Tips for Planning Your Dallas Wedding During Covid-19
You thought you planned for everything.
You not only had a Plan B—you also had a Plan C.
Your to-dos were longer than Santa’s list.
Unfortunately, the one thing you didn’t plan for was a pandemic.
In the blink of an eye, Covid-19 shattered your perfect wedding plans, your anxiety hit the moon, and “Love in the Time of Corona” became a trending hashtag.
Now your list needs a complete revision, and you need a Zoom call with your therapist and a good cry over multiple cartons of Cherry Garcia.
To say this is a stressful time in your life seems like the understatement of the year.
While it can be heartbreaking and overwhelming to be planning a wedding during a global pandemic, all hope is not lost. You just need to stay emotionally healthy and follow these tips for planning your wedding during Covid-19.
1 - Accept Reality
However you feel about Covid-19 and the policies that have been enacted, the reality is that a lot of things have changed. And while all your feelings are valid, denial will only make things worse. These are unprecedented times, and people are concerned. Since Covid-19 has shifted life as we knew it, it’s important to accept it and start moving forward with the new realities.
Sadly, many couples are postponing their wedding or at least reducing their guest count. So take a moment to be sad, but then get up and get started.
2 - Take Action
As much as you may want to crawl into a hole and wait for this to pass, it’s vital to make a plan and start taking action.
Make a list of your concerns and everything you need to address. Pick up the phone, call your vendors, work with them on rescheduling, and ask what they’re doing to help stop the spread.
Maybe your venue is restricting the number of guests. If that’s the case, make sure your caterer has accurate numbers. There’s no sense in paying for things you won’t be needing. Remember, you and all of your wedding vendors are trying to figure this out, so keep an open mind and stay on top of it.
Details and Contracts
When working with your vendors, here are some details you can discuss with them:
Are they providing masks for their employers? For guests?
Will there be hand sanitizer stations?
Instead of the usual food stations, consider sealed food containers and one-time use, sealed utensils.
Will there be extra staff to sanitize restrooms and public areas as the event goes on?
Consider a faux cake for display.
Is there space to spread out chairs and tables to provide additional distance?
Are guests required to wear masks? If you plan on interacting with your guests, then I recommend making that a requirement and having some masks on hand to provide for them.
Will your caterer and bartenders be wearing masks and gloves?
Be sure and check your contracts. Slow down and–really–read them. Identify when you need to make changes or cancelations and ALWAYS read the fine print. And remember, when dealing with your vendors, if it’s not in the contract, it doesn’t count.
Lastly and most importantly, don’t forget to have backup plans! It will make it easier to deal with changes if you know you have another option.
Get Ahead
Even if you feel like you’re waiting on answers or clarity, there are still things you can accomplish. Take this time to write your vows, decide on your wedding songs, order gifts for your wedding party, and finalize your decor.
If you were planning on doing DIY pieces, get started on them now. (They always take longer than you think.)
There’s always lots to do when planning a wedding, so be flexible regarding the order in which everything gets done.
3 - Over-Communicate with your Guests
Many people are confused and reasonably concerned about leaving their homes right now, so it’s important you over-communicate with your wedding party and guests about your event. Send out a card, email, or some form of communication to let them know whether your wedding is still happening or postponed. Be sure and also explain the precautions you’re taking to ensure their safety. Keep your website updated with your latest decision so they can make an informed decision.
If some of your family and friends decide not to come, don’t take it personally. Everyone is handling this pandemic differently. Some people may have underlying health issues you’re not aware of, so take any cancelations with a bit of grace and remember they love you and would like to support you.
That said, you still need to plan your wedding on your terms, so ask your guests to let you know by a certain date if they’re uncomfortable attending your special day. This way, you’re not left with yet another thing to worry about. Just know that an “I can’t make it” doesn’t mean they don’t love and support you.
With that in mind, consider offering other ways for them to show their support.
4 - Embrace Technology
Recent changes caused by the pandemic have made video calls increasingly more common. Consider meeting with potential vendors via video chat. Update your wedding party with a group call. Connect in ways that weren’t possible before. Some people are even throwing virtual bachelorette parties.
Consider finding someone to live stream your wedding via Facebook Live or YouTube. No, it’s not the same, but this is our “new normal,” so we may as well embrace it. But there’s good news! You still get to marry the love of your life, and your guests will feel like they were a part of your special day, even from across the country.
Some guests prefer to give cash in lieu of wedding gifts, so be sure to provide a mailing address for cards and include a digital payment option for guests who cannot attend in person but would like to contribute to the next phase of your life.
If you decide to live-stream your wedding, be sure to let your guests know about it ahead of time and how it will work.
5 - Keep Calm and Carry On
While your special day may not match your vision board, you still found the love of your life!
Be patient. Be flexible. Everything will be okay.
Whatever your wedding day ends up looking like, savor every moment. It flies by in an instant.
If you need help planning your perfect wedding or next pandemic-friendly event, contact us today.
You get to dream. We’ll take care of all the details!
- PTE