The unexpected crisis by the global COVID-19 social distancing and self-isolation policies has led to many changes in our daily lives – and changes to major life events, such as weddings. The CDC has advised limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people until the end of March in the United States, and many local and governments have put Shelter In Place restrictions in action and are advising the public to prepare for the situation to potentially extend through April or even May.
Social media is filled with celebrities who have cancelled or postponed upcoming wedding celebrations due social distancing – and more will be coming:
- Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom
- Emma Stone and Dave McCary
- Lala Kent and Randall Emmett
- Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie
Are You Considering Postponing Your Spring or Summer Wedding?
Your goal for you and your wedding guests is to stay safe and healthy.
Social distancing and limiting your interactions to immediate family means that any large gatherings – especially those that involve travel – need to be canceled or postponed. As a South Florida wedding planner who coordinates events for both local couples as well as organizing destination weddings where couples and their guests travel to the beautiful Delray Beach area of Florida, I’ve contacted each of my wedding clients to discuss their options for postponing their wedding.
Checklist: What to Do If You’re Postponing Your Wedding Due to Coronavirus
Here are the key five things you should be consider
1. Cancel or Postpone: Look at the calendar. If your wedding is in March or April the reality is it might be smart to postpone your wedding today, rather than waiting to see what happens. If your wedding is scheduled for May or later, discuss if you’re comfortable waiting a few weeks to make a decision, or if you want to postpone and choose a Fall or Winter wedding date – or even a 2021 date – now. Keep in mind other couples are rescheduling their weddings too: be flexible and realistic when choosing a new wedding date.
2. Update Your Guests : Let your wedding guests know your decision to postpone your wedding ASAP. If you haven’t chosen a date yet, that’s OK: just let them know that you’ve cancelled the original date, and will get back to them with your new plan when it’s finalized. Remember – your guests will understand!
3. Talk to Vendors: Vendors nationwide are experiencing this wedding crisis along with you, so everyone wants to be flexible and help with your special event – and save their own business! Whether you need to cancel or postpone your wedding you need to talk to your wedding planners and find out:
- What is their cancel or postponement policy due to these types of circumstances?
- Are they available on your new date?
- What is their refund and deposit policy?
4. Go Virtual: Virtual work tools aren’t just for working at home – they’re also ideal for planning your wedding. Technology can help you
- Find a new wedding venue
- Choose wedding vendors
- Meet with your wedding planner
Some couples who want to get married NOW have chosen to have small private weddings at home, and Skype or Zoom in their guests to watch the ceremony. Then, they are free to plan a celebration party in the future without the stress of a deadline to consider.
5. Take Time to Breathe: A wedding is one of life’s most stressful life events – and postponing a wedding for reasons beyond your control. Take time to let your emotions stabilize so you can think clearly about what you really want – and don’t want – to do.
If you don’t have a wedding planner to help you tackle this decision and manage all the changes to your wedding schedule, consider hiring one today! A professional planner is experienced in solving wedding problems in a crisis situation – even an unprecedented crisis like this. See my article 10 Reasons You Should Hire a Wedding Planner – and contact me if I can help plan your South Florida event!
