Covid Wedding 101: Rescheduling Tips & The “New Norm”
Last week we sat down with Kaleigh Velling of Gypsea Events, a badass wedding coordinator based in Orange County, California to get the scoop on everything you need to know to reschedule your wedding. We dug deep to get tips for working with vendors, ideas for fun ways to celebrate your original wedding date and things to think about when planning a wedding during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s the Scoop.
Love is Not Cancelled. Remember that although this may not be what you expected your wedding planning experience to look like, it’s all about celebrating the incredible love that you found. Keeping a positive attitude, getting creative and finding new, fun ways to celebrate will make your big day even more memorable despite the circumstances.
Tips for Working With Vendors: Remember everyone is affected and in un-chartered territory right now. Be flexible and they will be too.
Reschedule, Don’t Cancel: Vendors are more likely to be flexible and apply your deposit to a new date when you reschedule instead of cancelling. They’re hurting too, so staying committed if you can will go a long way in the re-planning process.
Be Open Minded to the “New Norm”: In the next year, weddings will look a lot different than we are used to. Go with it. When rescheduling, be open-minded to a mid-week wedding date (perks of everyone working from home!). Be open to having a smaller wedding and then other mini-celebrations in small groups rather than one big event.
Order of Rescheduling: Talk to your coordinator first, then get your venue on board with a new date and compile one big email chain with all of your vendors to keep everyone in the loop and on the same page.
Don’t Ask For a Discount: We get it - everyone is hurting. But remember - everyone is hurting - especially wedding vendors since people are cancelling and downsizing weddings left and right. It’s not a time to take advantage of misfortune. Instead of asking for a discount, ask for a payment plan. This benefits you (you can chip away at that big bill little by little over time) and your vendors (they are getting a paycheck despite not being able to work). We promise they’ll be grateful and it will show with their willingness to work with you!
Don’t Worry About Traditional Etiquette: Covid-19 is changing the wedding norm, and we’re here for it!
Stop Worrying What People Think: EVERYONE is being affected right now and no one is going to fault you for rescheduling, downsizing, cancelling or changing your wedding plans. Don’t put the extra stress on yourself to live up to “wedding traditions” or proper etiquette under the current circumstances.
Re-Sending Invitations: Save your money and the extra stress of paper invitations and invest in a good wedding website that can keep your guests up to speed with changes. Consider sending a cute new “Save the Date” with wedding website details or an Evite. No one is going to call it tacky and if they do, consider “downsizing” them - you don’t need that kind of negativity, girl!
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Downsizing Your Wedding: Downsizing and having to un-invite people can feel like a nightmare, but people get it. If you have to downsize, a great way to do it is plan a “viewing party” for guests who weren’t able to attend. Send them a wedding “favor bag” with printed instructions on how to live stream your wedding and a fun wedding-themed favor! Or plan a fun, smaller celebration with everyone who didn't attend your wedding. We’re all for dragging out the celebrating as long as possible!
If You Choose to Go Forward With a Covid Wedding: You go girl! Get that husband and get your marriage started!
Still Use Your Vendors: If you are cancelling your original wedding, try to hold on to the special parts by using your original vendors in a small way. Ask your caterer if they can still make your wedding dinner, but just for you two. Get a mini-version of your cake. Have your Maid of Honor decorate with some of your original wedding decor. Get your florist to make you a bouquet and something to resemble your head table. Ask your photographers if they can still take photos in a socially-distant manner. You’ll get a piece of your original day and be supporting your vendors!
Test Run Your Live Stream as Your “Rehearsal”: Pull out the champagne and have a mini-rehearsal with your wedding party to help you test your live stream. Use a service like Zoom and have your wedding party log in to do a run-through of your ceremony, testing sound quality, mic usage and any music you want incorporated. Make sure to think of things like wind and try out AirPods so they can hear your vows! Then pop that champagne and have a Zoom party!
If You Reschedule, Celebrate Your Original Date: If you can’t tell, we are HERE for any excuse for a party, so plan a special day for you and your fiancé on the day that would have been your wedding!
Have Your Reception Dinner: Ask your caterers if they can make a to-go version of your wedding dinner and make a special set up in your house or take it out for a picnic!
Test Out First Dance Songs: Haven’t settled on a song yet? This is a great opportunity to try different songs out and feel that love between you. Each choose 2-3 songs and have a mini dance party just the two of you.
Splurge on Something: Whether it’s a bottle of Dom Perignon, a custom mini cake or presents that you exchange, splurge on something you normally wouldn’t to make this day feel extra special.
Write Each Other Wedding-Day Letters: On your would-be day, take some time apart to reflect on your relationship and the unexpected journey you’re currently navigating. Write a letter to your significant other for them to read the morning of your re-scheduled wedding. It’s a great way to be thankful for what you have and also capture your love in this moment to make your eventual wedding day even more special!
You’ve got this girl. If there’s one thing in life we’re sure of it’s that it never quite goes as planned, so embrace the circumstances that are out of your control and find a way to celebrate that reflects the love you’ve found!
xo, Boss Bride