2020 - best year ever turned total disaster? Yep we are all feeling it. No doubt this (dare I say the word) pandemic has affected you and your family both emotionally, financially, physically, personally or totally effed with your business.
For all of you getting married this year. I am so sorry you are dealt with navigating a reschedule, a total reinvention of your day, or still unsure what the heck it all means.
We are all in this together and we are here to support you! Here’s a couple of things you should know about weddings for 2020, how it will impact your day and what you can do to maintain the integrity of what you have already poured your heart, soul (and money) into.
Small and Intimate - can we still celebrate this year?
april 28, 2020
Can I get married this year as planned? How will this look?
Quite honestly, we know the same as you in terms of when everything will ‘end’ and when government restrictions will be lifted. We are following day by day and are here to give our expert opinion in order to help you make the difficult decision you are faced with.
If you are getting married in April, May or June you have likely already worked with us to reshceudle your day. Government restricitons currently in place do not allow any large events to take place (over 50) and no non essential travel. That means most of your guest list cannot attend. And even if they could, who is to say they won’t still be nervous about the thought of boarding a flight?
The new realisation is that even if some of the restrictions are lifted, they will be very SLOW, and it’s unlikely that large weddings will be happening even for the rest of the summer. Again, no end date has been posted, but here’s some things to think about if you are a die hard optimist and stubbornly holding on to your July/August/September wedding date.
Your wedding WILL be different - think about it. If we are indeed allowed to have weddings under 50 this summer, you have to take into account all of your vendors, which will eat up half of your guest list. Also think about how that will prcatically work - service staff will have to stay 2 metres away from everyone, all of your set up, such as your dining tables and chairs will need to be very spread out to aid distancing which will impact your floor plan, usable space, the look, the feel. Photogtaphers and officiants, they won’t be able to offer the same quality of service standing 2 metres away from you at all times.
Your guests - Even those that travel may need to still quarantine when they get here. That’s a long vacation. Will they be scared to travel? Will everyone be relaxed on the day or tense about the large group of people they are in close proximity to? Can you even hug your guests? Will there be an open resort for guests to enjoy eating out and other activities come summer? We. Just. Don’t. Know.
Should I postpone and reschedule for 2021?
Based on the current government restrictions and recommendations for large weddings and events for the next few months, if you want your wedding to look the same as you once dreamed then it’s important to at least consider a reschedule. Our advise is to talk to your venue and get some back up date options. That doesn’t mean you need to cancel the date you currently have, but at least get a non obligation hold on some other dates. If during the next few weeks restrictions do not lift, or new guidelines still mean we cannot have your wedding this summer then at least you have some options for next year.
2021 is booking up FAST. We are now faced with trying to reschedule what was the busiest wedding year into 2021, and dates are already taken by new clients. Be prepared and flexible with new dates that you are looking at. The date you originally had could be taken already. Venues are doing everything they can to ensure they can rebook all of you and make everyone happy.
Next - contact all your vendors. Make sure they are available for you and willing to reschedule your date at no financial penalty to you. Again, this is a difficult task for vendors (and you of course), so let’s remain patient and flexible as much as we can.
Should I postpone and reschedule for 2021?
How can we get married in 2020?
- Keep your original date in the hopes that ALL restrictions lift. This I feel is unlikely and a gamble. If you go this route, have a back up date on hold with your venue and vendors, and try to make your final decision to reschedule 30 days out. All vendors are being so awesome about this and helping to create a smooth and quick transition. But, think of guests. Would they appreciate as much notice as possible to reschedule flights and accommodation? Most likely yes.
- Change the wedding vision. Small and Intimate is BEAUTIFUL and we can help you execute this. You can still keep your vendors, have a gorgeous ceremony with immediate family and friends, a perfectly styled intimate dinner and celebrate in full next year with everyone else. You can still get married and continue on your life plan if a reschedule to next year is too much of an upheaval.
- Elope now. Celebrate later. Simple. But still filled with love. We can help navigate a larger change with your vendors. You still say the vows and marry that special person in the next few months as you have been dreaming of, then celebrate with everyone later! Perfect!
(With options to still get married this year this only applies if government restriction change enough to allow this. We do not know when/if this will happen so keep up to date with what’s going on at home and B.C in terms of travel, social gatherings and physical distancing).
What’s next?
Get a back up date for 2021 - I cannot stress this enough. We are hopeful that we can have weddings this year, but it’s very possible we won’t be able to if restrictions don’t change drastically.
Keep up to date with whats going on - Follow the daily updates from Dr Bonnie Henry. Here’s some useful links -
Global News Daily Bonnie henry Update
Other Useful Links
Lastly, thank you to all of our clients for being so graceful, supportive, positive, patient and just the absolute best. We are thinking of all of you first, but this has been really HARD for our little business. We cannot wait to celebrate with you in 2021. We love our jobs and what hurts the most is not seeing all of your lovely faces this summer. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and please help us - reschedule don’t cancel.
