Image credit: Wanderlust Dream
Are you planning a wedding for 2021 or even 2022? Are you struggling with the uncertainties and finding yourself stumped and unsure whether to continue or even begin planning?
We say, YES!
To be frank, safety regulations implemented during weddings are a new norm since the pandemic hit, and they will probably be here to stay in some form for a while. Don’t let these regulations put a halt to what you’ve probably been looking forward to for a long time! Here’s what you need to know about planning for your wedding amidst the pandemic.
Image credit: Colossal Weddings
1. Communication with the venue
Whether you’ve booked your venue or not, have an open discussion with them about how you can make your wedding fun, intimate and safe. Micro-weddings are here to stay for a while, so make the most out of it! If you’re unsure about moving forward with your date, speak to the venue manager and find out what their postponement and headcount policies are. It is best to have an open communication about the options you have, should the regulations tighten or ease up as it gets closer to your wedding date. You can go ahead with your wedding this year, or you can choose to postpone till 2022, whichever makes you more comfortable. Don’t forget that prime dates go fast, so do find out the available dates from your venue so that you can make a well-informed decision. After experiencing so many changes in wedding regulations in the past year through the pandemic, most venues should be able to give you advice on their postponement or cancellation policies.
*On a side note, do bear in mind most venues (and even vendors) are more flexible with postponements, and not so much on cancellations.
Image credit: Rolling Pie Pictures
2. Communication with your vendors
Likewise, speak to your vendors to understand their postponement policies. If you haven’t secured your vendors, it’s best to start researching and checking their rates and availabilities. If your wedding is on a prime date, vendors would be booked in advance too. If you’ve already booked your vendors and venue, and you want to postpone your wedding, share a few dates with them and confirm their availability BEFORE you settle on the new date as you want to ensure that they can be there to be a part of your big day.
Keep in mind that wedding vendors are usually small businesses and they have been severely impacted by COVID-19 too. Many vendors do offer flexibility and credits for a transferred date or towards other services, just check in with them to find out!
Image credit: Wanderlust Dream
3. Communication with your guests
If you have previously postponed your wedding date and have now settled on a new date, be sure to keep your guests updated! If you’ve sent them a “Save the Date”, now you can send them a “SWAP THE DATE”!
Do also let them know about the regulations in place such as social distancing, keeping masks on, zoning requirements, and staggered arrivals. This helps to ensure a smooth timeline on your actual wedding day and also makes sure that no one gets in trouble! We’re sure you wouldn’t want your venue / vendors / guests / or even yourselves to face any penalties!
Image credit: Wanderlust Dream
4. Keeping it intimate
While we are all hopeful and would love to have a large celebration like we used to, we also need to be realistic in the planning process. If there are guests that you wish to invite but can’t due to capacity restrictions, opt for professional live streaming services so that these guests can still witness your union!
Image credit: Wanderlust Dream
5. Hire a professional wedding planner or on-day coordinator
If you haven’t hired a wedding planner, now’s the best time!
The COVID-19 measures and regulations are ever-changing, as we’ve seen unfold in the past year. It definitely is exhausting to keep up with them, so hiring a wedding planner to share the burden helps free up your time and reduces your stress. You’ll have to re-work your plan (sometimes multiple times) to fit the current regulations at the time of your wedding.
As you can imagine, there’s more work to be done for your wedding now. You’ll have to work the groupings of your guests (at the tables, and into different zones). It’ll also be best to inform them on their allocated seating so that people don’t gather unnecessarily, and this also allows you to keep to the program timeline. You also have to stagger arrival times to ensure the whole process is smooth (think checking in via TraceTogether, temperature taking, finding their seats, etc.).
Your wedding planner will also be able to help you handle your wedding budget properly. If you wish to rework your wedding budget due to changes in your plan, your wedding planner can do so effectively. Many couples even found that with the smaller guest list, they now have excess budget to reallocate into other factors of the wedding (such as more extravagant floral decor, or personalised and thoughtful wedding favours).
Postponement of your wedding is an exhausting and stressful process. A wedding planner can do what we’ve mentioned in tips 1-3. That way you can focus on the fun things (maybe that’s flowers to you, or even a surprise video for your significant other!)
Having a wedding planner with you throughout the process and on the actual day will relieve you of tons of stress and anxiety!
Image credit: Natalie Wong Photography
6. Take a deep breath
Most importantly, take a deep breath (breathe in… breathe out…) and relax. Know that it will all work out in the end. You’ve done your best in what you can, and don’t stress over what you can’t control.
If you are thinking of hiring a professional wedding planner, we’re here to help! Connect with us at hello@mannaweddings.com