small weddings can definitely be anywhere from 10-80 people! Honestly, for me personally, I would consider anything under 100 as a small wedding, though 80-100 is pushing it. But these are characterized as maybe having a more solid venue location (or home) and downsizing your guest list to fit that amount. If it was EXTREMELY important to you that the guests that were cut from the list still see the ceremony – you could even have it live-streamed so that they could still be involved during that part. But small weddings are for the couples who have a squad beyond just their families (or friends that are practically family) and don’t necessarily need a large, all-inclusive venue – but would still like to have an organized space to host everyone. For some people considering this option – this could be enough for them. They could see this as satisfactory for their new plans and stick with just doing that. But for some, it’s possible they may want a…

• Small Wedding + Big Celebration Later

This option is for the couples who want to move forward with an updated version of their plans that requires downsizing, but that also still want to celebrate with some originally invited guests in person later on down the road. My husband and I did this option – we got legally married with just our immediate families and then planned a larger celebration 1 year later on our wedding date. Even though this may sound overwhelming at first, it’s actually quite convenient. Depending on the contractual obligations you agreed to in the contracts with your vendors, you could potentially just split your packages in two – one to cover the small wedding/elopement and then the other to cover the celebration later. I’ve done that for a couple of my clients and nobody has ever regretted it!

#3: Venues

• Finding a Venue

Now, for those looking for a more organized space to host their plans, the other obstacle in this is finding a venue that is operational and not closed down during this time. That is one of the biggest reasons why many of couples have postponed – because the venue that they paid money for is not operating.

Please know, I am in no way bashing that AT ALL. Everyone has to make a decision that is best for them and the same goes with the vendors. Depending on what your agreement with them was, you might be able to work out something that can help you, but in the event that you have to find another space, the biggest challenge most likely is just finding one. Luckily, I am planning on doing part of the work for you 😉 I am currently working on multiple posts sharing what venues are safely operating during this time (updated posts coming for the San Diego, Temecula, OC, LA areas)

• Using An Airbnb

This option requires that you are in contact with the airbnb host to allow you to host your wedding there. Please, don’t ever try and get away with having a larger group of people at a house if the host is very clear about the rules. It could mean financial loss, having to leave the property, AND potentially putting the airbnb host in a difficult position of possibly being sued. But if having a backyard vibe is your style (which I LOVE backyard weddings!!) then this could totally be a great option for you if you do the work to properly communicate with hosts.

• Use Your Backyard

I mean when all else fails, you can always use your own backyard (or a family member’s if they’re willing!) I personally love when couples do this because it adds a level of intimacy and totally changes the vibe of the photos. I know that may sound strange, but it’s true! There is just something about shooting a wedding in the childhood home or family home that was visited growing up. Seriously one of my favorite settings – even above some GORGEOUS venues.

#4: Day-Of

Once that day comes, depending on what option you guys end up deciding on, here is how you can help make sure you’re facilitating a safe environment!

• Provide Masks

Putting the extra investment in providing masks for people to wear is a great way to help put your guests mind’s at ease as well as just being responsible hosts. If you end up finding a venue, I would ask if this is something they would provide in light of the current situation of the world, or if you would need to bring them.

• Provide Hand Sanitizer

Another item you can ask your venue if they will provide – or if going the non-venue route, customizing some mini bottles of hand sanitizer could be really cute. And I feel like this would even be a favor your guests will actually take home thanks to the Rona 😉

• Social Distancing When Possible

I know I know… we are all probably sick of hear the words “social distancing” but if there is extra concern about your day, then being strategic about how you place the tables and then who is at each table can help a lot. Only place individuals in the same family at one table, or if you have a lot of couples + no kids, seat mutual friends together, or put two couples directly across from each other. It will probably be a tedious job, but it’s worth it if the environment is a positive one!

• Get Creative!

I had a couple provide colored wristbands that helped signify what each person was comfortable with when it came to interactions! I thought that was a super clever idea and a fun way to help ease the tension of not knowing whether or not it’s okay to go in for that hug or not.

#5: Virtual Wedding

Has Zoom become anyone else’s best friend? Or how about worst enemy haha I’m sure there are plenty of us that are really not liking having to stare at a screen to see loved ones, but if that’s what it takes to pull off the marriage between you and your best friend, there are ways to make it fun and not boring. I highly suggest having someone who is familiar with either live-streaming or Zoom in general be in charge of setting up and monitoring the video as the ceremony unfolds. I had a couple do a “virtual table greeting” with each person over zoom and it was actually such a sweet and beautiful thing to watch. Usually when the couple is doing “table touches” us vendors are scarfing down our food preparing for when the toasts are gonna start, but with Zoom weddings – we actually get to take part in hearing what so many people have to say about the couple and sharing their love. They really are tender moments!

I have a whole series on COVID-19 information in regards to wedding planning and helpful tips & tricks – check out my category “COVID-19 Series” or click here to view all the posts!