Wedding Planning Tips and Ideas during COVID-19

Posted bySyreeta KPosted inUncategorized

COVID-19, Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 or whatever name you want to call the virus that took the world by storm in early 2020; this virus has hit many industries hard, impacted incomes, and had many other personal impacts on families. My heart and prayers go out to all who have lost loved ones or have been affected in any way. The wedding industry was one of the industries severely impacted by this virus. So, I wanted to offer a few planning tips that might help couples think through some of these challenges and still enjoy your modified big day. Although these tips may seem obvious after dealing with this virus for more than a year, you can use this as a mental list of things to track as you draw closer to your day. 

Tip 1. Follow COVID safety precautions and be creative with your reinforcements.

  • Have as many virtual meetings with vendors as possible
  • Send a welcome care package to guests
  • Think of clever and creative rule signage
  • Consider decorative sanitizing stations
  • Arrange social distanced guest seating
  • Consider entertainment alternatives
  • Consider intimate or documentary style photos versus traditional group wedding photos
  • Have food trucks or catered food to have virtual guests enjoy the same items
  • Use creative masks, face shields, and/or gloves, etc..

Tip 2.  Use outdoor areas as much as possible.

  • Drive-in style
  • Standing attendee formation with a short ceremony
  • Wedding tailgate
  • Home, backyard, Airbnb or VRBO settings
  • Parks or beaches

Tip 3. Keep guest count intimate while also making guests feel as involved as possible.

  • Consider eloping as an option
  • Consider virtual or livestream ceremonies
  • Consider having a bigger second celebration event post-pandemic
  • Consider weekday wedding option

Tip 4.  If guests will attend your event, consider limiting guest interactions and touch points during your event.

  • Eliminate food buffets, family style serving, cash bars, etc…
  • Assign glassware and place settings or offer sealed disposable only options
  • Consider wrist bands for guests to indicate their interaction or touching preferences

Hopefully these tips and ideas are helpful in your planning. I also wanted to share what I saw or heard about during COVID that demonstrated the couple’s creativity, love determinations and refinement capabilities to still enjoy their original, though modified, wedding. 

My husband and I were on a beautiful sunny Friday evening walk and ran into a couple that just had an intimate church ceremony. They came to downtown Seattle’s waterfront to enjoy some time together. They didn’t have a photographer to capture their special moment so my husband – Mr. Camera Always Handy – was able to provide them with on the spot wedding photography captures. This is a good example of a couple being open to letting the day flow and remaining open.

I also came across the story of the CBS newsperson Vladimir Duthiers who wedded long time love Marian Wang on Fire Island Beach. This was a surprise impromptu wedding while family members were visiting. Their original plan was to wed out of the country however COVID happened. The couple had beautiful photos to commemorate their day and enjoyed the fun of shock others with their announcement. I’ve heard of other wedding stories via news, social media and from personal acquaintances of many wedding alternatives. Alternatives, such as postponing destination wedding travels, going to court house, to having a simple intimate ceremony at homes/backyards, and the list goes on. Many couples and businesses have been very creative and flexible during these times because ‘Love was not cancelled due to COVID’ – Unknown. So if COVID-19 causes a wrinkle or two to your original wedding plans remember this most important tip – 

“No matter what happens, if at the end of your wedding day, you are married to the person you love, then it was a roaring success.” – Unknown

Happy planning equals happy lifelong moments together!

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