Planning a Wedding During the Coronavirus

There is no doubt that this global pandemic is absolutely insane. I never expected the beginning of my wedding season to be in the midst of coronavirus, but here we are. Some of you are planning weddings and, I’m sure, freaking the eff out. Wedding planning is already stressful enough, but this curve ball doesn’t mean you need to throw in the towel.

Any creative entrepreneur will probably tell you that they’ve had to think outside of the box for so many things in their business endeavors. I’m going to tell you to do the same for your wedding planning. No, this certainly isn’t what you dreamed would happen, but you have to stay open-minded when it comes to your big day. There is always an alternative. You just have to find what works for you and your partner and be confident in your decision.

So, first things first, BREATHE.

Let me say it again for the people in the back. BREATHE. This is a hiccup and you will see the other side. At the end of the day, you’re still engaged and you’re still going to marry your person and spend the rest of your lives together. It’ll all be okay. Breathe.

If you have wedding insurance, contact your insurance company ASAP.

Your insurance may not completely cover coronavirus, but it may cover the cost difference from vendors. It’s important to check in and see what exactly your policy covers and where you stand before reaching out to vendors.

Re-read your vendor contracts.

More than likely, canceling your wedding means you’re losing money paid to vendors. But do you legally still owe them the remaining balance? Brush up on your contracts so you can help determine a plan of action.

Contact your vendors.

Guys, communication is key, especially in times like this. Know that most vendors want to do everything in their power to accommodate you. This pandemic is extra hard on them, too, being small business owners. They don’t get paid sick leave. They don’t get unemployment benefits. The money they make from your wedding is food on their table and a roof over their kid’s heads. If you decide to postpone your wedding and push it to a later date, many of them will one thousand percent be ready and willing to help make this transition happen as seamlessly as possible. Email them to see what your options are and what dates they have available.

Make a decision.

We’re past the point of no return so the longer you wait, the harder this is going to be. Decide how you want to move forward and notify your vendors and your wedding guests.

Don’t forget to postpone your honeymoon.

If your wedding isn’t happening now, neither is your honeymoon. Fortunately, airlines are giving flight credits and I’m sure you’ll be able to work something out with your hotel or resort accommodations. Make phone calls now to see what your options are.

Have a plan in place for additional costs.

There will more than likely be added costs to all of this chaos, which is even more stressful. Have a financial plan in place and set aside money now so that way it’ll soften the blow when the additional costs arise.

Can’t decide on whether you want to postpone or cancel your wedding? Here are some things to know.

As a vendor in the wedding industry, I strongly urge you to postpone instead of canceling completely. I know you can’t make everyone happy and you ultimately have to do what’s best for you, but if you can change your wedding date, your vendors would be forever grateful! This is another time where thinking outside of the box is key. While many Saturday dates may be unavailable for vendors, Friday or Sunday dates may still be open. If not, there is nothing wrong with a weekday wedding! The pros to that is most of your vendors will likely be available and give yourself a nice long weekend of wedded bliss. Get hitched on a Thursday and either start your honeymoon that weekend or take a mini getaway as newlyweds if you can’t get enough time off of work for a big vacation.

Maybe you’re just emotionally tapped out and over the whole big wedding thing. That’s fine! Trade in your big wedding to a small, intimate celebration at a later date. You can still have wedding pictures and a ceremony and a fun party - why not?! Switching to a smaller wedding can help offset some financial loss.

If you choose to postpone your wedding and some of your vendors are no longer available, make sure you ask for vendor recommendations before you cut ties with your DJ or photographer. They can pass along some great professionals to help you out!

If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask.

You probably don’t want to burden other people with your wedding woes, but if there’s a time to ask for help, it’s definitely now. The Knot is offering advice on how to navigate these strange times. You can reach out by contacting help@theknot.com or calling them at (833)998-2865.