For every person being affected by the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic… we see you, we support you, we feel you and we’re here for you. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging social distancing and restricting large gatherings, sadly, many weddings that were planned to take place in the next 3 months will need to be postponed to a later date. If you’re a bride or groom who’s reading this – inhale a deep breath and exhale all that negativity, fear and concern you’re feeling right now. If that doesn’t work, there’s no shame in breaking out the wine before noon – ’cause let’s be honest, you deserve it!
Let’s take this one day at a time. We promise it’s going to be okay. Everything is going to work out and you’re going to say those beautiful “I do’s” to your forever person soon. Whether it be just you two on your original date or later with all your friends and family surrounding you (or both!) No matter what, love wins, and all these challenging times you’ve had to face together will make that moment all the more special.
Besides your S. O., the most important people you can count on to navigate these uncertain waters are your superheroes (aka, your wedding vendors). Trust us, they want to do everything they can to make this process easier and less stressful for you. So many vendors are bending over backwards to give you guidance, emotional support, find new dates that work for you and your guests, and are generously compromising and changing their policies to make your dream wedding a reality. Lean on them, ask them for support… just keep in mind how much they’re going through right now as well, they’re feeling it just as much – so please be kind, patient and understanding.
Our goal is to answer as many questions you have with regard to postponing your date and all the confusing logistics that come with doing so. And for that, we reached out to our amazing LBB members to give you their expert opinion and advice during this incredibly difficult and uncertain time.
Should I postpone my wedding?
“Unfortunately, any couple whose wedding was planned for sometime in the next 3 months needs to postpone and reschedule the wedding for a later date. As much as weddings matter, people matter more. And it’s our social responsibility to make sure we’re keeping not just our loved ones safe, but the community at large. Couples will still get to celebrate and that is still so important, but right now it’s more important that we think about the greater good and keeping others safe.”
“As hard as it might feel, please postpone. It will ultimately save you undue stress by trying to “make it work” – since everything is changing so rapidly, it will bring you peace of mind in knowing your date has been postponed to later in the year. Also, as hard as it might feel, still plan something for you and your partner on your originally scheduled date. Cook a really special meal at home, get dressed up for it, drink champagne, take & share lots of selfies and photos. Still take the time to celebrate, but in a way that makes sense given the current state.” – Krista Marie Photography, San Francisco Bay Area
“Any weddings planned for the next 3 months need to get postponed unless it’s a local elopement (with just the two of you). But even any weddings beyond 3 months need to start thinking about postponement. Any weddings that require people to travel (especially international destination weddings) should consider postponement or adjusting locations. Any weddings over 50 guests will want to start thinking about postponing or downsizing. But beyond the type of wedding you’re having, it’s important to also assess how you feel. Your level of comfort and fear (for yourself and your guests) will play a big factor in your decision to postpone. If you want your wedding to be 100% safe, you’re going to have to postpone until things have calmed down and you’re no longer putting people in danger.”
Where do I begin if I need to postpone?
“Begin the process of rescheduling as soon as possible. All of your vendors may not be available on the same future date, but choose your top 4 or 5 and see if you can get them to align. The remaining will fall into place and the community is working together to assist with referrals whenever possible.” – Premier Planning Services, Inc., Minnesota
“Stay positive and do your best to stay calm, this unfortunate situation is beyond your control. If you are forced to reschedule know this is for the best interest of you, your family and friends. Postpone rather than cancel, you can still have the wedding of your dreams and your vendors will make that happen.”
While this situation is very challenging, don’t panic. Trust your vendor team and know that we are all doing everything we can to help you reschedule and still have the amazing wedding that you’ve been dreaming of. And stay focused on the end result. When all is said and done, you will get through this married, which is really the entire reason you are planning your wedding in the first place.” – Pure Luxe Bride, Charleston, SC
What are some things vendors are doing to help couples who are thinking about postponing?
“We have offered date changes with no change fees, to any available date in the remaining 2020 year as well as any in 2021.”
“We have been affected by 2 postponements, 1 full cancellation and 3 pending postponements. These are very tough conversations to have with our brides, we feel for you! Being the advocate and trusted partner of these couples is what we pride ourselves in the most during such an uncertain time. We’ve been able to successfully place “holds” on new dates should the couple decide to postpone as the event draws near and have had success in transferring all contracts to the new dates. We are beyond grateful for our vendor team for working with us swiftly to put our client’s minds at ease.” – Pure Luxe Bride, Charleston, SC
“We have several weddings that we are working to reschedule. We are trying to do as much of the legwork and vendor communications as possible to alleviate the stress on our couples.”
“We have 14 events from now til the end of May. We are thankful to say that almost all of our brides are postponing. We are currently waiving any change fees – and moving retainers over to the new dates. We are asking for a bit of flexibility as brides consider new dates as many of the “in season Saturdays” are already taken. This is just an unprecedented time in our industry and it seems as though everyone from our couples to the vendors are handling it with as much grace and kindness as possible. We are all in this together.” – Cody & Tiffany from Hunter Ryan Photography, Naples, FL
“All my events and weddings are getting postponed to the fall at the earliest or to next year. It’s a stressful time for everyone. And because we just don’t know what will happen, the uncertainty is difficult to deal with. There is a lot we can’t control, but what we can control is how we want to move forward. There are always solutions and we’re working towards creating and coming up with the best ones for our clients.”
