As we head into the colder months, I have many couples thinking twice about their pending nuptials. With the Delta variant on the rise, many venues, businesses, and local governments are making changes when necessary to keep the public safe. It’s certainly hard to plan a wedding (in general, let alone in a pandemic!) with so many moving parts changing with the times. Let’s chat about the heartbreaking decision to move your wedding or keep the date, and what would be impacted by postponing…again!
First things first, please be sure to consider your vendors in your decision. Talk things through with them. Let them know what you’re thinking. The more communication you can provide, the more smoothly the decision will go over. See what kind of contractual obligations you have, how much rescheduling would cost, and what kind of dates they have open for the future. Especially in these hard times, please be sure to recognize that these vendors are also people with families and are working hard at their small businesses. Instead of canceling completely with them, I recommend rescheduling for the future. Most of your vendors are probably willing to be flexible in order to remain safe, but if they are simply not – it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of canceling or postponing with them.
Once you have a fair estimate of how much rescheduling or postponing may cost, from there you can determine if you want to limit your guest list and move forward or postpone in hopes of having your full guest list come at a later date. Many couples have been moving forward with a small ceremony and their legal marriage and then plan to celebrate on a larger scale when they’re able. If you simply can’t wait for the festivities or rather, can’t afford to, take an honest look at your guest list. While you’d love to have great-grandma there, it may be worth it to take photos, set up live-stream services (like we did for my daughter’s wedding, pictured here — hardly visible on the far right of the image!), or just visit great-grandma after the celebration to ensure her safety. It’s important to determine where you stand on the pandemic as a whole and the safety of your guests.
Ultimately, it’s definitely a personal decision between you and your future spouse. I know how hard it is to have to reschedule the day of your dreams…especially more than once! If you are comfortable moving forward with a smaller version of your celebration, this may be the option for you. If you are planning on having all of your friends, family, and loved ones gather for your wedding day, it may be worth it to reschedule your wedding for another safer time. You can still celebrate and marry with a smaller, more intimate gathering – even if it’s not exactly what you hoped for – and plan to pop the champagne with all of your family and friends when it’s safer to do so.
I certainly understand the stress you’re going through in making this tough decision and many couples like you are going through it too. You’re not alone! If you need more direct advice and consultation, I would be more than happy to help you plan the day of your dreams…whatever the date!
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All images by Living Radiant Photography