What should I be keeping in mind when making my decision to postpone or not? Guest count? Location? Age range?
“My biggest concern is guest count and age range. We love our parents and grandparents. They want to be there for us in our big day — but putting them at risk is simply not worth it on the long run. If you’re postponing to a new date, and confirming a date once restrictions are lifted, you’ll have much more clarity on where it can take place, guest counts, etc.” – Krista Marie Photography, San Francisco Bay Area
“I think location with regards to any government mandates is important. Guest count is also a factor for the same reasons, and elderly guests or families with small children should also be taken into account”
“The venues would be my first call for available dates. Then your next top 4-5 vendors. Be open to a Friday or Sunday. If a Friday or Sunday are not desirable, be open to a winter wedding or a spring/summer 2021 wedding.” – Premier Planning Services, Inc., Minnesota
How can I politely inform my guests of my postponed wedding and new date?
“Hopefully your guests will understand. This is growing exponentially on a daily basis and events are being cancelled daily. My suggestion would be to call those closest to you and let them know directly. For others, you could send an e-card via email that lets them know, as well as let’s them know that you are checking in with them & thinking about their own families during such a trying time.“ Krista Marie Photography, San Francisco Bay Area
“If you have a wedding website, first renew the domain (most expire in a year). Then, update the website with all information regarding a new date. Draft an e-mail / text message to your guests informing them that for their safety and yours you have decided to postpone. Let them know you’ve successfully rescheduled to a new date and that your wedding website will be updated with any further information.”
“For most couples, email will be the easiest way to communicate to guests about a postponement or cancellation. But, it’s also important that you update your wedding website and make calls to anyone close to you or those that don’t check email. Everyone knows what’s going on in the world, so no one will be surprised. Just be honest, give them the information they need and let them know that you’ll keep them updated with any future information (if applicable). Guests will understand and will likely be thankful that you’re being proactive and thinking about their safety.”
“Many stationers are offering free digital resources to inform guests of a postponement. If possible, sending out an email or mailing a new date announcement is going to be the easiest for the couples. And also be sure to indicate the change of date on the wedding website, so that everything is consistent.”
“Everyone will understand! This does NOT need to be explained in any wordy ways. A simple “due to the current circumstances we all find ourselves in, we will safely choose a later date for our celebration” something simple.”
“I believe guests are expecting to hear — they WANT to know, and they will be understanding. I think using an email as the main platform and perhaps an instagram post as a follow up. Telephone calls for the elderly – it’s best if they hear it directly from the bride and groom. An email could be along these lines:
To our Dearest Loved Ones,
We have made the difficult decision to move our wedding to a later date, due to the current health threats. We love you all dearly and our collective safety is our highest priority. We look forward to celebrating our wedding when all of our guests are able to attend and enjoy the experience to the fullest. We will be in touch as soon as we have more information about when that will be.
Thank you so much for all of your support, love and understanding.”
What organizational strategies should I be doing in order to continue my wedding planning process? Even if i’m not getting married in the next 3 months?
“Start by re-reading your contracts and understand what you originally agreed to. And then talk to your vendors and find out what happens if you postpone/cancel. Keep a list of the information for each vendor so you can easily reference it as needed. This sheet will also help if/when you start discussing new dates so you can keep track of who is available on which dates. Once you have a new date or you cancel with a vendor, make sure you get a new proposal and contract amendment with that information. For those not postponing or cancelling at this time but have a wedding this year, it’s important to start thinking about a plan B. Start thinking about postponement or cancellation in case you need to make that decision so you know what you want to do. Get that same information from your vendors, so that you’re ready if/when the time comes. And for any vendors you haven’t contracted but are talking to, make sure you have a discussion about their policies and you feel comfortable with them before you sign. Given the state of things and the uncertainty, you need to be make sure you’re covered and you understand what could happen if postponement or a cancellation has to happen.”
“Be sure that all of your contracted vendors are available on a new rescheduled date before committing. I’ve heard from a handful of vendors that were given no say in the new date. Couples did not check with them before choosing the new date, forcing a cancellation rather than a postponement”
“There is going to be an influx of weddings for Fall / Winter 2020 due to the amount of reschedules, so current clients who are booked and actively planning at this time should continue to secure vendors. Some vendors will begin to transfer dates which means less vendor availability even for non-peak dates like Fridays and Sundays. Keep booking your vendor team to ensure you’re getting the best vendors to fit your style and budget.”
We hope advice this helps you in some way. Please reach out to us if there’s anything we can personally do to make this process a little easier, we’re here for you every step of the way. We’re in this together and we’re going to get through this!
XOXO, The SMP Team
Join The Conversation
favorite (0) share share (0) pin (0)
